Torn

Chapter 19✓

Quinn

I wait until Carter's breathing becomes deep and regular and her heart rate slows. I'm hoping she's still a deep sleeper and won't notice my absence.

She loves us. Her soft whispered confession as she fell asleep fills my body with fire. The girl I've been in love with since I was a boy, loves me back. The future I've never allowed myself to think too deeply about, dances in the forefront of my mind and I'm trying to force the giddy smile from my face.

I lean up and look at Xander lying behind her, holding her body close to his and he catches my eyes. His quick nod lets me know he agrees that the time to leave is now.

I look back at her peacefully, sleeping figure and my heart physically aches at how beautiful she is. I have damned the Moon Goddess my whole life for not making Carter my mate. I have never wanted someone so badly before and the physical ache that she left me with when she disappeared, has never gone away. Well, until recently.

The moment her little body crashed into mine on the sidewalk and I realized who it was that stood in front of me, it took everything in me to remain in control. My damn wolf almost took over to try and mount her right there.

A heavy sigh escapes me as I lean down to kiss her lightly on the temple before removing myself from her arm that she had wound around me so tightly. Throwing my jeans back on, I leave the room as quietly as I can before making my way down the stairs.

The vast library that my mother spent most of her days in, is dimly lit from the abundance of candles my mother has lit. Ever since I was a boy, she would always say there was no other way to read then by the light of a flame.

As soon as I walk into the room, my eyes land on her thin frame. She is sitting curled up on a small sofa in the corner with only the light of the fireplace keeping her company. A thin grey blanket covers her legs, and she sips on a glass of white wine.

"Come, my son. Sit with me." Her voice is soft and thoughtful, though her eyes never leave the flames.

I smile wide. Of course, she knows I'm here. Never in my life have I been able to sneak up on this woman. I walk over to the sofa, my footsteps light and take a seat next to her.

"You have questions." She says while still looking into the fire. I nod, unsure of how to proceed.

"I do. But I am not sure of the questions that need to be asked." I murmur.

"You do know, my son." She coaxes. All right here goes nothing.

"Why do you call her the Daughter of the Moon and Sun," I ask.

My mother finally turns and looks at me. Her eyes, the same as my own, look tired and dim.

"She is the daughter of three planetary phenomena. Her father was born during a lunar eclipse, while her mother was born during an eclipse of the sun. Carter was born during a blood moon; thus, she is the daughter of the sun, moon, and blood. She will be incredible." My mother's face is smiling in awe.

I didn't know that. I wasn't even sure if Carter herself knew about this. My brows furrow as I think about the woman who has held my heart since the day she tripped on the playground and skinned her knee in first grade, and we were in second. She was crying and Xander and I went to her to see if she was okay.

When she looked up at us and I saw her eyes filled with tears, I wanted nothing more than to make her smile. She stood up and straightened her spine to try and act like she was fine, and I knew this girl would be important to me. She was my entire world until the day she vanished from my life and took my heart with her.