“We were originally tasked to protect the Varcolac, that is true,” he answered. “However, the Varcolac call the pack their home, and as such, that makes the pack ours to protect by default. Until the Triumvirate give us a new task, we continue as we are. We will be vigilant and on call to either the Armand-Hanlon Pack or the Hanlon Pack. We will help to guard them from all intrusions be they local or from Europe. Our job is not done here; it has merely morphed into a new one. So I suggest you get your ass out back and get training, Brandon.”
He laughed as he said the last bit, genuinely fond of the young male his mate had chosen to be her closest friend. It was hard for anyone not to like Brandon, and anyone who made his Lily smile was a friend of his.
Brandon mocked saluted, and winked at Lily before he jogged around the house to do as he was bid.
“That boy is nothing but trouble,” Karn groused, though he was smiling as he said it.
“That’s funny, because he reminds me of you when we first met,” Mac countered, drawing an irritated snort from his second in command.
Liam smiled at the banter, a feeling of sadness coming over him that they were leaving the tight knit community. He’d enjoyed his time there and he could see the good effect it had had on Reasa too. She had loosened up a lot, her walls starting to come down as the Praetorians had welcomed her into their home. Perhaps he would talk to Rafe about allowing them to return to the compound when the threat from Europe has been dealt with. He wouldn’t mind living with the Praetorians.
“Time for us to head back,” he announced, opening the Jeep door so Reasa could climb in. “If you need us for anything, let Rafe know and we’ll come back.”
“You both have our thanks, Liam,” Mac answered, a large smile on his face. “You’re welcome here anytime.”
Starting the engine, Liam headed back towards the pack compound. Reasa was quiet beside him, the silence deepening the closer they came to pack lands. He could see her shutting down as each mile passed and he wanted to curse out aloud. He couldn’t face taking a backward step, not after the way she’d allowed him closer up at the Praetorian Compound.
“Do you want to return to Freya’s home when we get back?” He asked the question even though he didn’t want to hear the answer. If she retreated from him, he didn’t know how he was going to reach her again. When she didn’t answer straight away he glanced sideways to see her staring out the side window at the passing trees.
“Thereasa?” Her head turned and he couldn’t make out what she was thinking. It set his heart plummeting into his stomach. She had retreated.
“Would your mother be agreeable to me residing in her home once more?”
It was the last thing he’d expected her to say, her response surprising him so much he stepped on the brakes to bring the car to a halt. Unclipping his seatbelt, he turned to face her. “Is that what you want? Think about it before you answer, Reasa. I only want you to say yes if it’s what you truly want.”
“It is what I want,” she answered, her expression remaining neutral. “I find I have become accustomed to spending my days and nights with you, Liam. I do not want that to end.”
She wasn’t declaring she was ready to mate with him, but it was the most hopeful news he could have expected at this point. Liam would have let her go if she’d asked it of him. He was just glad that he didn’t have to. He smiled slowly, his heart feeling suddenly lighter. “I am sure my mother will be agreeable to you staying with us again. I know she hasn’t been exactly welcoming, but you have to understand that she’s only concerned about me. She’s very protective.”
“Ashleigh’s reaction is one of the things I do understand,” she sighed, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. “You have an incredibly amazing mother, Liam Eriksson. She would walk through fire for you, and lay down her life for you. Being truthful, I am in awe of her. If only my mother had been the same then perhaps my life would have turned out differently.”
When she didn’t say anything further, Liam restarted the engine and continued on, a huge smile on his face. Things would get better, he just knew it. His mom was an amazing woman and it filled him with joy that his mate could see that too. Now, he just needed to convince his mother to see how amazing his mate was. He was convinced he could do that, even if it might take a little time.
Reasa remained silent with her eyes closed until they pulled up in front of his home. Her gaze turned apprehensive for a moment, her body stiffening when the door opened and his parents came outside.
“Liam, you’re home.” Ashleigh gathered her son close, laughing as he picked her up and gave her a huge bear hug. “You did it. You brought them back. I’m so proud of you, honey.”
“Yes, you both did.” Nors smiled as he held the car door open for Reasa to step out. “You’ve done an amazing thing, Thereasa. Thank you.”
She appeared startled by his warmth, a blush crossing her cheeks as she looked away. “Liam did all the hard work. I merely helped him to finesse his phenomenal strength.”
“Nonsense, you worked just as tirelessly as I did,” Liam countered, moving to her side. “And you didn’t have the luxury of healing from the physical wounds our bodies took while we were dream walking. Not once did you complain about it. In fact, you never mentioned it once to me. Elina had to tell me that she was healing you while we were working to bring the Praetorians back.”
“Your bodies took physical damage?” Ashleigh gasped, concern spreading across her face. She was aware that Liam wouldn’t have been in danger but Thereasa was human now. “Are you okay? Should we call Mallen over?” Her concerned gaze was directed at the former vampire who appeared to shrink even further into herself.
“I am unharmed,” she muttered, looking everywhere but at the woman in front of her.
“Come on, let’s get you inside before the rest of the pack come out to be nosey. They’re still talking about your departure last week, and some of the younger heads still need to cool off a bit. Nors, grab their packs. Have you eaten yet? I can put on some breakfast.” Ashleigh ushered the couple inside as her mate did as she bade.
Reasa turned perplexed eyes to Liam, unsure of how to react to suddenly being mothered by the woman who would have quite happily have seen her rot the week before. He shrugged but grinned happily.
“Just go with the flow, Reasa. There’s no stopping her when she gets in one of her ‘mothering’ moods.”
“I heard that, Liam Eriksson!”
He laughed loudly. “You were meant to, Mom.”