I would never get used to my mate being inside my head. Her mind-link ability had grown, and now she and I could speak to one another.
“Hawke,” I said, patting his shoulder. “If you want to have what I have. To have someone care and love for you, don’t you think Delilah will give you that? She isn’t your previous mate.”
Hawke grated his teeth, his jawbone ticking. “I’ve been hurt—”
“We all have,” I interrupted. “But look what I have now.” I looked to Journey, and she waved excitedly.
I chuckled and pulled her in for a peck on the lips.
“But you don’t know how long...” Hawke couldn’t speak what all of us knew besides Journey. That she could very well die during the shift. He tapped his fingers on the bar and watched Journey as she finished her food.
He shook his head. “I don’t want to put her through that,” he gulped. “I don’t want to get her only to lose her, if we are even mates.”
I stepped in front of my mate, leaning on the bar to hide the words I need to tell Hawke. “To have her as my mate for any amount of time is worth it,” I whispered. “I pray to the goddess each day she will survive. If she doesn’t, my heart will follow her into death. That is all I can hope for.”
Hawke sobered at my words. He looked around me. Journey laughed with another female server.
“She’s different. She’s changed a lot since she came here,” Hawke mentioned. “For the good. She’s a good woman for you.”
“She is. And I would have died without her.” And now, she may die because of me.
Journey hopped down from her stool and pushed me back so she could stand in front of me. She wrapped my arms around her body and stared up at Hawke.
“Hawke, she left. She told me she was leaving. She didn’t tell me where she was going. If you want her, and I mean really want her, then you go after her. But if you go after her.” Her eyes narrowed. “You better pray to the goddess and let that bond take over. Because otherwise, she can’t be yours.”
Hawke grunted, taking his glass and draining it. “Thank you, Journey.” He patted her head and stood up to leave.
After Hawke left, letting in a cold gust, Journey sighed, leaning against my chest. “Do you think he is going to go find her?”
“I don’t know, little mate. But you did the best you could.”
She hummed, burying her nose deeper into my chest.
“Get a room!” one man from across the bar yelled. He laughed, slapping the table.
With the questions surrounding Journey and her future, the members were still happy she was here. They were happy because I was, because I had come out of my rogue status. It gave them hope, but also uncertainty.
Locke worried about the mark on Journey’s forehead. He didn’t understand it, didn’t know what it meant, so he prepared for the worst.
For so long, we acted like the goddess was a cold-hearted bitch. But what had happened to me in the past month had been far from cold-hearted. She’d given me a chance, and I should trust her. But part of me was reluctant, having been broken before.
The wind would die down by tomorrow, and the snow should stop enough for us to get out and about. We both needed the fresh air, and if her wolf was to indeed come, then the smells of the pine and the spruce trees would help any anxiousness she may have.
“Little mate, would you like to go get a Christmas tree?”
Journey’s eyes widened. “A tree? Like a real Christmas tree?” I nodded and rubbed my nose with hers.
“But it doesn’t look like you guys celebrate Christmas. There aren’t any lights in here or on the street?”
I scratched my bearded chin, looking around the bar. “We don’t, it’s a human holiday, but I don’t see why we can’t celebrate?”
“I’d like that. No presents though,” she shook her head. “You’ve given me enough, and I just want to spend time with you and your friends.”
“Our friends,” I corrected her.
“Damn straight.” Locke leaned against the bar. “We’re all family here, so why don’t we all celebrate... Wait, what holiday is it?” Locke smirked.
“Christmas,” Journey chirped. “Grim said he was going to get us a tree since I’ve never celebrated.”
