Page 95 of Hunting for her Heart
Her eyes widen, just as her husband’s do, as she stares at me and the way I’m holding Ronan. I probably look a bit terrified right now, but this woman was like a giant ball of energy, and I was afraid to get in her wake.
None of my guys say anything as we stare at one another for what feels like minutes but is probably only a few seconds. Then she gasps dramatically. “No! Is it true?” She looks up and Ronan then turns back to Bo. “Is she?—”
She cuts herself off as Bo smiles at me and holds out a hand. I take it before letting go of Ronan and let him pull me into his side. I wrap my arms around him as he hugs me against his side. I still feel worried someone will try to separate us, which is why I feel so clingy right now.
“Mother, I’d like you to meet Willow. Our fated mate.”
She gasps even louder, and clutches at her chest and practically falls backward in shock, her men holding her up as she stares at us.
Nerves fill me, and then she bursts into tears, making me feel terrible. That is, until Bo and his dads start to laugh.
“What’s happening?” I whisper, not understanding their family dynamics at all.
“Mom’s crying with happiness,” Bo explains.
“She… She’s not upset?”
Miryam quickly stands back up, wiping at her tears as she shakes her head and steps toward me. “My darling, upset? Of course not! I’m just so happy my boys have found you. We never expected them to take a mate, and a fated one?” She shakes her head as she looks down at me with a pleased smile. “And such a pretty one too.”
My cheeks heat and that makes her smile even more. “And modest, I see. You boys are very lucky indeed.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I say, finally releasing my tight hold on Bo but keeping my hand tucked into his as I stand up a little taller. This woman has several inches on me, but she exudes kindness, and my worries start to disappear. “Bo, Hawk, and Ronan are the kindest, most caring, and protective men I’ve ever met in my life. They saved me from danger and other men more times than I can count. So I’m the lucky one, not them.”
She lurches forward and I squeal in surprise until I realize she’s hugging me. “Welcome to the family, dear,” she says as a strange sensation moves through me. I lost my mom when I was young and don't ever remember being hugged or loved by a parent.
I hug her back and we stay like that until someone clears their throat and we pull apart. “I’m Miryam, but you must call me Mom or Mother,” she instructs and I nod. Then she introduces her husbands, Torran, who was the first man we met, Bryant, Acton, and Marv.
“Mom, we’re going to need your help planning a wedding,” Bo says, and her eyes light up in excitement.
“A wedding?! Oh, how wonderful! Don't worry, I will take care of everything!”
“Not to break up this reunion, but I’d like to get my matecleaned up and into some fresh clothes,” Hawk says, pulling me into his side.
As if she only now notices what I’m wearing, a very dirty blue dress which is missing the bottom third, Miryam's eyes widen again and she nods.
It’s only then do I notice what she’s wearing. I’m not sure what I expected, but she’s wearing a tan dress that ends at her ankles with short sleeves. I haven’t seen any other women yet, so I’m not sure if this is how everyone dresses, but she seems to notice me staring and waves her hands.
“Ah, pay no attention to what I’m wearing. Your mates will find you much more appropriate clothing for a young lady like yourself.”
I’m not sure what she means, but she starts ordering some people listening nearby to immediately deliver some sort of materials to their home.
“You’ll need some food after that journey,” she says with a nod before signaling for someone else to get it.
“Son,” Torran says, when his wife finally gives him a moment to speak. “Not to pull the attention away from this joyous union, but what of your mission?”
“We were successful,” Ronan tells him and everyone in earshot cheers in excitement.
“Can we see it?” Acton asks eagerly. He has the same enthusiasm as Bo.
“It’s right here,” Hawk says, pulling me a little tighter to his side. They frown as they look at me.
When they just continue to just stare, Hawk explains. “Our Willow holds the magic to heal the land.” They look a little skeptical, so he adds, “We have seen it for ourselves.”
Miryam claps her hands in excitement. “Show us!”
I feel my cheeks heat as my eyes widen, and I wrap my arms around Hawk’s arm in alarm.
“No,” Ronan says immediately. “It can only be done around us. But don’t worry, we will have the forest healed within the week.”
