With an unsteady hand, I stuck my phone back in my pocket, then took a deep breath before letting the others know Zarai was at the pack house. “We need to head back.”
“You two go ahead,” Aiden said to me and Liam. “Caleb and I will clean up everything here and meet you back at the house shortly.”
I nodded as Liam grabbed my hand, leading me to one of the ATVs. The ride back was quick and silent. I didn’t have much to say. My nerves were all over the place. I just wanted today to be over with and we weren’t even halfway through it, but at the same time, I didn’t. All my emotions were at war, making me feel like a basket case. Liam, being the smart man he was, left me alone with my thoughts.
We made it back to the pack house to find Augie waiting in the living room with Zarai and several others who I assumed to be witches from her coven. Three women who sat huddled together on the couch appeared to be related, based on their matching brunette hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin. Nervousness poured out of them, and I wondered if being around wolves was the reason for it. I’d try not to take offense as long as they were willing to help us.
A fourth witch stood next to Zarai. She had an air of confidence about her, making eye contact with each of us as we walked into the room. Her flaming red hair was tossed over her shoulder and her green eyes sparkled.
“Oh, look. We have another firecracker,” Caleb joked.
“Excuse me?” the redhead snapped.
“I thought you were supposed to be helping Aiden.” I elbowed him in the gut, pushing him back as I turned back to the witches. “Sorry about him. He calls me firecracker for multiple reasons, but the least ingenious reason is for the red highlights in my hair like yours. Just ignore him. It makes things easier on everyone.” I reached my hand out and was surprised by her firm shake. “I’m Taya.”
“I’m Lex. Over there are Michelle, Kayla, and Gertie. They’ll be focusing on breaking the wolf gene spell against the humans using the power of three. Just give them some space and they’ll do their thing.” She paused, glancing around the room. “Not all of us have the best history with wolves, so being here is a little much.”
I nodded, understanding how different things used to be after hearing what Zarai had told me about our history last week. “Not a problem. We have readied several cabins for you all to stay in. We have one turned human here, but the rest are spread out through the outlying packs. We can have them brought here when you’re ready, though.”
“Thank you, Taya. That would be best. I’d rather not have our witches traveling to other packs if possible,” Zarai said. “Have you sorted things out for the ceremony tonight?”
“We have. Davis will be volunteering for the exchange.” My heart constricted each time I said those words. It still didn’t feel right, but he had only been getting worse since the seizure. I wouldn’t be the one to stop him from doing what he wanted. “Do you need anything else from us? Help setting up?”
Zarai nodded. “We just need to know where a good spot is. We need an open spot where the moon will be seen and enough space for us to spread out some.”
Augie spoke up first. “I’ve got the perfect place out behind our training facility. I can take you there now if you’d like.”
“We’ve been on the road for hours,” Zarai said. “We’ll get settled in first and then come back here later when we’re ready to start setting up.”
“Alright. Let’s get you to the cabins then,” I said.
All of the witches picked up their bags, following me and Liam out the door. I wasn’t surprised he was coming with me. His overprotectiveness rivaled my father’s, and I worried for my sanity if the two of them ever ganged up on me. I also worried for their well-being if they pushed me too far, but that was for me to think about on a different day.
Today was going to be a day full of highs and lows. After we got the witches settled, I’d be going straight to Davis to have our last official talk. We’d squeezed in a few here and there over the week, but he’d been so out of it that none of what I had really wanted to say had been said.
When we arrived at the cabins, the witches quickly went inside, shutting the doors behind them. Liam glanced at me, seeming at a loss for their abruptness.
“Just roll with it,” I said. “They’re here and they want to help. I couldn’t care less if they’re social as long as they wake my dad and stop Jaye.”
“Good point,” Liam agreed. “What now?”
“Now you’re going to go do whatever it is you do when I’m not around and I’m going to wake Davis.”
He narrowed his gaze on me and took a step closer. “Are you dismissing me?”
I could see the change in his eyes as his wolf peeked through. His normally light green eyes turned dark, and a silver color weaved through the green. I loved pushing his wolf. Liam was an alpha through and through. Pushing his buttons and knocking him down a peg or two made me feel powerful.
“I am. I’m a grown woman. I can handle myself and don’t need constant companionship. Is that a problem?”
His gaze traveled up and down my body, heating it as he did so. “For now? No, it’s not.”
I shuddered at his response. Liam was another person I hadn’t had the conversation with that really needed to be had. At any given time, one of us was either avoiding it or, when we attempted to get into a more serious discussion about our future, someone always interrupted.
“For now. Got it.” I nodded. “We’ll chat about that later then?”
“Like usual,” he said with a cocky grin I was growing fond of.
Well, at least we both realized my thoughts from before. We’d get it figured out eventually. Now, though, I had to thicken my emotional walls and prepare to say goodbye to someone who had been family to me my whole life. No big deal. I had this. Right?
