“Thank you,” she whispered, humbled at the thought.
“That goes for you as well, Razor.” Chase extended his hand to him with a solemn smile.
As the two Breed males shook hands, a chorus of voices from the other warriors, male and female, joined together all around them. “You honor us well.”
One by one, the warriors and Knox each approached to offer praise and kind words. Willow had never felt so showered with warm regard, all of it made even sweeter because of the love she and Razor were finally brave enough to express to each other.
She didn’t know what the future held for them now, or where it might take them. She only knew she wanted to spend that future at Razor’s side. He was her family now. He was her home, the only true north she would ever need.
And in her heart—down to her marrow—she knew that she was that true north for him too.
With hands linked and their blood bond glowing with power between them, she and Razor walked out alongside their friends, leaving the night’s horror and carnage behind them forever.
EPILOGUE
Three months later . . .
“It’s almost time,” Razor called out to Willow, glancing at the big antique grandfather clock in the foyer of the little farmhouse.
The sweater she had convinced him to put on tonight scratched at his neck and was a hell of a lot less comfortable than the black t-shirts and leather he preferred, but he wasn’t about to complain. If seeing him wear it brought Willow joy, then he was happy to oblige.
Well, maybe “happy” was a bit of a stretch.
Pacing as he waited for her, he ran his finger inside the collar and tried to avoid catching his reflection in the large mirror in the hallway. Just because he agreed to wear it didn’t mean he wanted to see himself in it.
Careful footsteps on the stairs leading down from the bedrooms on the second floor drew his attention as Willow descended. The instant he saw her, all the breath in his lungs leaked out of him on a stunned sigh.
Not that he should ever be surprised by his Breedmate’s beauty, but tonight she looked particularly gorgeous. Everything male in him ignited with approval.
“Holy hell.”
She stepped off the last stair and did a little spin for him. “Do I look all right?”
He could hardly speak for what the sight of her was doing to him. “You look incredible.”
She wore a red satin dress that had tiny gold beads and sparkly embroidery sewn onto it. The skirt was short and full, topped by a form-fitting bodice that accentuated her small waist and delectable breasts. Although she usually favored cowgirl boots, tonight she wore towering high heels that made her legs seem to go on forever.
Her thick dark hair was gathered into a soft updo with random, loose tendrils that curled along her face and the smooth column of her neck. The only jewelry she wore was the half-heart pendant necklace she never took off. Laurel’s matching charm joined hers on the chain that hung suspended between Willow’s breasts.
Anxiously, she reached up to her naked earlobes. “I have earrings upstairs. Do you think I should put them on?”
Razor slowly shook his head and walked toward her. “You look absolutely perfect just the way you are.”
She beamed, then her gaze drifted to what he was wearing and she let out a small giggle. “You look . . . so amazing.”
He frowned. “I think you mean ridiculous.”
Holding his arms out, he let her see the full spectacle of the hideous red-and-green Christmas sweater. As if the colors weren’t bad enough, it also had a giant Santa head appliquéd on the front, accented with sequined snowflakes and “Ho-ho-ho!” embroidered across the top.
Willow’s giggle became a brief fit of laughter. Throwing her arms around his neck, she rose up on her toes and kissed him. “Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one in a Christmas sweater. Leni convinced Knox to wear one too.”
Razor chuckled at the thought. “Now that is something I need to see.”
His brother and Leni were bringing their two-month old baby boy, Caleb, along with Shannon and Riley. Several couples from the Order had accepted their invitation to Parrish Falls tonight too, as had his Hunter brothers from Florida and their mates.
Now that it was actually happening at any minute, Razor wasn’t sure he was ready for the merging of his former life and this new one he was making with Willow. Never mind the fact that he would be doing so dressed in a Santa sweater.
Willow smiled at him. “Would it help if I tell you I also think you look totally sexy?”
