“I know.” I covered his hands with mine. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me now.”
“Good.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
We stood there for a moment, just breathing each other in. And despite everything, despite the chaos and the danger and the absolute insanity of the past few days, I felt... happy. Safe. Home.
Then Thessa cleared her throat loudly.
“Not to interrupt this touching moment, but we’re still standing in an enemy compound and I’d really like to leave now.”
Right. That. Still in enemy territory. Probably should prioritize escape over romance. My survival instincts really needed recalibration.
Caelan wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me toward the exit. Thessa fell into step beside us. She caught my eye andgave me a look that said we are absolutely going to talk about everything later, but for now she just smiled.
We stepped outside.
The cold air hit my skin and I nearly sobbed with relief. The sky was dark, stars scattered across it, and I had no idea what time it was. But it didn’t matter. We were out. We were safe.
Healers rushed toward us, wrapping blankets around our shoulders, checking us over. I let them work, too tired to do anything except lean into Caelan’s side.
“It’s over,” he said, his hand finding mine. “We got them. Soren, Vix, all of them. It’s over.”
I looked up at him. My mate. My ridiculous, overprotective, dramatic prince who had literally crashed through a ceiling to save me.
“It’s not over,” I said. “It’s just the beginning.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s very philosophical of you.”
“I have my moments.”
He laughed, soft and surprised, and pulled me closer. And standing there in the cold night air, surrounded by healers and guards and the aftermath of battle, I thought maybe this was what happily ever after looked like.
Messy, imperfect, and absolutely worth it.
33
— • —
Riley
Someone handed me clothes.
Simple things - a tunic, trousers, boots that were slightly too big. I pulled them on gratefully, finally covered after spending far too long naked in the cold. A healer tended to my scratches, applying a salve that stung briefly before the wounds started knitting closed. Wolf healing was really growing on me.
Caelan was beside me the whole time.
He’d been treated too - his flank wound wrapped, the grime cleaned from his skin, fresh clothes covering his body. He hadn’t left my side since we emerged from the compound, hovering close enough to touch but not actually touching.
Things were slightly awkward between us.
There was so much unsaid. The rejection, the poison, the fight with Vix, the revelations about his past with her. It all hung in the air, present but not addressed. I didn’t know how to start that conversation. Didn’t have the energy for it right now. So I stayed quiet. He did too.
We were really nailing this whole communication thing.
After a few minutes, the compound doors opened again.
Wolves poured out, some carrying injured comrades, others walking under their own power. Guards emerged next, escorting cuffed men, traitors who survived the battle. I watched them pass, satisfaction curling in my chest.
And then Soren.
