Page 138 of My Broken Mate

He twists the letter in his hands. “He only sought me out when he was really drunk. He used to say her name then. I don’t think he ever really saw me,” he says lightly, as if he is telling an anecdote and not the darkest moments of his life.

If I can voice one wish to the goddess, it is for you to be able to love and laugh, and cry, fight, and make up. To dream big and not be afraid to fail.

I love you from the bottom of my heart.

Fly and be free!

Forgive me.

“Fly,” he mutters. “Maybe next time, when I try to find myself, we should go paragliding?”

I snort. “Eve would have a heart attack. But I wouldn’t be opposed.”

Remus folds the letter, lighting it with the small fire he made. “I found it, Mom,” he says. “I found the light in my life, and a person I love. I have reconnected with my brothers. I’m not flying yet, but I have started to see a future where I might be able to.” He lets the letter crumble into ashes. “There is nothing to forgive you for,” he adds quietly.

Tears well in my eyes, and we sit in silence until the fire has burnt down. “You are the light for me, too,” I say quietly. “I know you haven't seen it yet, but you are. I am happy to dream and fall with you. Life’s less scary with you.”

“Thank you,” he says, his voice hoarse. “And thank you for doing this with me.”

“Remus,” I say. “There is one more thing we need to do.”

He turns his head to look at me, and I cup his cheeks to force him to stay in place. Staring deep into his eyes, I search for what I saw yesterday, clear as day. “Atlas,” I say. “I know you are there.”

I let Marise come forward to connect with him. All the walls that Remus and Atlas built around themselves have started crumbling. Not all of them are down yet, but I am confident we can finally reach him. He was there when he marked me the first time, and he was there when he claimed me again last night.

You have done well, protecting your human,Marise says.I know what you did. You protected his mind, to stop him from falling into a place he couldn’t return from. You have been brave and strong for him. but now he is strong enough to walk by himself. And for you, it’s time to step forward to walk next to him. Come to us, Atlas, come to your mate.

Something in Remus’ eyes flashes.

“Let it happen,” I soothe him. “Don’t fight it. It’s okay to give up control to your wolf. I am here, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

The change comes slowly, first just with his eyes darkening, then his nails elongate. I let go of him, stepping back a little to give him space. My heart is in my throat, anxious, hopeful, happy. The first shift is painful, but no sound escapes Remus’ lips until he is finally standing in front of us. Atlas. Tall and strong, with beautiful, dark brown fur that shimmers bronze in the sun.

Marise takes over again, and I let her, shifting into our wolf form. She runs up to Atlas, bumping into him. He is like Remus, in the way he immediately indulges her and wraps himself around her.

My heart is still in my throat, this time out of pure joy and not out of sadness, for the sorrow my mate had to feel and for the cruelties he faced at such a young age.

His wolf is here with him.

He has finally regained the last missing piece. His wolf is here, and he won’t leave again.

Chapter forty-three

Whole Again

REMUS*

Kata and I pretty much have to share one batch of extra clothes now. I expected bad weather, but not to have sex with her, and certainly not to shift. Now she is clad in my shirt and a pair of my boxers, looking delicious in my clothes, while I am just wearing pants. Thank Goddess we took our shoes off when we were sitting around the little fire, or we’d both need to climb down the mountain barefoot.

The world around me feels much more crisp all of a sudden, with Kata’s scent filling all my pores. I was able to feel the bond before, and I was able to take in her unique scent, but now it’s like all my sensations have tripled.

My wolf is finally with me. It still feels a bit awkward, but we will get there.

Atlas…I try to say his name in my mind, still feeling weird that I can link my wolf. I know I am overthinking it, and that I only need to follow my instincts now, but it’s hard to suddenly let go of old habits.

I am here,he murmurs. In my mind, I can suddenly see his majestic head. I thought I would never truly meet him. After realizing Kata is my mate, and even after having marked each other, I thought that was it. And I was ready to accept it, to be content with what I had.

But now he is here, and the emptiness I felt is suddenly filled by his presence.