Then I kissed her. The pasta was overcooked by the time I was done, but it was worth it.
After dinner, we each carried a beer out onto the porch and enjoyed the warm evening. The fragile connection that bound us after the mating bite was growing stronger with every hour. I could feel her inside me, a constant warmth.
I hesitated to bring up a topic that might upset her, but I was concerned.
“What are you thinking?” she asked me, tilting her head to rest on the back of the chair. “I can feel your worry.”
I took a deep breath. I’d forgotten this part of the mating bond—the sharing of moods and thoughts. It was nearly impossible to hide things from a mate, not that I wanted to.
“Why didn’t you take part in Darrell’s punishment?” I asked. She’d been so determined to make him pay for what he’d done to her parents that her decision to bow out surprised me.
Chloe twisted her head and met my eyes. “A lot of reasons. I’ve had to kill before, and I’m certain that as pack enforcer I’ll be required to do so again. This time, though…” she paused, gathering her thoughts. “Darrell Whelby hurt so many people. Yes, he took my parents from me and Gram’s son from her, but the females that he hurt over and over deserve the chance to make him pay.” The corner of her mouth curled up in a smile that held no amusement. “And, honestly, I think any punishment they could dream up would be far more creative than mine.”
“You said there were a lot of reasons,” I said softly. “What are the others?”
“I’ve been too close to death the past week. Brayden’s death. Your death. My death. I don’t want to swim in a sea of blood for the rest of my life. Killing shouldn’t be the only thing I’m good at,” she murmured.
“It’s not the only thing you’re good at,” I replied, sitting up straighter in the chair.
She smiled, small and sad. “I know, Lach, but I don’t want to walk too close to that line. It’s too easy to cross over and never return. I’ve seen the wolves that exist hand-in-hand with death. They forget that life holds meaning and beauty.” She hesitated. “They forget to live.”
I understood then what she meant. “Then I’m glad you stood aside.”
“Speaking of living, fancy a run in the woods under the full moon?” she asked.
I glanced up, shocked to see the full moon hanging in the sky. I hadn’t noticed the waxing moon for months if not years. “Yeah, I think I would,” I replied slowly.
With a wicked grin spreading across her face, she stood and began to shuck her clothes. “If you catch me, maybe I’ll give you a prize.”
Before I could do more than put my beer aside and stand, she was already naked and leaping off the porch. She shifted mid-stride, letting loose a challenging howl as she dashed across the open field and disappeared into the trees.
I stripped and followed her in the blink of an eye, eager to chase my mate.
When I did finally catch Chloe, I made sure she understood that the only prize I wanted was her.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chloe
One month later
The sun wassetting over the MacIntire pack compound, but the place was buzzing with activity. Wolves were milling about in the open field where we gathered for pack runs.
Only the tall grass had been mown down and raked up a few days before. In the center of the clearing, stood a tree. It was huge, it’s branches covered in fairy lights and paper lanterns. Chairs were arranged in rows facing the trunk. Though the moon was full, shining down so brightly that we didn’t need other lighting, there were lanterns set everywhere, the candles inside casting a gentle glow. More fairy lights were strung along the backs of the chairs.
It was romantic and beautiful. The perfect setting for a mating ceremony. Though wolves didn’t marry as humans did, when true soul mates found one another, the pack often celebrated it with a ceremony during the next full moon. All the pack members would watch as the mates made vows to one another, then the entire pack would shift and enjoy a run beneath the moonlight. It was an ancient and wonderful tradition.
Ricki and Lachlan had planned the entire thing to surprise me. I thought we would make our vows in the moonlight, surrounded only by our family and pack mates. Having been raised human, Ricki wouldn’t hear of it. She insisted it should be special.
I glanced around and realized that Ricki’s idea of special also included a cake and champagne, so I had no complaints whatsoever.
A shrill whistle pierced the air and the wild activity ceased. Ricki stood in front of the tree where Lachlan and I would make our promises to each other and clapped her hands.
“Everybody sit your asses down!” she yelled. “We need to start.”
I laughed as wolves grumbled and found seats. My grandmother sat in the front row between Carter Whelby and Nicholas. Miss Emma and her husband, Tom, were further along toward the end. Other wolves from what was once called the MacArthur pack were there. After Carter became alpha, he changed the name to Prater at the pack member’s insistence.
Several members of my grandmother’s pack were in attendance as well. Though the MacIntire compound usually remained half-empty, tonight it was full to bursting. All of the empty houses were filled with guests and friends.
