“Violet,” I say, voice breaking, “I need to know—which Jason do you want?”
She smiles softly.
“Honestly?” she murmurs. “Either at this point. As long as you’re by my side.”
I choke on my breath.
“I’ll take both,” she adds, “if that’s all right.”
Something inside me—something old and wounded and feral—falls to its knees.
“I’m yours,” I whisper. “In every form.”
Her smile widens, then she pulls me down into a kiss that feels like forgiveness and home.
We walk back toward the fire, fingers interlaced, hearts beating in rhythm.
And this time I don’t look back.
We’re halfway back to the fire when a wolf barrels into me from the side.
I tense on reflex, but then I catch the scent.
Buff.
He knocks into my hip, tail wagging so hard his entire body oscillates. Then he jumps up, paws on my chest, licking my face like a deranged Saint Bernard.
“Okay, okay, big guy.” I wheeze, laughing despite everything.
Violet laughs too, the sound bright and delighted. “Is that Beau?”
“Yeah,” I say, shoving him back gently. “He appears to be alive and emotionally compromised.”
Buff shifts mid-tackle, bones cracking, fur pulling back. One second there’s a wolf licking my jaw, the next it’s my idiot brother, crying and clinging to me in front of an entire pack.
“I thought you were dead,” he sobs, voice thick. “I thought you were gone and I hated you for leaving and I love you and I’m sorry and also your girlfriend is terrifying,” he says all in one breath.
“Buff,” I groan, but my throat is tight. I hug him anyway, clapping a hand on his back. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
“Don’t ever do that again,” he mumbles into my shoulder. “We’re supposed to die together, remember?”
“That’s not the plan anymore,” I say quietly, glancing at Violet.
Buff follows my gaze, sniffles, and then gently disengages to wipe his face with the back of his hand. “Hi, Violet,” he says, earnest and shy. “Thanks for… uh… not letting my brother be murdered.”
She smiles fondly. “You’re welcome.”
There’s a delighted squeal from somewhere behind us.
“Buff!”
We all turn.
Thorne’s eldest daughter is beelining straight for Buff with the speed of a missile. She launches herself at him, and he catches her, stumbling back as she wraps herself around him like she’s climbing her favorite tree.
“I can’t believe this!” she says, laughing. “He said yes!”
Buff goes pink to the roots of his hair. “I—I mean, yeah, that’s a good thing?—”
