***
“You.” Mary whirled around to look at Paige with blind fury.
“Yes, me.” Paige sneered. “The double-crossing prick. Ripped his throat right out.”
Mary let out a bloodcurdling scream and opened both hands to fire a couple of fireballs at Paige, dropping the hair which was her link to Gloria in the process. Even as the fireballs flew out of her palms and bounced off Paige, the wind blew the hair into the flame, burning it instantly and severing the link. Unfortunately for an oblivious Mary, abruptly severing the link that fed the flame had its consequences. The energy of the blue flame had to go back to its conjurer in the same abrupt manner. And that was exactly what happened. To the shock of everyone, the blue flames…which seemed to have suddenly come alive, shifted to where Mary stood screaming frenziedly at Paige and engulfed her.
“Oh god…” Gloria gasped as she covered Troy’s head so that he wouldn’t see Mary being burnt alive by the flames.
But though he couldn’t see the woman who had virtually looked after him his entire life burn to death, Troy could hear her agonizing screams. And he just couldn’t stand it. He sobbed uncontrollably in his mother’s arms.
“I’m so sorry, baby.” Gloria cooed as she rocked Troy.
“Mum?” Jeremy murmured as he crouched beside his mother and brother.
“He’s hurting.” Gloria moaned.
“I know. Philip will take care of him.” Jeremy said. But Gloria refused to let go when Philip tried to pull Troy out of her arms. “Uncle Joel?” Jeremy called but Philip stopped him.
“They need each other right now, Jer.” The alpha muttered as he signaled Deloris. “Can you please send them to Mama G’s? I’ll pick Troy up after we’ve seen to everything here.”
“Alright, Alpha.” Deloris wrapped an arm around mother and son and then reached out to touch Joel with her other hand. Then all four disappeared.
“Are you ok, baby?” Jeremy asked a still shaken Ryan.
“I don’t know.” Ryan sighed softly. “All that magic…”
“You feel drained.” Jeremy drew Ryan into his arms.
“On the contrary, I feel energized,” Ryan muttered, placing the side of his face on Jeremy’s chest. “I think your kid thrives on magic. It keeps kicking and moving in there. Almost as if it’s restless.”
“Think it wants to come out?” Jeremy chuckled.
“You know it’s not yet time.” Ryan sighed as he teleported them to their suite.
In the next few hours, the various heads ensured that everything was back to normal. Mario, the warlock who was turned into a toad was restored back to his human form. The witches who’d been stripped of their abilities and the two Wyatt warlocks who no longer had any powers were worked on by Mama Cora. They all left the pack-house with no memories of the Stanwood Pack and what had taken place that day.
Philip eventually went to Gloria’s house in the evening to pick up his mate. Troy looked drained but relaxed. He’d already showered and eaten. As soon as he saw Philip he stood up and went into his arms.
“Are you okay?” Philip asked as he wrapped his arms around his mate. At Troy’s nod, Philip gave him a soft kiss and then left with him.
Troy didn’t utter a word till they got to their suite where he flopped onto the bed and simply stared at Philip. Philip stripped to his boxer briefs and then stripped Troy too. Troy still remained quiet.
“You’ve been quiet,” Philip observed as he crawled into bed.
“Nobody plans a murder out loud,” Troy muttered.
“And whose murder are you planning?” Philip moved to cover Troy’s body with his.
“Yours,” Troy said and watched as his mate burst into laughter. “You lied to me this morning.”
“No, I didn’t.” Philip laughed. “I just didn’t tell you what was going on. That’s not a lie.” He began to scatter kisses all over Troy’s face.
“I’m sorry about how I acted this morning,” Troy whispered. “I couldn’t bring myself to…”
“Shhhh…” Philip captured Troy’s mouth in a tender kiss. “You were right.” He murmured against Troy’s lips when the kiss ended. “And that’s why I decreed that those warlocks were not to be killed. What happened to Mary was unfortunate and I’m sorry about that.”
“You actually made that decree?” Troy croaked as his eyes welled up.
“I did.” Philip wiped at Troy’s moist eyes.
“Philip I…” Troy suddenly sounded breathless. “I have this…” He looked around desperately as if he was trying to find the right words. “Philip…”
“Hey, take your time and…fuck.” Philip gasped when he was hit with so many emotions at once. His eyes widened when he realized they were coming from his mate. “Troy?”
“I don’t know how to describe it.” Troy panted, looking very confused. “There’s so much I’m feeling right now.”
“Breathe, Troy…” Philip managed to gasp before taking his own advice.
The alpha took deep breaths as he leaned down and leaned his forehead against Troy’s. Philip was no fool. He knew what those emotions were. And in as much as they brought him joy, they terrified him as well. It wasn’t every day that a person felt such intense love and respect flowing in spades from the person they cherished most in the world. He was completely floored.
Philip raised his head and stared down into Troy’s beautiful love-glazed blue eyes and felt himself getting lost in them. He definitely hadn’t been expecting that from Troy. Troy himself was clearly confused by the feeling. Did he even know what it was, Philip wondered. Philip tried to speak but he couldn’t, thanks to the huge lump that had formed in his throat. He was completely overcome with emotions. He, therefore, did the only thing he could…
‘I love you too, Troy.’ Philip whispered on their mind-link. ‘More than anything and anyone in this world.’
Troy gasped as his eyes widened in realization. “You knew…” He whispered but Philip slowly shook his head.
“I just felt it,” Philip whispered back and smiled when Troy reached up to cup his face.
“I’ve had that feeling for some time now.” Troy rubbed a thumb across Philip’s lower lip. “But this time it felt different. It…overwhelmed me. Felt really intense.” He moaned when Philip opened his mouth and captured his wandering thumb. “It’s scary but in a sweet way. Does that even make sense?” He whispered.
“Perfect sense.” Philip released Troy’s finger and responded. After all, the feeling had terrified even him for a moment.
“If this is how it feels to be in love, then I never want it to end.” Troy captured Philip’s mouth in a soft kiss.
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t,” Philip muttered against Troy’s lips. “I’m going to love, cherish, worship,” he interspersed each word with a kiss, “and adore you so hard you’re going to beg me to stop.”
“I’ll never tell you to stop.” Troy laughed breathlessly.
“Then let me show you how I’m going to worship you, starting with this gorgeous body.”
And the alpha proceeded to show his mate with his mouth, just how much he cherished him. It was rapturous, mind-blowing, and amazingly good. By the time Philip was done with Troy, the young man was a quivering mess and hopelessly in love with his mate. The two drifted off into a contented sleep in each other’s arms, each basking in the other’s love.