And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie) novel Chapter 258

"Okay, you two… whose ready for a bath—"

James stepped into the room with a stack of towels in his hand, and as his eyes latched onto mine, he froze in his step. The only sound was Castor laughing and clapping her hands at the reaction before her. "Hey, James."

"You're awake," he mumbled as he glanced from the twins to me, and then back to the twins. "How—"

"Do you really wanna know how, or are you going to give me a kiss?"

He didn't waste a second before he was across the room, pulling me into his arms, pressing his lips to mine in a slow, deep, passionate kiss. To me, it was only yesterday I had kissed him, but to them… it had been much longer.

Pulling away, I smiled softly, wincing at the pain in my side. "How long have I been out?"

"It's been a year, Ivy," he whispered, his eyes falling to my lap as he seemed to try and hold back the tears. "No one thought you would wake up… but I didn't give up. I couldn't."

Running my hand over the side of his cheek, I kissed him again with a smile.

"Well, why don't I surprise the others?"

Furrowing his brow, he smiled at me. "What do you mean?"

"Hand me my children, and I will show you," I laughed.

"Oh, shit… sorry, sweetie," he said, jumping to his feet and striding towards the twins. They were both eager at this point to get out, and were trying their hardest to escape him as approached the bed.

As their sweet faces came closer, they crawled onto the bed. Their arms wrapped around me as they snuggled into my chest, laying their heads against my breasts. They had missed me just as much as I missed them, and as the tears streamed down my cheeks, I thought of the others.

'I'm home.' I said through the link, causing James to smile.

It didn't take but a second before I heard the thundering footsteps of the men racing up the stairs, heading down the hallway straight for me. My door burst open as Talon, Hale and Damian stood before me.

The twins had smiles upon their faces that brightened my own, and as they rushed to me, kissing the side of my head while they held me, I couldn't stop staring at Damian.

The last time I had seen him, he died in front of me.

Loki had slit his throat, and his body laid lifeless upon the ground. A sob left my throat as my red-rimmed eyes, filled with more tears, stared at him. "You're alive."

"The lunar festival to celebrate the gods," Talon replied with a sneer. He wasn't too happy about the festival, but as soon as I laid a soft hand on his arm, he seemed to calm under my touch.

"None of this was their fault," I said to each of them. "We mustn't hold grudges."

"That's easy for you to say, Ivy," he replied with hurt in his voice. "We watched you basically wither away over the past year and wondering if that was the day you were going to stop breathing. It killed us."

My heart hurt for them, but I could understand what they meant.

I, myself, hurt because of all the time I had missed with them, but now I was awake, and that was all that mattered. "Everything will be okay now. I just need to get my strength back."

Nodding, they all agreed, even Talon, who was reluctant.

I wanted everything to be perfect, and I wanted to pack to know I was still here for them. I was still their Luna, and would protect them no matter what.

"The festival is then. Let's let the pack welcome back their Luna."