Chapter 18

Serenity

It was bittersweet leaving Tay and his family. In a matter of twenty-four hours, they made me feel welcome and not like a plague walking this earth. They accepted me for me.

We chatted until my cab arrived, and saying goodbye was harder than I thought it would be. I don't know if it's the fact of him being my mate or his presence that was comforting. Embracing him in a tight hug, I got even more of his scent all over his hoodie. Teasing his mark one last time, he let out a strange sound between a moan and a whimper.

“Stay safe, hot stuff.” Tay turned sideways to hide his tears from me, but it didn’t mask the sadness in his voice.

He closed the cab door and bolted into the woods. The sound of sad howling was heard driving away from Meadowood.

I moved the pendant back and forth on my neck, thinking about how nervous Tay looked when he handed me my present. His brown eyes scanned over my face, his shaky hands when he put the necklace around my neck, and the deep breath he let o