The Witch and the Wolf ✔️

No Strings

It was ten years later when I returned. I was twenty-seven, older and allegedly wiser.

I rode in on the motorcycle, wearing my favorite dress with the leather jacket and combat boots that were my everyday uniform.

I rode it right up the backroads of Greenheart Mountain. I had come back one time before, a few months after the annulled wedding. It was for Tala and Surt's wedding.

I knew from Facebook and the like that they were now adopting pups from smaller tribes that had disbanded after the Guild's successful revolt.

The Southlanders were gone, and the only real pack of werewolves that remained were the Druids and their conquered smaller packs.

After all, they'd chosen to free the Guild, and did not face the retribution on the behalf of the Hunters and Guild, which had united in the fallout of revolution.

The human world did not notice, but I did.

I was even able to find Aunt Sabrina and Aunt Regina later. We were finally able to start over, now that all the wrongs of the past had been righted.

I got to know Gretel and my other Harrison cousins I should have grown up with.

I now had friends, and more important, a true family. That empowered me as I worked harder in high school than I ever had in the past.

I now had the chance to become more than myself, and I was willing to take full advantage of that.

Despite what Huron said, I never did take off his ring, and there was never any question of anyone else for me. Despite my concerns, I knew that I would come back.

After all, I was seeing what the packs were becoming. Allies of the Hunters, as promised. We could go after the game of moon-deer and nixes together.

I gained the weight back eventually. I was always curvy, even though most of the weight gain was muscle from going out hunting or dancing again.

I would never be a ballerina, but that didn't mean I couldn't take classes, couldn't learn to take true joy in it again. So I did.

I went to college, got a degree in botany. Some on campus knew I was a witch, with solutions that could help with focus or other amorous matters.

I got to live, as Lorna Harrison. The girl who I was meant to be.

But I knew that I had a home waiting for me, and I was ready to return to it.

"I'm here for Alpha Lamar," I explained to the Epsilons at the gate. "Tell him Lorna Harrison is here."

"No need for that," said one Epsilon as the other bowed his head in respect. "Standing order is that you have access. He's in the round table room."

I nodded and drove into the courtyard. After I parked, it was time to meet my mate again.

We were both older, different people.

But hopefully not so different that we couldn't make it work.

I strode into the room, where Huron and advisors were speaking about some trade matter or another.

All eyes found me, and I managed to wave.

"Did you miss me?"

Huron smiled.