Once Scorched Always Safe

The Awakening

Rayne woke the next morning alone in the bed. The spot Parker had slept in was still warm, so she knew he hadn’t been gone long. They spent the rest of the night just holding each other. Talking about what their future as mates would be like now that there was a solid path before them. Parker mentioned wanting to tell his brother and Edmond the news. Rayne knew that her father already thought of Parker as the son he never had, so telling him that Parker was now her mate would make Edmund beyond happy.

Rayne was slightly worried about Owen. Parker was fully embracing his long–lost brother. Rayne just hoped that it was all true, that he was who he claimed to be. Parker had some deception in his past hefore he met Rayne. He didn’t deal with it well. The fallout would be horrible if it turned out that Owen was a fake. The story he gave rang true on all accounts, but to be sure, Rayne would do some digging into the group that Owen claimed he had

fallen in with.

Her stomach growled, a reminder it was empty. The last time she ate was the greasy cheeseburger from yesterday. Throwing the covers off, she stood from the bed to go in search of the kitchen. As she got halfway across the room, the door opened to reveal Parker with a plate in one hand. The smell of French toast hit her senses, causing her to smile.

“Well, good morning beautiful,” Parker walked to her with a grin on his face. He handed her the plate as he leaned in to place a soft kiss

This looks amazing.” Rayne took her breakfast to the little writing desk next to the window.

“Lynn is cooking away in that massive kitchen. She is in her version of heaven,” Parker said as he followed her to the desk.

ום

her lips.

Rayne laughed at that. Lynn’s dream kitchen was something they had heard about many times over the years. The things she concocted with her herbs and fresh vegetables from her garden were amazing. Lynn was a born chef, add her natural magical talent, she made a good living back home. “I bet she is in her element. I will have to see this kitchen. Arabella spared no expense, no doubt.”

“Like everything else in this house, Arabella overlooked nothing. There is even an indoor pool, spa, and sauna.”

makes her money.”

“Arabella loves her luxuries and has the money to spend. One day we will have to get the truth on how she n

“Not by magical means is all she would tell me when I asked,” Parker stood next to her at the window.

The window looked out into the inner courtyard. In the center was a large circle of stones, surrounded by lush bushes, all the stones held a different rune, the Rayne was told held a different magical word. All around the courtyard were exotic flowers and plants of all kinds. Nature was always important to Arabella, she said that is where all White Witches drew their power. This house was a magic haven for Arabella, so heavily warded that to the human eye it was just a small villa. Once past the magical barrier around the house, all within was revealed.

This was this first time in the four years that Rayne had known Arabella, that she allowed them into her sanctuary. Seeing it now, Rayne fully understood why, and she had only seen the inner courtyard and one bedroom. The rest of the house would be equally amazing, she knew. What Rayne longed for now was her beach house, lounge chair, and her family.

“How is Cyra doing this morning?” Rayne asked after she was done with her breakfast.

“I haven’t checked in with Arabella yet, but we can do that now if you are finished eating.” Parker nodded his head towards the open bedroom door. “Yes. The sooner we know she will be safe here until Devon and his group of misfits find her mate, the sooner we can go home. I miss my beach.”

“That lounge chair will be there when we get home.”

Rayne laughed, he knew her so well, “Ok, let’s go c

check in on Cyra.”

Sebastion

The steady beeping of a machine too close to Sebastion’s ear woke him. His eyes felt like someone had glued them shut, his limbs felt like they were being held down with cement. What freight train hit him? The last thing he remembered was stabbing Gia in the heart, then the piercing pain in his abdomen as she shot him. The struggle to open his eyes causes him to fall asleep. Something was not right with his body.

As he slept, images of a woman in a cabin flashed through his mind, making him remember the choice he made.

Hours later, he struggled to wake again. This time it was easier to open his eyes, but he quickly closed them as the glate from the hospital lights nearly

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blinded him. Bloody hell, people. He had died and came back. Now they will blind him. Sebastion lifted his hand to shield his eyes. As he did, there was a soft gasp of surprise from his left. Turning his head to the left, his sister’s face was the first thing he saw through his blurry vision.

Arianna’s eyes were swollen, red–rinimed, and tear–filled. Her lips trembled as she leaped from her chair and threw herself over his chest. Her small. body shaking with her sobs.

