The words sent her over, her body convulsing as she came hard, squeezing me like a vise. I followed with a roar, my come spilling hot and deep, marking her from the inside as waves of pleasure crashed through us.
But it wasn't enough. I pulled out slowly, flipped her onto her back, and took her nipple into my mouth. Then I moved to the spot where her neck and shoulder met. “Ready?”
“Yes, please,” she gasped.
My canines extended, and I bit down, leaving a mating mark she’d wear forever. Her gasps turned to moans as another orgasm rippled through her.
Her lynx surged in response, her claws raking my back in fresh streaks. Then she bit my chest and left her own mating mark that made my wolf howl in triumph. Her claim on me was as fierce as mine on her.
The bond locked in place, making my soul complete. Finally.
When we collapsed, spent and slick with sweat, I gathered her close and nuzzled her neck. “You’re mine now, kitten. Completely.”
“And you’re mine,” she whispered back. “Body and soul, forever.”
Nothing had ever felt as right as our bond being sealed and unbreakable. Whatever the future brought, we’d face it together.
EPILOGUE
ALARA
Afew months passed in a whirlwind of bliss I never imagined possible. After everything that went down, Booker integrated seamlessly into Nightbriar. He learned our customs and earned quiet respect from even the grumpiest elders. He even made my brother grudgingly admit fate knew what it was doing.
We spent those first weeks nestled in the cliffs I’d always called home, but with his strong arms around me each night, I didn’t feel trapped.
I’d never realized how much loneliness I’d carried until I didn’t anymore. Every time I woke with my face pressed to Booker’s chest, my lynx stretched languidly inside me, like she finally had everything she’d ever wanted. Because we did.
Then we ventured to the Wilderness Pack. I was drawn by how similar their remote cabins felt to my home. Keane and the others welcomed us like family, and I loved the freedom their forest provided. During our month there, we ran under endless stars and attended pack barbecues that reminded me of chain gatherings, but with grizzlies and dragons adding unexpected flair. Artemis even taught me how to roast marshmallows withdragon fire to his daughter’s delight, which was both terrifying and addictive.
Booker and I thrived there, but we both felt the pull to explore one more option before deciding where to plant roots.
Now, strolling hand-in-hand down the main street of Timber Ridge, I couldn’t stop staring. This place was like stepping into a book with its vibrant shops, shifters and humans mingling, and the scent of fresh-baked pies wafting from a bakery while kids laughed in a nearby park. Mountains framed it all, familiar yet alive in a way Nightbriar never was. A gentle hum of community pulsed around me, warm and welcoming.
“It's everything I dreamed of and more,” I whispered, squeezing Booker’s hand.
He smiled down at me, gold glinting in his deep blue eyes. “Told you you’d love it here, kitten.”
His parents had enveloped me in hugs the moment we arrived. Elias, with his quiet, watchful pride, so like his son, and Mira, with warm chatter about grandpups and family recipes. I melted instantly. They’d insisted on treating us to dinner at Timber Treasures in the heart of town.
The restaurant was cozy perfection. Mira chattered about local gossip while Elias asked Booker about our time with the Wilderness Pack. I savored every bite of the grilled steak and stole glances at Booker, my heart full. He looked so at ease here, with his shoulders relaxed and eyes soft every time he glanced my way.
Mira reached across the table, brushing away a crumb near my plate. “So, Alara, be honest. How is my son as a mate? Does he brood as much as he used to? He was terrible at communicating when he lived at home.”
Booker groaned. “Mom.”
I grinned. “He communicates just fine. Mostly in growls.”
Elias snorted into his water. “Sounds about right.”
Booker squeezed my knee under the table. “They’re exaggerating. I do not growl that much.”
“You do,” all three of us said at the same time.
Mira’s eyes gleamed. “But he treats you well?”
My heart softened. “Better than well. He’s more than I ever could’ve dreamed of in a mate.”
Elias nodded, looking pleased. “He learned that from his mother.”
