Chapter 119
Chapter 119
Chapter 119
Chapter 0119
I didn’t want to be late to pick up Cara. I really wanted to be early, like hours early, but I restrained
myself. She has things to do today and I don’t want to overwhelm her.
When I can’t wait any longer, I head over to the florist to get the flowers I ordered. yesterday. Dorothy
had suggested that I start adding some color to Lily’s memorial, so it’s violets today. I’m surprised when
I walk in and immediately catch my favorite scent, vanilla and honey. I look around and don’t see her.
‘Let’s hunt her down.‘ Kai says to me, and I can feel his excitement. He’s been wanting to chase our
mate for real. Unfortunately, Artemis isn’t yet ready to shift so Kai has had to be patient.
I stalk around some plants, following my nose. When I see her peeking around a planter, I know that
she hid from us so we would have to find her. Oh my little guardian, you can never hide from me.
Wrapping my arms around her and hearing her yelp of surprise has made my day. I take a deep breath
of her amazing scent and feel everything that was out of sorts in mind and body today settle
immediately. She has become the balm to my stress and worries, and she doesn’t have to do anything
but be in my presence.
I suddenly have a flash of Liam, having gone so many years without his mate. For someone that is as
alone as he is, he really is a great Alpha. He doesn’t let his own emotions impact how he runs his pack.
At least not yet. Alphas have been known to go feral if they don’t find their mates. I really hope he finds
his, but I’ll be damned if he thinks he can have mine.
After convincing Cara to leave her car, we head to the memorial. I can tell when we arrive that she’s
nervous. Never having had to live without my parents, I can’t imagine what it is like for her. But I plan to
be by her side and support her in any way she needs.
When we walk up to the memorial, Cara stops and looks around. “You and your mother placed all
these flowers?” She asks me.
I point over to a section just off to the side of the memorial. “I believe that group in front is from your
father. And those around the back are probably from other pack members giving their respects. These
on the sides are from my mother and I.”
I begin to walk toward the memorial, taking her hand and pulling her along with me as she takes it in.
There are many people in the pack that loved Lily Nelson.
From what my mother said, she was a wonderful person with a beautiful soul. She touched so many
lives in our pack.
I let go of Cara’s hand and walk up to the memorial. Following in my mother’s footsteps, I place my
hand on the angel’s folded hands. “Thank you, Mrs. Nelson, for your sacrifice. Mom told you we’d
never forget, and we never will.” I add my own part to the end. “I am keeping my promise to you. I will
make sure that she is always safe.”
Cara walks up to me. “What was that? What promise?”
Before answering, I take my flowers and make room at the foot of the stone statue for both of our
vases. I place the flowers and stand, looking back up at Lily’s angel.
My mind takes me back to that moment as I tell Cara. “The day your mother died, we were under attack
and my mother tried to get us to the bunker, but we didn’t make it. We were cut off and were about to
be attacked. Your mother came out of nowhere, taking out the other pack’s warriors. I can remember it
so clearly. She was incredible. I’d never seen anyone as fierce as her.” I stop and look at Cara. Until
you.” I swallow hard as I go back to the memory.
“She took down so many wolves, but they just kept coming and at one point, she was so severely
injured, that she shifted back. I think she knew that she wasn’t going to make it. My mother had shifted
and was fighting as well. However, you know my mother, she’s not a warrior. But she was holding her
own to protect me. Your mother looked me right in the eye.”
My mind takes me back in time and I’m there, in the battle, seeing Lily dying in front of me, hearing my
mother’s wolf snarling from somewhere behind me. I’m trusting you to watch out for her. Take care of
her and keep her safe for me. Promise me Rik. Promise me you’ll always look after my little girl.”
Cara’s gasp pulls me out of the memory. “It was the last thing she ever said. I’m not even sure my
mother knows she said it to me. I never told anyone. It scared me. But before her eyes dimmed, I
promised her. I promised your mother that I would always keep you safe.” I chuckle humorlessly. “I’m
guessing she didn’t realize her daughter would be a Guardian too.”
I turn to Cara and take her hands in mine. “So you see, I have a promise to keep. I must ensure your
safety. It’s not just the Alpha in me, or the love that I feel blossoming in my heart for you, but I must
keep my promise to your mother.”
I cup her face in my hand, loving that she leans into my touch. I lean forward and gently kiss her lips. I
can feel the tears hanging in the corners of her eyes. I take my thumbs and wipe them away before
they can fall. I pull back to rub my nose.
+15 BONOS
against hers. “Don’t cry love.”
She sniffs and pulls herself together. She sets her flowers down beside mine. “Do you mind if I take a
moment with my mother alone before we leave?”
“Of course not. I’ll wait for you at the car.”
When I get to the car, I lean against it waiting for Cara. I think back to that day. There was something in
Lily’s eyes, in the way she told me to take care of Cara. It was like she knew. Like she knew that Cara
and I would be mates. There’s no way she could have known, but somehow, I think she did.