“I’m grateful to know you, Nova,”Blitz tells me.“You are my pack now and forever.”
“I love you, Blitz,”I say in reply.“Now and forever.”
He drops down to all fours and his quick, violet eyes lock on mine, his thoughts pausing for the first time.“Love you, too.”
Feeling emotionally wrung out, but also more complete than I have in a long time, I allow myself to sink against Roman for a moment. It’s as if he knows exactly what I need, and he doesn’t speak. Just lets me rest.
I’m letting the bonds settle when Ruby approaches.
My relationship with her is new, and her life with Arga can’t have been a happy one. I don’t know her story and I didn’t see any of it when Ace bonded with me, but when she approaches, I immediately take a knee so I’m at eye-level with her.
I didn’t expect her to want to form a permanent bond with me, so other than crouching, I don’t make a move. My dress at this point is trashed as the little material roses litter the ground, but I’m certain that Roman will have a rune to mend it. Bonding with my wolves is more important.
“We don’t need to make this bond if you’re not ready,” I tell Ruby when she pauses for a long minute. “I’m always here for you. You’re part of this pack, and there’s plenty of time.”
She nudges in closer, her energy washing over me. It’s different to the other four, who are siblings, and I wonder what personalities her pups will have. Demon wolves are rare, so it’s incredible to know that their legacy will continue.
When I feel the softest caress of her tongue along the edge of my shoulder, her memories send a shot of pain through me. She shuts them down fast, but I catch glimpses of her torturous life under Arga’s control. Worse than his treatment of her was the loneliness. As a wolf, a pack animal, she spent years alone thinking she would never have a family.
The fight with Arga, when Ace had chosen to save her, is the strongest memory she allows to pass to me.
“He saved me,”she says.“I was prepared to die that day. I wished to die. But then he fought for me.”
Hugging her, I can’t hold back fresh tears that fall into her fur.“You will never be alone again,”I tell her, my inner voice breaking.“Ace saved you, and we are so grateful for that. I’m grateful for you.”
“I won’t let you down,”she says.
It hurts me that she thinks she has to prove herself to be welcomed into our pack.
“Our love is unconditional,”I tell her.“You never have to worry about letting us down. Live your best life and we will always be here for you.”
Ruby howls then, and I hold her as she lets go of her remaining anxieties. When her howl dies off, a sense of peace filters through our newly established bond. She licks my tears as the others did, then makes her way back to Ace. He nuzzles into her, and I can feel their happiness through our new connection.
When I rise to my feet, Roman is ready with a rune, which he brushes down my clothing, bringing it back to the shimmering state it was in before.
“How are you feeling?” he asks me, his green eyes meeting mine. “Bonding with five demon wolves at the same time must be a lot.”
I press my hand to my shoulder, sensing the five shimmering marks there. “I feel… complete. My four wolves and I have been a pack for years, and now we have the final connection.” I can’t help the happiness that spills over within me. “I feel like I’ve had a shot of bliss.”
Roman presses his lips to mine and there’s another jolt inside me. The connection I have with him has been forged in fire. We’ve fought our way through from a place of distrust to the strongest bond.
“My life was empty before I found you,” he whispers against my mouth, and I wonder if my heart can handle all the emotions I’m experiencing today.
“I think some others are also waiting for a moment with you,” Roman murmurs, drawing me to the side of the clearing, where Wild Girl and Ingrid wait patiently.
Stepping out of Roman’s arms, I press my palm to the gorgeous silver horse’s muzzle. Energy sparks between us, the nightmare power inside me reacting to the dark brilliance of this mare.
“You’re in my pack too,” I tell her, and though there’s no bond springing to life between us, I feel our connection anyway.
“As are you,” I say, turning to hold out my hand for Ingrid. She settles onto my arm, her slight weight comforting, and I stand there for a moment in the wilds of my home, feeling stupidly content.
No matter what the future holds, the now is perfect, and I’m embracing every moment of it.
“We need to leave soon,” Roman finally reminds me. “Your family should be arriving at any time, and I need to prepare the runes to mask their energy as soon as they arrive.”
I nod, taking a few deep, cleansing breaths. “We’ll see you soon,” I say to Wild Girl, Reaper, and Ingrid.
My demon wolves will come with me to the ceremony, but the others are more at home in the Wilds.
