had been abducted
actually really loved their mates. Once more, she was struck by how
lucky she was to have been paired with a sweet man who would do
anything for her.
Thoughts of her mother and friends flitted
through her mind and she caught herself feeling morose. Although
the dress that Eden had given her was beautiful, it wasn't the one
she had expected to wear. Her mother had saved her wedding dress so
that Ashleigh could wear it. The pure white satin gown had long
sleeves and a train, with a veil covered in delicate crystals that
matched the pattern on the bodice. When she was younger and had
fantasized about what her wedding would be like, she hadn't
anticipated a group affair, but instead her and her future husband,
standing at the front of the little Methodist church where her
parents and her grandparents had both tied the knot.
She'd pictured her mother standing up for
her, in absence of her father, the sweet sounds of organ music, and
Gwen by her side as maid of honor. When she'd thought she might
marry Tate, Gwen had promised her a wild bachelorette party. They'd
talked about raising their kids together and staying friends their
whole lives.
It wasn't just that she missed her family and
friends. She missed Earth and all the things she'd grown accustomed
to. Microwave meals, cocktails on Friday nights, long discussions
about books with her book club friends.
The brush that Sloan was using on her auburn
hair slowed and then stopped. “What are you thinking about?”
“Hmm?” She looked back at Sloan, who sat on
her knees behind her on the bed.
“You look so sad.”
“Oh, I was just thinking about my mom. We
weren’t on the best of terms when I was taken, and I’m sure she’s
worried. Do you know how much time has passed on Earth?”
“Many years. I don’t know what the
translation is, but I think it’s safe to say that your family has
most likely accepted that you were abducted and won’t return.”
Emotions she hadn’t realized she had never
really expressed rose up in her suddenly, and she dashed off the
bed and into the bathroom. She fell to her knees and buried her
head in her hands, her sobs echoing around the small room. She
didn’t think her mother would ever just accept her as being gone,
and it grieved her to realize that she would spend the rest of her
life never knowing what happened to her only child.
Eden’s arms wrapped around her and hugged her
tightly. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” The stiff fabric of his
marriage tunic was rough against her cheek as she turned into him
and cried. He held her quietly, tightly, letting her have the time
she needed to get out all the emotions she’d kept unintentionally
bottled up.
When her tears had dried and her rioting
emotions were under control, she sagged against him, grateful for
his strength. “There are times, love, that I wish things were
different for our people, that there would be a way for the males
to stay on Earth and bond with their females before taking them
away, to give them time to say goodbye. If I could change things
about how you were taken, I would, but I would never give you up.”
He cupped her face and kissed her tear-stained cheeks. “I know it’s
not the same, but I’m your family now, me and Sloan, and when we
have children, we’ll have our own family together. Whatever happens
from now on, we’re together, and that’s all that matters.”
She knew she couldn’t go home, and if she’d
been given the chance, she would have declined. But the realization
that life had continued on Earth at a much more rapid pace had left
her reeling and opened the door to the floodgate of her emotions.
She ran her thumb across his cheek and stared into his eyes, amazed
at the love and acceptance he had for her. She'd thought she'd
known what love was back on Earth, but she realized she truly
hadn't until she had loved Eden.
“I love you so much, Eden.” She kissed
him.
“I love you, too.”
Shooing Eden from the
actually really loved their mates. Once more, she was struck by how
lucky she was to have been paired with a sweet man who would do
anything for her.
Thoughts of her mother and friends flitted
through her mind and she caught herself feeling morose. Although
the dress that Eden had given her was beautiful, it wasn't the one
she had expected to wear. Her mother had saved her wedding dress so
that Ashleigh could wear it. The pure white satin gown had long
sleeves and a train, with a veil covered in delicate crystals that
matched the pattern on the bodice. When she was younger and had
fantasized about what her wedding would be like, she hadn't
anticipated a group affair, but instead her and her future husband,
standing at the front of the little Methodist church where her
parents and her grandparents had both tied the knot.
She'd pictured her mother standing up for
her, in absence of her father, the sweet sounds of organ music, and
Gwen by her side as maid of honor. When she'd thought she might
marry Tate, Gwen had promised her a wild bachelorette party. They'd
talked about raising their kids together and staying friends their
whole lives.
It wasn't just that she missed her family and
friends. She missed Earth and all the things she'd grown accustomed
to. Microwave meals, cocktails on Friday nights, long discussions
about books with her book club friends.
The brush that Sloan was using on her auburn
hair slowed and then stopped. “What are you thinking about?”
“Hmm?” She looked back at Sloan, who sat on
her knees behind her on the bed.
“You look so sad.”
“Oh, I was just thinking about my mom. We
weren’t on the best of terms when I was taken, and I’m sure she’s
worried. Do you know how much time has passed on Earth?”
“Many years. I don’t know what the
translation is, but I think it’s safe to say that your family has
most likely accepted that you were abducted and won’t return.”
Emotions she hadn’t realized she had never
really expressed rose up in her suddenly, and she dashed off the
bed and into the bathroom. She fell to her knees and buried her
head in her hands, her sobs echoing around the small room. She
didn’t think her mother would ever just accept her as being gone,
and it grieved her to realize that she would spend the rest of her
life never knowing what happened to her only child.
Eden’s arms wrapped around her and hugged her
tightly. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” The stiff fabric of his
marriage tunic was rough against her cheek as she turned into him
and cried. He held her quietly, tightly, letting her have the time
she needed to get out all the emotions she’d kept unintentionally
bottled up.
When her tears had dried and her rioting
emotions were under control, she sagged against him, grateful for
his strength. “There are times, love, that I wish things were
different for our people, that there would be a way for the males
to stay on Earth and bond with their females before taking them
away, to give them time to say goodbye. If I could change things
about how you were taken, I would, but I would never give you up.”
He cupped her face and kissed her tear-stained cheeks. “I know it’s
not the same, but I’m your family now, me and Sloan, and when we
have children, we’ll have our own family together. Whatever happens
from now on, we’re together, and that’s all that matters.”
She knew she couldn’t go home, and if she’d
been given the chance, she would have declined. But the realization
that life had continued on Earth at a much more rapid pace had left
her reeling and opened the door to the floodgate of her emotions.
She ran her thumb across his cheek and stared into his eyes, amazed
at the love and acceptance he had for her. She'd thought she'd
known what love was back on Earth, but she realized she truly
hadn't until she had loved Eden.
“I love you so much, Eden.” She kissed
him.
“I love you, too.”
Shooing Eden from the
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