Devoted To You

twenty-one

"My Dearest Darling" -Etta James

     "Goddess, Wendy."

    Adam whispered into her hair, out of breath from the adrenaline and the pure shock from the sight of her. He had waited so long for her to come back, worried for her every day. Her legs tightened around his waist, a soft whimper leaving her throat from the feel of him. 

     Adam didn't know what to do, he never wanted to let her go again but they had only just met and she wasn't intuned to the mate bond as much as he was. He didn't know what she was feeling regarding him, but with her wrapped around him like a snake, it had to be a good sign, right?

     "Wendy, baby. Please, tell me you're alright, where have you been?"

     With her still in his arms, she retracted her face from his neck, looking into his pale grey eyes before they cast behind him. Her dark brows furrowed, "Adam, where... where are we?"

     Without looking back, Adam sighed, knowing what was to come. Her legs around his waist had loosened their grip, Adam kept his arms around her but set her feet onto the green grass gently. 

     "Come, we have a lot to talk about."

    Wendy followed reluctantly. 

     Teddy followed next to her, trotting by her side with his tongue out and breathing heavily in excitement. Wendy's brows seemed to have a permanent furrow, confusion evident on her face. When the sight of Em and her brother came into view, their faces showed their shock as well as a tear leaving Em's eyes.

     Wendy could barely register what was going on around her. She didn't feel Adam's hand in hers, pulling her into the large home she didn't recognize. Her mind was reeling, confused entirely at where she was because, around her, it looked to be the same woods she grew up in.

     Yet, it wasn't snowing anymore.

     Adam ushered her up the porch steps, looking back at her every few seconds to take in her facial expressions, it never strayed from confusion though. He wanted to see if she liked the house, if all his hard work into making them a home was time well spent. But, he shouldn't get his hopes just yet, of course, she was confused. 

     Just inside the house, past the sliding glass door to the backyard, both couples including Teddy, migrated to the tall-ceilinged living room. The Bernese Mountain dog went straight for his large bed near the fireplace while Em and Bo sat on one edge of the couch, Wendy sitting on the other side. 

     Adam kept hold of her hands, terrified she would run away again plus he just couldn't bear to let go of her again. He sat on the coffee table in front of her before speaking. 

     "Whose house is this?" Wendy whispered to herself.

     Adam and Bo exchanged a look before Adam cleared his throat, "Wendy, do you know how long you were gone for?"

    She couldn't stop looking around the new cabin but she still answered his question, "Yeah... I think about a week, why?"

    Adam looked to Bo before down at his mate's hands, "Wendy, baby, look at me." She did as told and Adam almost regretted it because he couldn't meet her eyes, "You've been in the fae realm for six months. In that time, I had rebuilt your family's cabin."

     Wendy's cheeks flamed instantly, the heat from their bond was one thing but when her anger surfaced, her entire body was set aflame from the inside. Her jaw clicked, her teeth clenched, and Adam almost reeled back from the fear he felt filtering through their bond.