“They will,” I whisper. “They already do.”
Landon grins, boyish and a little stunned, like he can’t believe this is really happening. Then he leans in and brushes a kiss to my cheek. “Then yeah…I want more moments too.”
We start walking again. His clean linen musk wraps around me as he links our fingers. My world is almost whole. Who knew I’d find my pack in the most unexpected places?
I squeeze his hand. “I have to talk to Finn too.”
“Offering him the same deal?”
I smile. “Yeah, you’re still good with that, right?”
“I’ll be with you, Willow. I didn’t think I even had a chance for that. You can add fifty more people to your pack, and I’ll still be here. I love you.”
My breath catches, and I slow again. “I love you, too, Landon. I never stopped. And I’m sorry for pushing back then, when you weren’t ready.”
He lets go of my hand to cup my cheeks. “If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have ever woken up and realized what I was missing. I just wish I would have seen it before I pushed you away.”
I don’t answer with words.
I rise onto my toes—pain be damned—and kiss him.
It’s not the same as the chaotic kiss after Nationals. This one is slower. Deeper. No noise. No crowd. Just the two of us under the glow of the streetlight, as though the world has paused to give us this second chance.
His hands stay cradling my face. Mine curl into his shirt. Everything about it feels right.
When we finally break apart, breathing a little heavier, I blink up at him.
“Ahem.”
I twist around—and there they are.
Carson, arms crossed, brow cocked.
Hunter, wearing a faint smirk and a knowing look.
Graham, stone-faced but with a suspicious softness behind his eyes.
Finn, leaning on a streetlamp post as if he’s been there the whole time, camera nowhere in sight for once.
Carson grins. “So I’m guessing that’s a yes.”
Landon lets out a breath and shifts beside me, not pulling away, just steadying me with one arm.
“Welcome to the pack,” Carson continues, tone way too casual. “Now we just need to seal it with a bite for all...yeah?”
“Carson,” Graham says flatly, but I hear the amusement tucked beneath it.
Hunter chuckles under his breath. “Only you would make an emotional moment weirdly ceremonial.”
“I’m just saying,” Carson shrugs. “It’s tradition. Sort of. Probably. I read it somewhere.”
Finn steps forward, expression unreadable, eyes locked on mine. “You told him,” he says softly.
I blink, thrown. “Told him what?”
He tilts his head slightly, like the answer should be obvious. “That he’s part of the pack.”
Landon tenses at my side.
