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"You did protect me," I said. I nced at the scars on his forearms with a new sense of understanding. "You fought them off long enough for me to run. You gave me a chance to live. That''s what saved me."
He closed his eyes and his grip onn shifted, pulling the boy a little closer. "You shouldn''t have had to survive like that. Alone. In the rogue zone."
I swallowed hard. “I didn''t even know who I was. The doctors said I was lucky to live, but when I woke up, I didn''t remember anything but my name. They sent me to an orphanage near the border. By the time I was old enough to leave, I thought my past was just... gone."
"I know,” he said with a sigh. "While we were in Silver Fang we managed to track down the orphanage you were raised in. They confirmed some details for us, enough for us to know we were on the right track."
"I remember... I saw Mr. Eastman in the packhouse, but I didn''t get a chance to speak to him much. Everything was so hectic back then, I never got a chance to ask about it. You and ric were really trying to figure it out back then... that''s why you were asking about my past so much."
"We didn''t want to bring it up until we were sure. We didn''t want to frighten you."
"I wouldn''t have believed you," I admitted with a slight smile.
"You''ve always been stubborn," Cassian responded with augh.
Silence fell between us,fortable and broken only by August andn babbling and cooing. I lifted August onto myp and kissed the top of his head.
“I''m d you''re home,” Cassian said softly. “I can''t stand to think about what would have happened if we hadn''t found you when we did. I can''t help but think that it was fate to finally find you again just when you needed us.''
"}
I stared at him for a moment, processing his words. He was right. I''d never even considered how differently things would have gone if I hadn''t been able to flee to Moonstone. If Cassian hadn''t arranged everything for me.
I looked between the boys, noting their chubby cheeks and their happy faces. If I had been trapped in that hospital in Silver Fang with my would-be killer refusing to speak...
If Felicity had a chance to try again while I was trapped there and vulnerable...
A shudder ran through my body, and I held August tighter.
“The goddess sent you," I whispered. "ric showed me the moonstone. He said that you were directed to me."
"It was fate," Cassian agreed. “She knew that you would need us/I''m only happy that I was able to protect you
this time."
"You protected me back then, too. And you protected them," I nodded towardn. "While I was gone, you kept them safe and happy. They''re lucky boys to have such a dedicated and loving uncle."
"I''m always happy to spend time with them. You won''t be around Moonstone forever, so I''m going to take advantage of it while I can," Cassian said, bouncingn, who giggled happily.
"What do you mean?" I asked in surprise.
"Ellie, you''re always wee here. Moonstone is your home, but you and I both know that this is temporary. You''ll find a mate, and when you do, you''ll go to be with them."
He seemed so certain of it. It made me angry. I immediately wanted to argue, to tell him that I wasn''t going
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anywhere, but the look on his face was so sincere that I couldn''t bring myself to.
I thought of Kieran. Of course, if I epted the political marriage, I would be going to Pine Ridge. That was the entire point. Kieran would have the prestige of having the Goddess''s messenger as his mate, and I would have the protection of an alpha for myself and the boys.
And if I returned to Silver Fang...
The thought made my chest feel tight. I had no ns of going back to Nn, but the idea popped into my head
anyway.
In either case, I would be leaving Moonstone behind. This peace, this reconnection with my family, was temporary. The thought made me want to cry.
I knew that the goddess was pulling me towards something, but deep down, all I
wanted was to stay right here, with my family.
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