Scars That Bind Us

UNKNOWN

The newly mated couple returned to the Old Kingdom hand in hand, the matching ring of scars adorning their necks on display for all to see. Their family was waiting for them upon their arrival home.

Syn was embraced by all, while his mate stood back, unsure of his position.

The alpha female had disowned Terrin, but he had righted his wrong. He didn’t know if he would be welcomed back like his mate, if he ~should~ be welcomed back.

Yes, he had saved Syn and brought him home, but it was because of him that the male had needed saving in the first place.

The pack stared at the werewolf, unsure if they should be grateful.

Then the alpha male dispelled the awkwardness. Hakota pulled Terrin into a hug, whispering his thanks. One by one, the others did the same, some embraces warmer than others.

The last one left was Cleo, the alpha female who had disgraced Terrin and made him an outcast, his friend who he had considered an older sister. A sister who had decided his worth to be less than his lycan mate’s.

They stood silently, Terrin keeping his eyes on the ground.

This female had welcomed him into the pack, given him a family and a home, but then she had also taken it away. “Your scars,” the female said at last, causing Syn to stiffen and Terrin to reach for his mark.

The werewolf often forgot about the other scars he now wore. They weren’t important, not like the one on his neck.

“Not that one,” Cleo said, and the werewolf’s hand moved up to brush across his head.

Terrin’s eyes flicked up to her. “These scars brought us closer together. They have not driven us apart as yours have.” A challenge and an offering.

It was a promise that he and Syn would be happy with each other, that they had forgiven each other, that they had been healed. The alpha female nodded once, accepting his promise.

Cleo hugged the large male. “I needed you to learn your lesson,” she told the werewolf what he had already suspected. “I needed you not to repeat my mistakes.”

Terrin said nothing in reply. He had known this already.

At first he had been upset, but he had quickly realized that he had been thrown from the nest to learn how to fly.

The initial plummet had been terrifying, but once he had spread his wings, he had been able to discover the beauty beyond the nest.

She had pushed him away to help him, and she wasn’t going to let him back in until she was sure he had truly learned to fly. And he had. Terrin had soared, fighting through a storm to find his wings—to find his mate.

But he wasn’t back with the intent to reenter the nest. He was ready to build his own now. And he would.

Terrin grabbed his mate’s hand, and the weary travelers entered the castle.

Night had fallen long ago, but eager to return home, the couple had pressed on.

As Syn entered his room at the castle—which was reserved for him despite his personal dwelling in the city—he felt immense relief that he would no longer have to sleep alone.

Terrin hardly made it to the bed before collapsing.

The lycan chuckled and attended to his mate. He stripped the sleeping male of his travel-worn clothes and used a rag to wash off the dirty streaks on his skin. Tomorrow they would bathe properly.

Climbing under the covers, Syn pulled the blankets high over his mate but did not pull the werewolf to him right away. He used the space between them to properly examine his sleeping mate’s face.

He caressed the gashes along Terrin’s skull, smiling as he recalled his mate’s words about his scars.

Terrin stirred and groaned, his lips parting. “Cold,” he breathed out.

The lycan drew away, getting out of bed to close the window that had been left open to keep the room from smelling of must and stale air.

But as he reached out to pull the pane shut, he halted, catching sight of a figure sitting on the sill of his own open window.

The beta gazed wistfully at the moon, his words a whisper in the wind. “Never is a long time, but forever is longer.”

With a small, sad smile for the dejected male, Syn silently closed the window, letting Sitka have his privacy.

All of the lycans knew what it was like to stare at the moon and wish for something.

Syn joined his mate—his own wish come true—and pulled him against his body, closing his eyes and breathing him in. Never had he believed he would have this, but he had forever to cherish it.