“So, you buried this a long time ago?” Nick asked as he sat in Samantha’s lap and smiled when she nodded. “Careful, Buddy. Her throat still hurts.” I say gently, I can feel the stiffness in her joints as she smiles through the pain. She looked at me apologetically. She smirked. Overhead the skies cleared and the rain stopped. “Crazy mountain weather...” I muttered, laughing as Samantha reached for the clasp again. Slowly the clasp popped and she grinned as I helped her open the lid. The air from years ago greeted us and we all craned our necks inside to see. I laughed as Samantha squealed. “My Gundam!!!” She reached in and pressed the button on its chest and its wings popped out. “It needs batteries though.” I glanced inside next and my eyes went wide. “My old Iron Man!” I laughed, it was the one she gave me years ago. We put them inside so they wouldn’t be lonely. And then Chris tried to be stupid and take it out... Samantha threw him in. “My old paint ball gun!” Violet smiled as she reached in. “I wonder if it still works...” She jumped as it went off and Jake screamed as the pellet hit his leg. “Sorry!!!” “That brings back memories of good times.” Daren laughed as he went into the trunk. “Hey! My sandwich is still here!” “Oh gross!” Lily laughed as she pulled out an old stuffed wolf. She blinked before she smiled. “My old wolf looks just like yours, Daren.” “Greg, here is your old chess set...” Samantha started before she stopped, and looked sorrowful. Slowly she handed me her old toy before she reached in and grabbed a small parcel with both of her hands. “And this... too.” Carefully she stood and placed it in his hands. She looked at him grimly. “Frannie put this in there.” We all stopped and watched him silently. His bottom lip trembled slightly and Jess walked over and hugged him tightly. After a minute he breathed and looked at it. “She wrote on here... ‘To a future I probably won’t see...’” His voice started to break and Jess grabbed him again, as he hid his face in her neck. Silent sobs started to come through as Penny wrapped her arms around him. After a while he finally calmed down and nodded. Looking into his mate’s eyes I could see the love and sorrow in them. Finally, he breathed and opened the envelope and smiled. “Penny. Here, this was your mom’s.” He smiled and fastened a gold locket around her neck. He opened the picture inside and there was a tiny photo of Frannie inside. “I’ll find an old one of me at that age and put in the other side.” I pulled my mate closer to me as I could almost smell her tears trying to escape. Nick was looking on sadly, no doubt worried for his friend. After a few minutes Greg finally nodded, looking back towards the trunk. “What else is in there?” Samantha smiled and looked back in it. “Hey Chris, wasn’t this yours?” She held up a book, it looked like a collection of horror stories. She opened it and looked at the first page. “Yep. Property of Jerk #1.” “Oh, yeah. I was a jerk... sorry about that.” Samantha shrugged. “Don’t be sorry, unless I owe you a butt whoopin!” She glared at him but I could feel the slight amusement in our bond. “Do I?” She glanced at Jake next who flinched and hid behind Violet now. “No ma’am!” They said in unison, earning a chuckle from her. She giggled in my mind... oh shit. She promised them a black eye. Oh crap. She reached in and grabbed a giant puzzle. “Here you go, Jerk #2.” Jake looked at me slightly frantic. I just shrugged and gave him a half smile before my attention went back to my mate. “Hey! Look!” I could feel a strong wave of grief from our bond and I looked inside to a bunch of dried roses. “My dad put these in here... how can we save this, a shadowbox maybe?” Shrugging I looked inside to the last item, a flat item wrapped in a brown paper. I was almost scared to look, did her mom put this in here? I pulled it out, it felt like a large picture frame. Slowly I opened it, it was all of us! Taken on the day we buried this... my parents were here, her parents were here, we were all lined up and smiling. “Wow. This would be perfect in the common room, Samantha.” I offered as she nodded. “We can make a copy for your parents also.” She nodded before I felt a massive wave of exhaustion from her. I asked, worriedly. She flashed me an apologetic smile. I nodded as I nuzzled her and smiled. “Everyone go away.” I started as Samantha giggled in my mind. “You heard me, go on!” I repeated a little more forcefully as she leaned further into me, I could feel she was about to fall asleep again. “But can someone ask Doc to come to our room later?” I grab Nick and stop him from moving as everyone else starts to find somewhere else to be. Daren carefully grabs the trunk and take it inside. She asked me, even her mind links sounded so drained. I respond with a sigh. She laid her head on my shoulder and I could almost feel her fully relax. “Come on, let’s get back to our room.” I whisper as I grabbed her up, kicking myself as her bones start to creak and flash in pain. “Hey Nick, go get the door for me, okay?” Slowly I walk her up the steps, many of the omegas and other pack members call out to us. Thankful she is finally awake. Mrs. Potts meets us on the stairs, promising to bring up some ice cream shortly. I glance down at my Love as I feel her grip my shirt and smile softly, she is asleep again before we even make it upstairs. Finally, our lives can get back on track. ~~~ I shoot awake, was that all a dream?! Glancing around frantically I grab my mate and shake her. “Sammy!!!” She jumps awake now, shocked and she hisses as pain flashes down her body. Oh shit! Carefully I pulled her to me, trying to help her with the pain as she whimpers. “Oh, sorry Love.” I whispered in her ear. “I thought... you were still in a coma...” I pulled my nose deeper into her hair as she started to relax again. “What... time is it?” She whispered softly. “It's still early in the morning.... I am so sorry.” I sighed. “Let’s try and go back to sleep, okay?” Slowly she nodded. “Hey, do you remember... when I broke my leg and you were taking me to the hospital? I asked you, what you think it was like to find your mate?” I smiled and nodded, purring slightly. “It seems we were both right.” She chuckled. “And I remembered something else...” “Really? What’s that?” I leaned back and looked at her smiling face. Softly she closed the gap and brushed her lips lightly to mine, staying silent and smirking. Gently I pressed against her mouth, kissing her sweetly. Of course, I didn’t forget that we got each other’s first kiss after all. Finally, she sighs and cuddles into me as I wrap her up protectively in my arms. “Please tell me you turned off the alarms...” She started. “I don’t think I want to leave this bed anymore...” She glanced up at me. Is she really??? “No. Sorry, I’m too... I mean... this bed is too comfortable and I don’t want to leave it.... sorry.” She blushed, figuring out her innuendo. “Don’t worry Love.” I say, kissing her forehead. “I’ll behave... for now.” I smiled in triumph as she started to blush a deep red. “Been a while since I made you do that.” “Meanie.” She giggled as she slowly closed her eyes. “You better be right here when I wake up, cause I’m going to make you pay for that one...” Slowly I closed my eyes as well, the love of my life back was back in my arms.

Chapter 132