Ember's Pov

He slowly brought his lips to mine, and it was the most tender kiss. There was nothing rushed or consuming about it. Instead, it was warm and gentle, full of endless promises that made me giddy and sparked a bit of light and hope within me.


And in the deepest parts of my soul, I felt like I was truly going to be okay.

~~~~

"That was one long walk," Ashley commented when I got back to my room. She had come home to me every day since I fell into a dark place, and I loved her with all that I was for being such a wonderful friend to me. But if I were to tell her I had to just be with Paris, was she going to understand?


I wasn't sure, and I didn't know if I was prepared to find out,

"I had a lot of things to go through." it wasn't very far from the truth. I did have a lot of things to process, I just wasn't adding the fact that I was processing all of those things with Paris. For my safety, as well as her serenity, of course.


"hmmm. Nature walks are supposed to be good," she said, her eyes never leaving me as I took off my clothes, and I felt my skin burn. Not because I was uncomfortable, I mean, Ashely has been my best friend since we were prepubescent, of course, she had seen me at every stage. But I burned, because, her eyes were searching and questioning, and I feared the questions,

"Yes, that's why I took this one."

"you know what else some people consider as good for them?" she asked,

I picked up my night dress and tugged it on, "what?" I asked, lying next to her,

"meeting up with ex-lovers," she said coolly, and I froze,

"huh. Why would anyone do that"? I asked, reaching for the covers, but she only dragged it off me,

"I wonder why though. I wonder why anyone would leave their space of healing and a considerable amount of comfort to go be with a man who has hurt her after just being visited by the kind and sweet mate she rejected, but still wants to be ever sure that she is okay. Gee, I wonder why anyone would do that to themselves."

I sighed and reached for the cover she had tugged off, but she didn't budge,

"alright. Alright. What gave me away?"

"His scent is one thing."

"you know Paris' scent?" I asked, surprised,

"no, I know yours. And I know yours isn't all I'm perceiving at the moment."

"ahhh." I should have taken a bath right after. I'd try and keep it in mind for the future,

"Ember."

"Ashley. Hear me out. My love for Paris is the sole reason I let someone as precious as Jean getaway. Am I supposed to stay away from Paris?"

"it would be a bit more soothing if the whole thing were days apart," she said gruffly. I smiled and laid a head on her shoulder,

"I understand that Paris isn't your favorite person right now."

"he isn't. I can't understand how he could ever be yours."

I sighed, "I can't begin to tell you how honestly magical things had once been between him and me. As things fell apart, I found myself holding on to that magic with all I was. I suppose even when I thought I was done, a huge part of me was still holding on to that magic."

"I'm not angry you've held on to the beautiful parts. I'm just angry at him for giving you ugly parts too. I hate that he did any of that to you."

"And that's what makes you the bestest friend I've ever had. But I need you, so much… I need you to trust me to navigate this period of my life the very best that I can. And if you can't trust me, perhaps it won't be too much to ask that you be here for me."

"to catch you, if you ever fall?"

"Yes, something like that."

"As much I don’t like Paris very much right now, I pray that you don't ever fall. I really hope it's only beautiful magic from this point on,"

"amen. Me too."

She sighed and smoothened my covers,

"but if you ever try to give me the slip, I promise I'll have your head." she threatened, and I laughed.

PARIS's POV

I was having a glass of whiskey when Jackson walked in with some reports about members of the pack. But whatever he was saying was simply not registering. Something about rogues being caught and finding their hideouts,

"That sounds blissful, Jackson," I said and sipped from my glass,

"Blissful is a fine way to see it, but sure, you don't seem to be invested in this. I would expect that since you were the one who wanted nothing but to catch the rogues and put them in their rightful places you would be very interested in this news, but it seems to me that other things fill your mind."

I smiled and raised my glass, "I am glad you've gotten the rogues, Jackson. That's just one more thing to add to the list of things I'm grateful for I suppose."

"you have a list, sire?" he asked,

"At the moment, I do. For example, I finally got to speak to Ember."

"ah, I see. That is good news I suppose. How is she?"

"grand. Well, actually, she isn't exactly in the best frame of mind, to be honest."

"Is she unwell?"

"she has been. To reject one's mate isn't always the easiest thing. It takes a toll on you."

"Excuse me, sire, did you just say, she rejected her mate?"

"Yes, Jackson, I suppose I did."

"And I presume the mate in question should be alpha Jean?"

"Yes, Jackson. I suppose it is."

"Did she say why?"

"Why else, Jackson? She considers a life with me again, that's why."

"Well then, I suppose that Is a good reason to be in such a good mood," Jackson said,

"it is. Grab a glass, will you?"

He poured himself a glass, and after some moments of silence, he asked,

"But sire, what about Kate?"

"What about her, Jackson?" I asked, feeling slightly frustrated with his question,

"Well, she may not be around, but she is still very well in the picture, is she not?"

I exhaled loudly and got up, "I don't know." I ground out, " I haven’t given her much thought."

"Well, not to ruin your happiness, but I believe you actually should. Ember might have rejected her mate, but you haven't. The bond remains, and it may still affect you in some way."

"it will, not may. And I have a very good picture now of how that has made Ember feel."

"aye. It's good to remember then that Ember did the most unselfish thing and rejected her mate because of her love for you. Do you think you can actually do the same for her?"

For all my joy, for all the plans I had made to make Ember mine again, I had never, for once, considered rejecting mate as my mate, so to say, Jackson's question caught me off guard was to put it lightly,

"with everything I've put Ember through because of me, it would be the purest thing ever."

"it would," Jackson said, but I would rather not push the decision on you,

"Not at all, Jackson. I am actually grateful you made me see the light." I said, looking out the window.

Now I just need to bask in the light.