Lachlan and his men, including Cherum, had to hold some meeting on Nilo’s return to the castle, so Cedric eagerly volunteered to go for an after-dinner walk with me. Maurice and Thomas followed at a distance to keep me safe. Lachlan tried to refuse Cedric on my behalf, thinking I was still tired, but I reassured him that I was fine, feeling better after eating. I wanted to talk with Cedric alone. I had so many questions about my father.“You and the Alpha seemed to be on much friendlier terms,” Cedric tells me, sounding almost amused as we walked alongside one another along the docks. I huffed out a laugh in the back of my throat, not sure how to respond. I’m not sure if we are on friendlier terms or if the bond and my lycan are just that much of an influence on me now. I’m scared. I’m scared because I clung to hope for so long in my first life that things could be better if I could just get a moment alone with Lachlan to tell him we were mates. I think keeping my heart open and ho

Cedric and I were walking back along the docks when Lachlan came out to meet us. After what Cedric and I talked about, it was hard to keep the heat out of my cheeks watching him walk towards us. He was very much an attractive man, with his strong physique and dark features set on a handsome tanned face, and now that I was trying to stay open to the bond for Val’s sake, it’s harder to bury down the natural reactions my body has to him. “Lira,” he said my name with such affection that I lost the battle of trying to keep a blush off my face, “I was just coming to find you.” “She’s been here with me,” Cedric smirks, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, making Val growl slightly in protest. “We were just enjoying a lovely stroll along the water’s edge if you would like to join us.” Lachlan could barely hide his disapproval, because of both Cedric’s suggestion and of his arm around my shoulder. The pestering bond is making it impossible to feel at ease in this situation. I don’t want to d

Lachlan POVI watched Lira’s face change from anger to worry. I caught on to Meldec and Cedric a few days ago. I recognized the look that would pass over Mel’s face whenever Cedric was nearby. His eyes would be trained on the siren man, his emotions clear on his features. If Cedric was laughing or seemed happy, Mel would be smiling at him too. When Cedric was being too affectionate with Lira, like just now, my Gamma would start going off in angry tirades that resulted in the men under him doing some form of physical exertion they would hate. Yesterday, when we walked in the great hall and Cedric was feeding Lira pieces of an apple that he was cutting up with a pearl-handled dagger, Mel lost his shit and had our warriors combing the training yard to find some imaginary pen he said he dropped when we went back to training. I didn't like it either, but I was just happy that someone was getting my wife to eat. She's getting to a healthier weight now, and Cedric's non-chalant way of feed

Lachlan POVMy nerves are getting the best of me as I lead Lira through the castle and out to the warrior’s part of the castle. I can sense something is bothering her, her face lost in thought as she stares vacantly down at the ground. Val is flashing in her eyes a lot too. “My mate likes me. Don’t worry too much,” Killian tries to tell me. “You’re mate may like you, but mine still wants to go back to the sea,” I reminded him. “She could be talking about leaving me right now.”Killian huffs, “Don’t be an ass and she won’t.”“I’ve been on my best behavior,” I growled at him. I didn’t even snap when the naked merman was swimming with her and she was all over him. I could tell they were just playing, but it didn’t stop the jealousy from raging inside of me. I kept it in, not wanting to anger my wife. I’m glad I did too. She seemed mad enough with Meldec. “You’re right,” Killian sighs, “But it hasn’t been that long. A week isn’t enough time to recover from the past. She has to learn t

Eventually, we did make it to the garden we originally set out for. Lachlan had this expression like he had just won the greatest prize, all from one kiss. I can’t say that I felt much different. It was a great moment for me as well. I finally felt free from the ghost of Lachlan from my past. It was a small act, but felt enormous to me. Now, I do not flinch or hesitate when Lachlan grasps my hand, kisses the back of it, or when he places his arm on my shoulder, hugging me to his side. This feels….right. Like this was how we were meant to be.The garden that used to belong to Lachlan’s mother was beautiful. It was a maze of foliage, blooming roses, and flower-covered vines over wooden archways. The center of the maze had an elaborate fountain with, of all things, a mermaid at its center. She was gorgeously intricate with her carved scales and the delicate way her tail and fins folded to the sides, like water currents were pressing down on them. Water was spewing from her uplifted hand