Shadows (Book 2 of the Zara's Wolf Trilogy) BWWM

16. The Feast

Brianna's getting the last of her stitches done by the time the others return. I step outside when I hear them, their yips and yaps loud and boisterous from the victory and ready for a big celebratory dinner. As they emerge from the woods, they look ready to eat a herd of wild buffalo.

"Gah, I'm freaking starving!" Keith complains for the entire village to hear.

A round of snickers from nearby shifters makes his grin widen.

Even my mate has a small smile of pride on his face as he ambles toward the fire pit, his T-shirt slung over his lean shoulder as he uses it to wipe the sweat from his neck. When his eyes catch mine, he frowns. There's a gleam of worry and pain in his eyes, and I immediately know that he is remembering our last bitter remarks to each other.

It tugs on my heart, and more than anything I want to forgive him, forget what happened, and run back into his arms, but my feet are rooted in place.

He assisted in the torture and murder of that rogue, and I'm just not ready to accept that yet.

Even Keith's big smirk fades away as he looks from me to Evan. His lips twist, like he's fighting back the urge to make a crude comment.

Wise move, my friend. I've already handled enough junk for my liking in one day.

Evan's family steps out of the forest soon after with Alicia and Rick. The pair of alphas look tense next to each other, their heads low with Rick sneaking glances at his mate as she continues to wring her hands together in front of her. Why are they still so stressed? Isn't the threat gone? Or do they anticipate the rogues returning when we least expect it?

I press my palm to my forehead before brushing my dreadlocks back. I can't avoid Evan, so I might as well push everything behind me and move on.

When my gaze falls on him again, I take a deep breath and swallow the lump in my throat. Picking up my feet, I step toward them, keeping my gaze locked on Evan. My feet feel weighed down, but as I get closer, all of the pain and confusion, anger and guilt, come bubbling up to the surface.

With much of my pent up anger spent on Burk, I realize I don't want to be mad at Evan anymore. I just want to be held and comforted. I want to be told that everything is going to be okay, and all the thoughts in my head will drift away. I want to be kissed softly, and all the hurt melted into oblivion.

I want it to be just him and me again. Just the two of us with no cares or worries in this world.

I guess, even in shifter society, nothing is perfect. We are just as imperfect as the next being, be it man or beast. We all make mistakes, but we try to do our best and do what's right.

Evan was just trying to do what's best for the rest of us. I don't have to forgive him, but I should.

As the distance between us closes, I wrap my arms around him, and let all the pain in my heart come flooding out. I bury my face in the curve of his neck, allowing his scent to relax me. It's so simple, I remind myself that I should do it more often.

He cradles the back of my head in one hand, while he pulls me against him with the other around my waist.

"I'm sorry," I say with a hiccup.

"No, I'm sorry," he says. "I wasn't thinking. I should've known that you weren't ready for that."

"How were you supposed to know that we'd actually come across a rogue, huh? Besides, we needed every bit of help we could get."

"Yes, but knowing our weaknesses is just as important. You could have gotten seriously hurt out there."

"Could've, but didn't."