The Beast And The Blessed

Twenty-Three: Joselin

Joselin’s P.O.V.

My arms wrapped around him, pulling Tobias against me. I could feel his body shaking, but the tear that hit my shoulder made me hold him in impossibly tighter.

After the horrors this man experienced, I was in awe that he still grew to be such a good man. No one should ever have to experience what he did.

“I’m so sorry, Tobias,’ I whispered, feeling his arms wrap around me. He was fighting back his emotions and held his head up, leaning it against the side of mine. His breathing was low and deep as he tried to calm himself, but he was clearly in pain.

“You did the right thing. He deserved to die.”

The idea of the woman carrying half of his soul being killed before him was heartbreaking, and I knew he had been silently suffering for years. Not many people lasted long after their mate died. They went crazy, but most just killed themselves to end their agony.

For him to be standing here with me only spoke to his strength. He wasn’t the same as he was before, but he survived.

“I should have done it sooner.” I almost wished he did, either that or for him to have told me. At that point in my life, I already had blood on my hands, and killing his father would have brought me great joy. If it meant saving Tobias from his father’s torment and Ana from death, I would have skinned that old bastard and let him bleed out in the garden. I wouldn’t have had Tobias for myself, but as long as he had been happy, I would have been fine.

“You did what you could. You were just a kid.” I whispered, pressing my lips against his shoulder.

We stood there for what felt like hours, holding each other as he grieved the loss of his childhood, father, and soulmate.

I wasn’t even happy that I didn’t need to worry about him finding his true mate and leaving me eventually. I was mourning with him.

There was no joy to be had when the man I loved more than anything in the world was hurting. So I just held him, wanting to take away some of his pain and sorrow. He pulled back, placing his hands on either side of my face as he looked into my eyes. He was searching for something, and whatever it was, he seemed to have found it. “I wanted to be ready for you, Josie. I’m sorry I took so long.”

need. I’m in this with you.” It was the same thing he had said to me the other night. We were in this

pulled my head forward, kissing my temple, and my eyes closed.” I don’t need too much longer. Once I

and not rush this. Grieving was natural, and I wanted him to be sure about us before we moved forward. But I kept my mouth shut because the picture he was painting for me, the one where we had a future together, was a dream come true. It was something that I

my lips, I mentally kicked myself, not because I didn’t want

I saw how bothered he was to be here. “I brought you here because you deserve to know everything before we

been hard to tell me about

an explosion echoed through the house. Tobias covered

panic but far enough away not to have done any damage. The pack could be heard outside, shifting and running

trying to remember my practice from

Tobias would need to guard the queen, and I needed to protect them against a magic attack.It took me longer than I would have

their way through the door. They were looking out to the horizon, just as the rest of the pack was. A fire could be seen burning on one of the

loud while being so far away, it had been

is going on?” Holden whispered, joining us with Aurora

explosion shook the ground as trees flew and flames consumed more of the mountain. I watched in shock as the enormous billows of

Lock down the city. I want everyone in position and prepared for an attack.” Killian’s voice rang out strong and

is no threat to us, your majesty, not from that.” Aurora’s voice was calm, and I stiffened when she

get less than a day to decide? I haven’t even had a chance to talk to my….” I cut myself off. The immature title of ‘boyfriend’ was on the tip of my tongue, but I wasn’t sure we were even in a relationship yet. Whenever we discussed

his shoulder at me, and the corner of his lips twitched. He was happy. He knew exactly what I was about to say, and it had amused

thumb over the back of it. The smooth gesture made me want to smile now that I knew what it felt like to be protected by the man I loved as well. It was a

man who refused to let anyone in to becoming a man who was completely taken

arm reached back, pulling me closer as Aurora looked

task. There is no threat to the people. The fight will stay on the mountain and only end when she has accomplished what I asked of her.” Her continuously vague comments were