**Episode 4, finally, for Elliott and Killian and this is the last one. It’s just a beginning for them, but this is where my telling of their story ends. I’ll put up another post on another day explaining some of the things in my life and where things are going for me. But for now, enjoy!**
Killian was bloody and bruised when he returned. I’d been anxiously waiting, along with most of the pack. He’d gone with several enforcers and representatives of the Shifter Council, intending for a peaceful resolution but expecting the worst. By the look of the alpha, it hadn’t gone easily.
I knew my old alpha was dead. I’d felt it the instant the pack bonds broke. And there was grief in that, but also so much relief. Then it became a waiting game, anticipating Killian’s return. When he got out of the car, and I saw him, panic threatened for just a moment. But he was whole and what few injuries he had would heal quickly once he shifted again.
Everly tried to hold me back, but she couldn’t. I ran to him, throwing myself into his arms, not caring that he was a mess. Not caring that it was my old alpha’s blood, and probably some of his own. I needed to touch, to scent, and I couldn’t explain it. But I didn’t care. Killian was home and I needed.
Killian didn’t hesitate to gather me up, hold me close, and bury his nose against my neck. And that was the moment it hit me, with him holding me so tightly and his scent all I could smell. The reason I’d felt safe with him right from the start, even when I’d been scared, even when I couldn’t talk, even when his actions accidentally caused a trauma response. He was my mate.
I started shaking, but Killian just squeezed me tighter. And even though he was probably hurting and even though other pack members were speaking, asking questions, Killian ignored them all, lifted me so I could wrap my legs around him, and carried me into the house. He didn’t stop, not even a moment’s pause, and headed straight for his bedroom, kicking the door closed behind us. He tried to set me down, but I whimpered, clinging tighter, so he sat on the bed, still holding me.
“Mine,” I whispered, awe and worry coursing through me.
“Yeah.” Killian’s voice was just as soft, but a lot more confident. He brushed my hair back and kissed my temple. “Yeah. I was hoping, if that bastard’s bonds to you were broken, you’d feel it.”
I lifted my head then, so quickly I nearly clipped his chin. But Killian moved his head at the last second. I squinted at him. “Is that why you went after him?”
“Not the only reason.” The truth rang in his words. “But one of them, yeah. He needed to pay for what he did to you, and others. He needed to be stopped. And I would have done it anyway. But the hope for you to feel our bond? That was a big motivator.”
“You didn’t say anything. You didn’t tell me.”
Killian smiled, a soft, affection expression sweeping across his face. “And I wouldn’t have. It was more important that you are safe and cared for. If you never recognized it, we would have kept on as we were. But I’m glad you did. Do.”
“I don’t know how I feel about…everything,” I admitted softly.
“That’s okay. We’ll take our time. Of course we will.” He rubbed my back with a soothing sweeping motion. Then he gave me a cheeky grin. “Do you think you can let go of me long enough for me to get cleaned up?”
My first reaction was to cling more tightly, but then I realized that he really was a mess and probably wanted to wash up pretty badly. I had to talk myself into sliding off him, but after a minute or two, I stood on my own two feet.
“You’ve got blood on you now too.”
I cocked my head, studying him, not quite sure where he was going with that. He’d just said we could take things slowly, but was he suggesting we cleaned up together? That seemed at odds with his previous intent and that wasn’t like Killian.
He stood, crossed to his dresser, and pawed in the drawers for a moment. Then he turned and handed me a shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He nodded his head toward the bathroom.
“Change and wash the blood off. I’ll be right here.”
I did as he asked, nearly tripping over my feet in my haste. It wasn’t so bad because the blood had mostly dried so there wasn’t a ton of transfer to me. My jeans were actually still clean. But since Killian had given me the clothes, I changed as soon as I wiped the blood off my forearms and face. He was only a little bit bigger than me, so while the clothes were baggy, they weren’t falling off. I pulled the drawstring on the pants tight, and emerged a few minutes later.
Killian’s gaze darkened, his pupils blowing wide, as he stared at me. Then he shook his head like he was clearing his thoughts, picked up his own pile of clothes, and headed into the bathroom. A moment later, I heard the shower turn on.
I sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the closed door, and tried to get my brain online. My old alpha was dead. My former pack was, no doubt, disbanded. Those who were innocent were being sent to rehab with other packs. Those who were guilty would be punished. Everly had explained it all to me, how it would go. They no longer had a hold over me. I was safe and cared for and, just possibly, loved. It was a novel concept I couldn’t quite wrap my brain around, even after living with this pack for more than a month. And I had a mate.
Killian walked out, drying his hair with a towel, while I was still trying to process all the information. He tossed his towel toward the bathroom where it landed on the floor with a plop, and then sat at the end of the bed, got comfortable, then opened his arms.
“Come cuddle?”
I practically dove into his arms. Both of us let out a contented sigh, and then Killian chuckled. “It’s going to take time, and work, but we’ll get where we need to be. And we go at your pace, all right? There’s still a lot you need to work through. But I’m here for you. So is the pack.”
“When I ran, I thought I was going to die,” I said, after a few minutes contemplative silence. Killian squeezed me tighter. “I didn’t think I could trust you, or the pack. I didn’t think I would ever feel safe again.”
“And now?” he whispered.
“Now I know I was meant to be here. And I do. Trust you and feel safe. But I think it’s going to take time to really feel it, down to my bones. And now the whole mate thing. It makes sense but also…” I shrugged as much as I could. “It’s a lot.”
“Yeah. But you’ll be okay.”
I nodded, wanting to believe it so badly that I almost did. Suddenly, I didn’t feel like talking anymore. Or thinking.
“I wanna shift.”
Killian looked down at me, brows raised. “You want to run?”
“No, just…shift and…dog pile.”
If Killian thought it was a weird request, he didn’t show it. He simply stood up and pulled off the clothes he’d just put on. I did the same and then we both changed into our wolf skin. Then Killian hopped up on the bed and curled up, leaving the perfect spot for me. I hesitated, then joined him, fitting myself against him. Killian licked my muzzle, then settled down, and I tucked my head against my paws.
I was warm and safe. The bad man couldn’t get me anymore. And my mate was by
my side, giving me cuddles. I was a long way from healed, but I finally felt like it was possible, that someday, I’d be whole again. That my life would be good. Killian would make sure of it.
Kris T. Bethke--Author of M/M Romance 