or prophecies from your visions. I want to know if you think the Draoi will try to use my husband and my child to bring darkness to this world.”
“Yes. I do. And I believe the Wendigo Spirit and the Skadegamutc wish to kill the child before the Draoi can take complete control.” Itsá’s honesty was appreciated but unexpected. Mary Ann didn’t know whether to find it comforting or disturbing to hear such truth from the wise shaman who preferred to speak in riddles.
“Why us?”
“Because while you are susceptible to great darkness, you’re also strong enough to handle it and overcome it,” Itsá explained. “And no harm will come to your child so long as I have breath in my lungs, Mary. You have my word. What you did for Aani...I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“Your friendship is payment enough.” Mary Ann squeezed Itsá’s hand reassuringly.
“Mary! Hurry up; you have to get into your dress.”
Mary Ann huffed and chased after Charlotte. She dressed in the servant’s quarters. The pale pink dress brought out the hues of blue in her eyes. It was trimmed with white lace and pearls. Her mother’s locket hung from around her neck, and a matching hairpin was tucked into her hair as it was piled atop her head. Elegant tendrils fell around her face. Mary Ann smiled at her reflection. She slipped her feet in a pair of short mules.
Tears fell from her eyes when she glanced at the ladies in the room. “Amazin’, ain’t it?”
“What?”
“Abbey, Charlotte, Beth, Ruth, and me...all of us are orphans tryin’ to find our way in this world, and somehow, we all ended up formin’ a family of our own here,” Mary Ann sniffled. “I love all of you as if ya’ll were my sisters and I look forward to many more years with you.”
Mary Ann was pulled into a loving embrace by the women in her life.
The baby fussed and everyone giggled as they wiped away the tears in their eyes. A knock on the door interrupted them and Mary Ann saw Sam in the reflection of the mirror. He smiled bashfully as he leaned against the doorjamb. “May I have a moment with the bride, ladies?”
“Though it goes against tradition…” Abigail teased. “Yes, you may.”
The ladies shuffled down to their seats. Sam moved to stand behind her, placing his hands gently on her hips. His long hair had been cut close to the scalp and gone was the beard that often covered his chin. She kissed his freshly shaven cheek. “You look beautiful,” he said softly. “I could not go another minute without bein’ near you, Mary. You’ve got a hold on me that I never thought would make me feel so powerful. I thought you would make me a weaker man, Mary, but you make me stronger than I’ve ever been.”
“I spent my whole life buildin’ up walls around my heart, Samuel. My mother taught me to fear men, to see nothin’ but usefulness when I looked at them. But you were different. You were always different,” she confessed. “You made me want to be vulnerable and let someone in. That’s why I didn’t want to let you run away from me. Whether you’re a wolf or a man, I’m yours.”
Sam spun Mary Ann around in his arms and kissed her deeply. His hand slid to the back of her head and pulled her closer. Mary Ann pressed as close as she was able, allowing him to claim her with a fierceness that left her weak in the knees. The kiss only broke when Beth slammed her fist into Sam’s side. “Hey! Now we have to fix her hair again!”
Mary Ann laughed as she was released from the arms of the man she loved. Sam walked away reluctantly, glaring at Beth as he disappeared through the door. After tidying her appearance one last time, Mary Ann wandered out to the barn. The doors opened, and she saw Sam standing bedside Boone, Jesse, Wesley, and Itsá. Gabriel had chosen to stand against the wall right inside the door. He grabbed her suddenly, tucking her hand into his crook of his elbow with a playful wink. “Come on, Mary. Let’s make them all jealous.”
Mary Ann smiled from ear to ear with moisture glistening in her eyes. She walked slowly with Gabriel by her side, never once taking her eyes off of Sam. He was everything she ever dreamed of and more. When everyone else failed to see beyond his arrogant