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pushed my 5’4” body as tall as I could in a feeble attempt to match his 6’3” frame. He met me in the middle, pressing his lips against mine. “Come find me when you’re done?” he asked.
“That I can do. Thank you for understanding I need to do this on my own.”
He nodded, pushing me back down and away from him. “Go. Take your time and know I’m here for you when you’re done. Just remember, you don’t always have to be strong on your own, Taya.”
Oh, well, if that last statement didn’t kick me in the feels, I didn’t know what would. I couldn’t find the words to respond, so I nodded and turned back toward the house. I heard his low chuckle behind me as I quickly retreated. I knew I didn’t always have to be the strong one but being vulnerable was scary. Trusting people and hoping they didn’t disappoint me was downright petrifying. It was easier to pretend nothing got to me. Being strong was easy. Letting someone else take on the burden? That was hard.
I arrived back at the house and went straight to Davis’s room, offering only a nod to those I passed on my way. The pack had been completely understanding about everything being up in the air for the time being. I had asked for time and they’d given it without hesitation. I just hoped that whatever Zarai had planned later was actually going to work and my dad would be the one updating the pack soon, not me.
Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to be alpha, but not yet. I wasn’t stupid. I knew I had a lot to learn and I needed to learn it from my dad. I wasn’t ready for it to happen any other way.
I softly knocked on Davis’s door when I arrived. When he didn’t respond, I opened it gently and tip-toed inside. I took residence in my usual chair next to his bed, reaching for his hand as I did so.
The rough calluses on his hand made me smile. Davis was a man who had worked hard all his life. He’d given everything he had to our pack. He’d cultivated our lands, trained our people, and most importantly, protected us.
As much as he had driven me crazy keeping an eye on me for my dad, I wouldn’t have traded him for anyone else in the world.
His hand gently squeezed mine as his head shifted toward me. Seeing him laid up in a hospital bed and barely able to move was slowly killing me. As much as I didn’t want to say goodbye, I was happy to know he’d be going somewhere he’d no longer be confined as he was. He had been right. It was no life for a shifter.
“Hey, kid,” his rough voice rumbled.
“Hey, yourself. How are you doing today?”
“I’m alright. Ready to get out of this bed. It’s depressing in here.”
I glanced around the room and he was right. It was no way for a man to spend his final hours on earth. I had a plan, but there were some things I needed to say first, so they didn’t get left unsaid.
“You’re right. Don’t worry about it, though. We’ll rectify that soon, I promise.”
“I know.” His voice was full of resolve as he took my statement the wrong way. Tears leaked from my eyes as I realized how ready he was to be done with everything.
“Don’t cry for me, Taya,” he said as he softly reached out to touch my face. “See my grey hairs and wrinkles? I got each of them from a long and fulfilled life here with the pack. I’m okay with how everything is working out and you need to be, too.”
I began to half cry and laugh at the same time. “I’m sure you’re ready. I probably gave at least half of those grey hairs and wrinkles to you myself.”
“You and Cord were like kids to me. Your family helped to give me a life worth living when I thought I had none. Before Gerald gave me a chance, I was a hot-headed kid with nothing to look forward to. No family and no purpose. Decades later, I have both, and I feel truly blessed. Us tough guys don’t say it enough, but I love you, Taya. I’ve loved you and Cord your whole lives, and now I’ll watch over you with him until we meet again.”
Hysterics. That was the only word for it. I leaned forward, wrapped my arms tightly around Davis, and bawled my eyes out while mumbling how much I loved him and would miss him. Even if he couldn’t understand the words, I knew he understood the feelings behind them.
Once I calmed down, I pulled back and wiped the tears from my face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that, but I think a breakdown was a long time coming,” I said with a small smile.
“Don’t worry. I plan on punching Cord right after I hug him for all the shit he’s put us through. They should have brought us in on all this a lot sooner.”
I nodded in agreement but knew I couldn’t dwell on the past. What was done, was done. There was nothing we could do to change it, but I damn well planned on making sure Declan didn’t take anyone else away from us.
“How about we get you out of here until Zarai is ready?” I asked.
Davis grinned and, for once, one of my mischievous plans sounded like a good idea to him. “What did you have in mind?”
“ATV rides, fishing, gun range? Whatever you want. You name it and it’s yours.”
“Even ice-cream from Dilly’s?”
My stomach rumbled in response. “I think we can handle that.”
“Alright. I want all the above then. Show me all the fun I’ve been missing out on while you’ve been giving me these grey hairs.”
I grinned at him. “You’ll be leaving here with a permanent smile. That’s a promise.”
The plans were already made in my head. We had about five hours left until the moon would be up in the sky and I planned on making the most of those hours for Davis. He deserved a happy day and so much more. If it was the only thing I could do, I was going to do it big.
“I’ll be back with some muscle. Take a quick nap if you need to, old man. It will be the last one you get today.”