Bear tugged me along into the grass that now grew off the front porch. It covered the stepping stones that led to the cabin porch, and the vines even took over Bear’s truck.
“What, what is this?” I breathed. “This… is this a dream? Is it real or—”
Bear cleared his throat and pulled my other hand to his, squeezing it tightly. “This is magic, Nadia. Please do not be afraid of it. It’s not a dream.”
I felt the honesty in his words. I felt it through the bond. Still, I walked with trepidation down the steps and into the soft grasses that I knew shouldn’t have grown around the cabin. It was usually filled with moss, dirt, and mud.
He continued to lead me through our normal walking path. It was worn from our bare feet and claws. The scent of the honeysuckle drove me mad, wanting to taste a bit of its honey, but Bear continued to have us walk down the soft path.
“A lot has happened since I’ve kept you in the cabin, having you heal and teaching you about your bear,” he said, keeping his hand on my lower back.
That was an understatement. My first shift was done in a dream. It wasn’t a pleasant shift and filled with both emotional and physical pain. Over the weeks, Bear taught me how to shift to make it less painful, how to embrace my animal, and teaching the basics, even how to walk.
I’d come to love her and build a new connection with a new part of myself.
“Hawke and Journey have worked with a special group of souls that have come under our protection, and there are two very special people who want to meet you. They’ve been searching for you for a long time.”
My stomach leaped.
Did he? Did he find my parents?
I halted in my steps and stared up at my mate, who continued to surprise me. After all he had done, he still continued to amaze me. He gave me more than I could ever give.
Immediately, my eyes welled up with tears.
“Woah, woah, you can’t do that.” He panicked, taking his thumbs and wiping away the tears. “I can’t do tears, baby, not when I have no idea what’s going on.”
I let out a giggle and wrapped my arms around him. “They are happy tears. Women can do that.”
Bear lowered his shoulders and let out a breath. “Goddess, you females are something. Now that you know you can cry in front of me, you are going to do it all the time, aren’t you?”
I nodded and rubbed my face into his shirt.
“Don’t cry now, because I think your parents will get pissed at me. I don’t need a summer fae wrapping his vines around my throat.”
I stared up at him, blinking. He smirked and nodded his head for me to look behind me.
My father stood tall, his deep green linen pants and white tunic standing out against the colorful backdrop of nature. The sun rays that shone through the trees glinted off of his long, blond hair, the dark green highlights underneath it curling around his neck. The blooms around him seemed to expand and grow brighter, and he emanated a comforting honey-like aroma.
He looked better than in the nightmare. He looked fresh, clean, so healthy. He wasn’t weak or lost in despair; he was regal, and I questioned if he could possibly be a prince or a king. My thoughts of my father soon drifted away when I saw my mother. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, her dark brown hair cascading down her back in waves of golden highlights. She wore a tan dress with green embellishments swirled on the cuffs of her sleeves, her arm firmly looped around my father’s. When she turned to gaze lovingly at him, two distinctively pointed ears were revealed that gave away what she was now.
A fae.
My mouth dropped, but I squeezed Bear’s hand for reassurance. My mother and father, and they were bonded—together.
Don’t let this be a dream.
Were we still having our rut and heat. I was passed out on his body, savoring the warmth, and I was having a fifteen-minute power nap before we did it again.
That was the only logical explanation for all of this.
“This isn’t real.” I placed my hand over my mouth. “This, none of this.” I backed away, but Bear’s giant hand stopped me.
“Baby, it’s real. I promise.”He kissed my mark, and the tears flowed.
They both stepped forward, arm in arm. They weren’t surprised to see me at all when they walked toward me, and my mother threw her arms around me. I let her, despite the shock, and hugged her back. This hug felt warm, so much more passion than in the dream.
“It’s real, all of it’s real,”Bear continued to remind me. I still held onto his hand while they both held me.
