“I claimed you. I thought that was clear.”
“That’s not the same as... you know... asking someone to be your girlfriend. Or whatever the werewolf equivalent is.”
He hummed thoughtfully. Then, before I could react, he was turning me to face him, his hands coming up to cup my face.
The room went quiet.
“Riley Hawkins,” he said, his gray eyes unwavering. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
The room erupted.
“OH MY GOD,” I screeched. “I DIDN’T MEAN... I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEING YOUR GIRLFRIEND...”
“A PROPOSAL?” Jade was on her feet, hands over her mouth. “HE’S PROPOSING?”
“HOLY SHIT,” Margo yelled. “HOLY ACTUAL SHIT.”
“I need to sit down,” Sloane said, already sitting.
Caelan just watched me, completely unbothered by the chaos around us, a small smile playing at his lips.
“Girlfriend,” he repeated, tasting the word. “What a silly title.”
“It’s not silly...”
“It’s lacking. Insufficient. Inadequate for what you mean to me.” His thumbs stroked my cheekbones, his voice dropping to something softer but no less commanding. “You’re not my girlfriend, Riley. You’re my soulmate. My woman. My other half. And I want you to be my wife.”
“We’ve known each other for like a MONTH...”
“I knew you were mine the moment I saw you. Time is irrelevant.”
“Time is not irrelevant! Time is very relevant! That’s how time works!”
“Not for wolves.”
“You can’t just PROPOSE...”
“I just did.”
“In front of my FRIENDS...”
“I’d propose in front of the entire realm if you’d let me.”
I was sputtering, speechless, overwhelmed by the absolute certainty in his voice, the intensity in his eyes, the reverence in his touch.
“You’re insane,” I managed.
“For you.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “Always for you. Say yes.”
“I... you... this is...”
“Say yes, Riley.”
Behind us, Jade was crying. Margo was recording on her phone. Sloane was just shaking her head slowly, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.
I looked at this ridiculous, completely unhinged man who turned into a wolf to save me, who tattooed my name on his thigh after knowing me for days…Fuck it.
“Yes,” I whispered.
