Page 41 of Howling Holidays

Chapter seventeen

Logan

Snowcrunchesbeneathourfeet as we make our way back to the cozy cabin nestled in Everwood's woods. My arm wrapped around my Grandma, offering support and warmth as she leans against me. Her arm is badly bruised from the shadow shifters' attack, but thankfully, somehow that’s the extent of her injuries.

"Thank you for breaking the curse, Logan," Iris murmurs, resting her head on my shoulder. "I know that was a hard choice for you to send Ethan after me, but you made the right one. You’re a true Alpha."

"Always, Grandma," I reply, my voice filled with relief. "You mean so much to me, I’m here for you."

After helping Grandma into bed and ensuring she’s comfortable, I put the water on to boil for cocoa and join Emily by the fire in the living room. The flames dance, casting a warm glow over the room. A soft rug lay underneath us, inviting relaxation after the day's harrowing events.

"Let me help you with that," I say gently, nodding toward the gash on Emily’s thigh. I gather the bandages and ointment, then sit beside her, tending to her wound with utmost care. She winces as I apply the antiseptic, but my touch remains soft and steady.

"Thank you," she whispers softly. I feel a surge of gratitude for this courageous woman who has come into my life so unexpectedly.

"Of course, Emily," I reply softly, her piercing blues meeting mine. "We've been through so much together. You were really brave today, thank you."

Our hands brush together and I trace the fresh wound on her palm that matches my own. I apply antiseptic there too and begin bandaging it. An enormous sense of gratitude and pride washes over me for the one my wolf recognizes as my mate. We made a great team together today and I couldn’t be more proud.

“I’m proud of us. We didn’t give up no matter how hard it got. You were so brave too, Logan.” She says, her words echoing my thoughts.

As I finish bandaging her, I brush her cheek with my hand and rise to grab the fresh hot cocoa from the kitchen – my favorite drink for cold winter nights. Soon, the rich aroma wafts through the air, making the atmosphere even more inviting. I hand Emily a steaming mug, and our fingers brush for a brief moment, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

"Cheers to our victory," she says with a wry smile, clinking our mugs together. We sip the delicious cocoa, basking in the warmth it brings to our tired, chilled bodies.

"I can't believe we actually broke the curse," I reflect reverently, looking into the fire. "It feels like a dream."

"Me either, it still doesn’t feel real. Sometimes, dreams do come true," Emily replies, her voice thoughtful as she stares into the flames, too.

As we sit there, side by side, our hearts and minds intertwined, I realize that despite the danger and darkness we had faced, what remains is a profound connection – one that neither of us could have anticipated or denied. Our hands brush together and I trace the fresh wound on her palm that matches my own.

"Logan?" Emily's voice brings me back to the present, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

I look into her beautiful blue eyes, seeing the love and understanding that lay within them. "Yeah, I am," I reply, taking her hand in mine. "I just realized how far I've come – and how much I have to be grateful for."

"Logan," she begins, turning her gaze back to mine. "I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me, for us. You've shown me a world beyond anything I could have imagined, and I couldn't have faced it without you."

"Emily," I reply, squeezing her hand gently. "You've shown me that even in the darkest moments, there's always a chance for love and happiness. You’ve given me a love I never thought possible. Together, we can face anything."

Emily's gaze lingers for a moment before her eyes fill with curiosity and concern. "Logan, there's something else I've been meaning to ask you," she begins hesitantly. "During the ritual in the forest, you were sucked into a trance. What happened to you during that time?"

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the memories pressing down on me. I know I need to be honest with Emily – she deserves to know the truth about what I experienced.

"During the trance, I first saw the rogue shifter who had attacked my father years ago," I explain, my voice steady despite the emotions churning within me. "He revealed that he was cursed by a wizard in the town, which is why he went rogue. He didn't mean to kill anyone, so he left town to protect them. He only came back when the shadow shifters started appearing again, which is when he encountered my dad. My dad thought he was responsible for my mother’s death and they fought before he could explain."

I felt a pang of sympathy, despite everything the rogue shifter had done. To be transformed against one's will into a monster must have been a living nightmare. As I recount the details, Emily's blue eyes widen with surprise and sympathy. She moves her hand to my arm gently, offering silent support as I continue.

"Then...my parents appeared to me," I continue, swallowing hard as memories of their loving faces swim to the surface. "They praised me for breaking the curse. My mom told me that she was killed by the shadow shifters because she got too close to the truth about breaking the curse and finding the moonstone. They praised me for doing what needed to be done and for having the courage to finally break it. It means so much to know I made them proud."

Emily smiles warmly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Logan, that’s incredible! They should be very proud. You've done great things for this town and its people. And I'm proud of you too."

Emily's hand tightens around mine again, her gaze never leaving my face as she absorbs this new information. I can see the understanding and appreciation in her eyes, as well as the love that has grown between us over the past weeks.

"Sometimes, I wonder if I've done enough to honor their legacy," I confess, my voice barely more than a whisper. "There's this constant weight on my chest – the guilt of surviving when they didn't."

"Logan," Emily murmurs, her blue eyes glistening with empathy. "You can't blame yourself for their deaths. From what you've told me, your father died a hero, and your mother… she would want you to live your life, not be consumed by guilt."

"I know that, logically," I admit, my throat tight with emotion. "But it's hard to let go of the feeling that I should've been able to save them somehow."

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