Finding Home

Chapter 15

Dom's POV

I lay there for a while holding Willow while she sleeps. I had spent all afternoon chasing her scent trail all over the mountain trying to find her. When I finally found her at my special lookout I was pleased she found it as calming as I did. I had watched her as she peacefully sat on the boulder and watched the sunset. When I saw her retrieve the tequila from her car I didn't know what was going to happen and I couldn't help but take a step closer to try and see what she was doing. When she called me out I was scared at first that she would yell at me or send me away I didn't think she would invite me to stay but only in my wolf form. Tavan thought it was hilarious that she wanted us as a therapy animal, well he thought it was funny until she opened the bottle and started making toasts. There was nothing funny about what she said. Thanks to the mate bond I felt all of her emotions, albeit only a fraction of what she felt, and when she started talking about her parents I felt her pain and sadness at their absence but that was nothing compared to the anguish I felt when she talked about her son. It took all of my strength not to howl just to release those emotions. I have no idea how she's carried this alone for 2 years.

When I know she's out, whether from exhaustion or drinking too much is irrelevant, I get out of the car and quietly close the door. She may be okay with sleeping in that cramped space but I would prefer to sleep in my own bed. I climb into the driver's seat and drive back to my house. When I got there I quickly grabbed my clothes that I had left on the front porch and put them on before carefully gathering her up in my arms. It was a little tricky opening the front door butI eventually managed it.

As I crossed to foyer on my way to the stairs everyone else came out of the living room.

"Is Willow okay?" Lani asked while rushing over to take get a better look at her.

"Yeah, she is okay. She just had a bit too much to drink. So when she wakes up in the morning she is going to have one hell of a hangover so please don't crowd her and try not to talk too loudly." I know they have a lot more questions but they will have to wait because right now my only priority is making sure my mate is taken care of so with that I started walking up the stairs.

I didn't make it up 3 steps before Jasper was mind-linking me.

J: Are you okay man? You seem upset.

D: Yeah I am. Willow opened up about her past.

J: Thats a good thing, right?

D: It is, just there is a lot to process

J: Anything I can do to help?

D: No, thanks man

I made it up to my room and laid Willow down on my bed. I took off her boots and dirty clothes but slipped one of my tee shirts on her.It came down almost to her knees and I couldn't help but smile at how she looked wearing my clothes. I quickly stripped down to my boxers and climbed in behind her. I pulled her in close and fell asleep to her breathing even with the occasional stuttered inhale of someone who has cried too hard.

Her scent, that is the first thing I register before I even open my eyes. Second is the feeling of tingles all over my body due to Willow having shifted in her sleep to be practically laying on my chest, not that I am complaining. Her head was nestled under my chin with one arm wrapped around my chest and her leg thrown over my hips. I couldn't help myself, I pulled her a little closer and rested my lips against the crown of her head before carefully extracting myself and placing my pillow for her to snuggle against. I made my way into the bathroom to clean off the mountain dirt while she slept.


Willow's POV