placed his hands on her waist as she placed her hand on his father’s cheek. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead and then whispered, “Thank you.” Her words were choked as she started to cry. “He’s going to make you so proud.”
Fane swallowed hard at her declaration. It was all the more powerful because he could feel she genuinely meant it. She believed that strongly in him. When she stood back up, he pressed his lips to her neck, and then she guided him around to where his mother lay.
Fane reached out and ran his hand gently through her hair. He could remember as a child he thought her the most beautiful woman in the world. His opinion hadn’t changed. He’d simply added a woman to his heart that matched his mother in both inner and outer beauty. “I once told you that you were the first woman to have owned my heart,” Fane said, remembering the conversation they’d had after he and Jacquelyn had come so close to death. “I thought that maybe I’d hurt you because I’d given my heart to my mate. But in your wisdom, you explained you were proud that I had grown into the man who loved his mate the way you’d taught me to. You gave and gave and gave of yourself and then told me that it was an honor to be my mother. But Mama, it is I who am honored.
“For every scraped knee you patched up, regardless of the fact that it was going to heal in minutes. For every time you held my hand when I was afraid instead of making me feel weak because of it. For all the nights you sat outside with me, staring up at the moon, understanding that I didn’t need conversation. I just needed your presence. For every kind word and every prayer lifted up over me. For all the tears you’ve shed and pain you’ve felt, sleepless nights you’ve endured and sacrifices you’ve made, I am both honored and humbled.” Fane’s shoulders shook as tears ran down his face. He took his mother's face in his hands, gently cradling it, and pressed his forehead to hers.
“You get to rest now, my sweet mama. There’s no fretting. No more worry. You just rest and delight in being in the presence of our Creator. I love you.” He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent one last time.
When he stood, Jacquelyn was already moving to lean over his mother. She embraced Alina and her body trembled. He realized she was weeping. Fane felt the depth of her sorrow through their bond, and it nearly drove him to his knees. She was scared that if she didn’t allow herself to mourn now, that at the ceremony tomorrow night she would break down. He stepped closer and placed his hand on the back of her neck, beneath her hair, skin to skin. He didn’t know how much comfort he could give her, but he wanted her to know he understood and that he would stand beside her for as long she needed him to be here. They would get through this together, just like his parents had always done.
“How have you and Mom stayed so in love all these decades?” Fane asked his dad.
“Hard work.” His father’s voice filled his mind, as another cherished memory rose to the surface. He’d been telling Fane about true mates and the responsibility each one had. “You are the leader of your home, and you will be held responsible by the Great Luna for your actions and choices you make for your family. Your mate, she is the heart of your home. Just as you need to be admired by her and to feel she respects you, she needs to know that you love her, that you enjoy being in her presence. It will take work, and some days it will feel as if you can’t get along no matter how hard you try. But you don’t give up. You choose to love her anyway, just as she will continue to choose to love you.
“When you’re angry, you hold her close to remind yourself she is worth holding onto more than your anger. When she’s angry, you hold her closer to remind her that her anger won’t make you reject her. When you have days you don’t feel in love, and you will have those days, that’s when you remind yourself that the grass is