Lorenzo, who stood nearby, only nodded in gratefulacknowledgment.
“What are you going to do now?” Gabe asked. “Since the wall kinda has a big holeinit…”
I shrugged. I wasn’t sorry for that at all. It ended up being the catalyst for Stoneheart pack finally standing up for themselves and joining thefight.
Marlowe glanced to the other elders, who nodded inagreement.
“I don’t think the humans will be bothering us again. We have decided to live freely, as you insisted we do,” Marlowe said. “Since we now have the barrier, we are no longer confined to thewalls.”
“And the leftover pieces of the wall?” I asked with a grin. “They’d be fun toteardown.”
Marlowe chuckled. “I think we can manage to do that ourselves. After all, we seem to be done living by the rules ofothers.”
I laughed. “Fairenough.”
“Are you staying?” Otis asked Gabriel, clutchinghisarm.
“No, Otis. I’m sorry.” Gabriel hugged him. “I have a family of my own - a baby and a mate. And while I’ll always have a place in my heart for this pack, my home is atCinderhollownow.”
Otis nodded sadly. “But what about the barrier? Will it go away if youleave?”
“I don’t think so,” Gabe said. “Lorenzo said that it should stay up, as long as I’malive.”
“Yes,” Lorenzo confirmed as he walked over. “As long as you’re alive and have the same strong feelings towards this place, the barrier will remain. Especially since it was created with your mate’s magic,aswell.”
Gabe smiled at me. I couldn’t help myself - I leaned over and kissed him, not caring that everyone was watching. It made Gabriel blush furiously, which just made me want to kiss him more. But I restrainedmyself.
Ruby cleared her throat softly behind us. “Well… It seems like your work here is done. Congratulations, Gabriel. I’ve never seen suchafeat.”
Gabe, who was already blushing, turned even redder. “Thanks.”
“Shall we get going, then?” Ruby asked us. She gestured to a group of Stoneheart shifters who were already cleaning up the remains of the dust and ash. “I think they have things coveredhere,now.”
Gabriel nodded. “Yeah. And to be honest, I’m ready to go home. And sleep in my bigcomfortablebed.”
I was, too. Actually, I was ready to do a few other things in bed, but I didn’t mention thoseoutloud.
Gabriel said his goodbyes, promising he would visit and see how things were going after the baby was born. When he was finally done, he joined me and took my hand. “I’m ready togohome.”
I shifted into dragon form and took him safely into my arms. “Of course, myfatedmate.”
