Ouachita Mated(37)

Moments passed as he calmed her enough to stop the shift. There would be time for that later, but for now, she needed to rest.

He pulled back to find her blue eyes, filled with wonder. “Better?” he asked.

“Perfect,” she breathed, and then let out a watery laugh.

Magic smiled, and it didn’t feel like a betrayal to his heart. It felt… really fucking perfect.

Falling to his side, he pulled Josie against him. Burying his face against her shoulder—against her birth mark—he drifted off to sleep.

***

The storm swirled and raged. Lightning flashed, making the sky bright for tiny blinks. Wind whipped Magic’s hair into snarls. By all accounts this was a nightmare, but Magic didn’t feel the dread he normally did when the dream stole his sleep.

Mandi spun in the midst of the vortex, but this time, there were no tears. Instead, her lips turned up in a smile. The kind full of so much joy, you almost had to look away. The kind that you feel rather than see.

Magic drew in a trembling breath. It was relief, pure and undiluted, and it pulled tears from his eyes that he couldn’t hope to stem.

So long. It had been so damn long since he’d seen her smile like that. More than the ten years she’d been gone. Maybe she’d never smiled quite like that. But here and now, waiting in the storm to say goodbye, his Mandi was truly happy.

“I’ll never forget you,” he said, his tears falling to the ground with the rain. “What you did for me. For our people. If it weren’t for your death…” A sob slammed him hard in the chest. “We’d never have found another way. You made me want better than what our forefathers had. You made me want more. And then, fuck…” He drew in a breath. He had to finish this. “And then you gave it to me. I don’t know how you did this, I don’t understand, but… thank you. Thank you,” he whispered. “I’ll honor you by honoring her, for all the days I live.”

She closed her eyes, lifting her face to the rain, smile never wavering. The wind picked up, increasing in speed. Magic braced his feet against it, watching as the vortex grew and grew, swallowing his smiling Mandi and finally giving her the redemption she so desperately needed.

In a breath, the storm was gone, the sun blasting through the clouds on a brand new day. The rain, evaporating to form dew. The wind, mellowing to a peaceful breeze. And there was no fear, no guilt, no regret. There was only finality, and the brightest of futures.





Chapter Thirteen



Magic’s panther darted through the trees with one purpose in mind: to catch the cougar that evaded him and lick her to submission.

Two weeks had passed since he’d claimed Josie, and he had zero regrets.

Tonight was their annual Thanksgiving fireside gathering. The one that was for the clan only. The dinner for guests had taken place at the lodge earlier, and just as Magic suspected, Eagan’s offerings were a hit.

Magic was tight on Josie’s heels as they raced toward their cabin. If he could just get her there and keep her naked for a while, maybe he’d calm.

He was nervous as hell. Tonight he was going to tell the clan he’d altered the pact they made, and he wasn’t sure how some of them would take it. But this was a necessary change. They’d never see growth if they didn’t take a little risk. And there were future generations to consider as well. Their young could grow up without the stigma of the past.

That alone strengthened Magic’s resolve.

He caught the cougar just in front of the porch, hooking her around the waist and rolling with her. Gentle though. Not too rough. There was the young in her belly to consider.

She purred as he lay on top of her licking her stomach where their cub grew.

She shifted, her gold fur becoming soft flesh, and a giggle escaped. He followed her, letting his panther fall away, but continuing to kiss her belly.

“Close your ears, little cat,” he murmured. “I have to tell your mommy something.”

Josie laughed. “I’m sure with our genes, that kitten isn’t very obedient.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “True.” Leaning up to nip her ear, he whispered, “You are so sexy like this. Happy and warm and carrying my child, and…”

He pulled back to see her eyes. Gold and blue.

“I love you.”

She drew a finger along his jaw. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I would ask you to prove it, but we’re going to be late. We should get dressed.”

He kissed her softly, loving the way her lips softened to his.

“I love you too,” she breathed against his mouth, already panting for him. He could probably change her mind about being late, but he was anxious to set things right with his clan.