Dane had pulled Rick into a bear-hug, near lifting him off the ground and shaking him about, “Then Sul’han fucking draaka to Nicolas!”
Felix grinned, pulling Dane and Rick into sideways hugs, relishing his friends beside him as the pack came together.
“Just you wait,” Rick said through gritted teeth, “when you have kids, I’m going toinsiston all the proper tradition and form. Felix and Nicolas may have wriggled their way out of it, but I’ll be damned if I let you blaspheme, too!”
Dane snorted. “Good thing I’m far from having any kids.”
“Oh?” Felix asked, raising an eyebrow. “What about yourcontactin the Ashford pack?”
Dane rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, she kinda told me to get lost. Got other things to do than settle down, apparently. Not that I wanted to settle down with her,” he added quickly at Felix’s curious look, “Christ, no. Not my type at all.”
“Clearly,” Rick muttered.
“I just meant, she’s hard as nails, you know? That’s very much run its course.”
“Well, watch yourself,” Rick said, his voice silky smooth, “according to the legends, a new birth brings prosperity to all. Maybe you’ll find yourself with your own little bundle ofblessingssoon enough.”
“Nah, not me,” Dane said, “nobody’s tying me down any time soon!”
Felix exchanged a look with Rick, who rolled his eyes and grabbed Dane by the shoulders. “Come on, you’ll be pleased to know that tradition dictates we raise a drink.”
“NowthatI can get behind,” replied Dane with savage glee, and both of them wandered off to the bar.
A small hand slipped into his, and he looked down to see Cassie smiling up at him, her face so full of love.
“Hi there,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Enjoying your first birthing celebration? Sadly for Rick, it’s not very traditional, but it is a hell of a lot more fun.”
“It’s wonderful,” she said, her eyes shining as she looked around the room. “Are you sure it’s okay that I’m here?”
He pulled her in close, tucking her against his side, his heart so full of happiness he didn’t know where he could possibly put it all. “You’re family, Cassie. You’re pack. Where I go, you go. This is where you belong.”
Cassie sighed, snuggling into him, and both stayed in that one small moment, with their friends and family joyous around them, reveling in everything they planned to build together.
*****
THE END