“Hey,” Sebastion coughed, then wrapped his arms around his sobbing twin. His throat was as dry as a desert.

Arianna pulled back to look at his face, her eyes closed as she tried to calm herself, Sebastion could see her struggle for control. What the hell had he been through? He knew from his visit with Selene that he had died, but how long was he out?

“You were dead, Sebble,” Arianna whispered, “They worked so long to bring you back.”

“What,” He swallowed past his dry throat, “Can I get a glass of water?”

Arianna jumped up off the bed and raced out of the room. She came back a few moments later with a glass of water and Gregory. Their old doctor made him wait on drinking until he did some routine exams. Gregory kept nodding his head, making humming noises in the back of his throat, then he took a step back and smiled.

“You woke through some heavy sedation, that very interesting. Your body healed a lot faster than I had expected. We were going to keep you sedated for a few days to let the wolfshane antidote do its job, and the silver work its way out of your system. You, sir, did significantly better than expected given how long you were down.”

“Will he be alright?” Arianna asked.

“Well, I am going to want to run some blood tests, a PET scan to see if there is any long–term damage from how long it took to revive him, after that we shall see. However, given the signs he is showing now, I am going to say yes, he will be fine. I will send a nurse in with some food after we run those tests, then it is rest he needs.”

“Thank you,” Arianna hugged Gregory then turned back to Sebastion.

During their conversation, Sebastion just stared at them both, his mind reeling with what he had gone through. “She shot me with silver and wolfsbane?

“Gia wanted you dead, Sebbie, and she almost succeeded. I am happy that she is dead,” Arianna growled.

“I killed her for real?” Sebastion swallowed hard. He knew that it was true, but it still hurt deep down knowing that he killed the one woman he ever truly loved

“Yes. Flint brought her home with you and face. He thought of Gia’s mother. She would want to bury her daughter. Gia was never nice to her mother, but I agree that she should be able to bury her only child.”

“How is Jace?” Sebastion’s mind went to his son. He wanted nothing more than to race to his child, to hold him close, to know that he was alive and well.

“He has

spoken a single word since they brought him home. He has been curled up in Callie’s room with his stuffed wolf. I think he needs to see you.” Arianna told him with worry in her eyes.

*Not here, I do not want him to see me like this, it would freak him out more, he needs normal right now. As soon as Greg springs me from this bed, I will go to him.”

“I tried to call Rayne.” Arianna said as he finished his water.

“Why would you do t

that?” Sebastion asking in surprise.

“Rayne is your mate, she needs to know that you almost died unless she felt it where ever she is. There was no answer at the bar, so I left a message.”

“About the mate thing, she isn’t that anymore.” Sebastion spoke softly about that choice he made.

Aristina frown, “What do you

mean?

How is

is that possible?”

“The Moon Goddess gave me a choice. Continue being a selfish ass and lose it all, or let her go to find the happiness

“Why?” Arianna asked as he told her what he did.

“Because the reasons for wanting Rayne were purely selfish. Not once in five years did I think of her. Only after finding Gia in that cabin, did I even think of my mate. Seeing her with Parker made me want her even more. Yet I realized it was for the wrong reasons. I wanted her because she was made for me, not because I love her. Rayne has found someone else. Not once did I think of her wants, only my selfish ones.”

“So, you let her go so she could be happy? What happens when Parker finds his mate?”

“He hasn’t been given one yet, I think the Moon Goddess has a plan for that, but I guess that is no longer my problem to worry about.” Sebastion. shrugged his shoulders,

“Do you think she has a second chance mate for you?” Arianna sat in the chair next to the bed.

“Only time will tell. For now, my focus will be on face, our pack, and becoming the man I always knew I could be. To finally grow up.” Sebastion said with determination.

Author’s Note

ay out. Sebastion will have his chance in

For those unhappy with how Rayne and Sebastion ended, I am sorry, but that is just how I felt it needed to play book two His Redemption

“Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.”

Steve Maraboli

Chapter Comments

This is definitely how it needed to pan out. It would have been annoying if Rayne and Sebastian got together

WALL E !

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Het Returned Mate (The Gathering Shadows Series, Book ()