Soren lifts his brows. “Really? What is it?”
I meet Anders’s eyes across the table, his expression perplexed.
Arlo looks expectantly at Gunnar, whose cheeks are red as an apple. He clears his throat, then takes Arlo’s hand. Helga gasps, hands over her mouth and tears in her eyes.
Arlo smiles big and bright. “We’re getting married!”
Wulfric spits his drink across the table. Kieran thumps him on the back.
I look to Gunnar for answers and find his expression carefully guarded. Something’s off.
“That is… great news, brother!” I say, plastering a smile on my face.
“What?” Wulfric wheezes, thumping his chest hard. “Why?”
Arlo frowns. “Well, you see, when two people love each other, they may decide to spend the rest of their lives together!”
Wulfric glares at him. “I am aware of what a marriage entails. It’s just… surprising, is all.” He looks at our brother expectantly.
Gunnar gives him an icy look. “You’ve been pestering me to take a mate, and now I will. Happy?”
I should be relieved, but I can’t help feeling suspicious instead. Gunnar was adamant he would never move on from Leif, and now here he is, announcing marriage to a witch he’s recently rejected.
Arlo puts a hand on his chest with a soft sigh. “How could I resist such a handsome brute?” He squeezes Gunnar’s hand so hard, Gunnar grimaces.
“Should be interesting,” Anders murmurs, not bothering to hide his mischievous grin.
Gunnar clears his throat and reaches for a bowl of beef stew. “Stew, Soren?” He holds the bowl out to my mate. “It always was your favorite.”
A surprised smile stumbles across Soren’s face. “Thanks. It smells great.”
Gunnar remembered Soren’s favorite meal. Not only that, he reached out to him. In his own way, Gunnar’s making amends with Soren. Mayhap one day, they can be as close as they once were.
“Thank you,”I say through our bond.
Gunnar meets my gaze and offers a small smile.“Hush and eat, snowbrain.”
I tuck in, sharing stories and laughter with my pack, and for the first time in years, I finally remember what it’s like to hope.
“So, Arlo and Gunnar. Do you think the Council put them up to this?” Soren plops down on the bed beside me and wastes no time nestling into my side.
I press a kiss to his hair. “It’s likely. The Council did ask them to stay behind so they could talk.” My stomach flutters, like the time I swallowed a butterfly. “If you could get your memories back, would you?”
Soren hums softly, playing with my fingers. “Yeah, I would. Hearing stories about my life with the pack isn’t the same as remembering them. I wish I could remember you most of all. What we were like as kids. The first moment I had feelings for you. Our mating ceremony.” He touches his neck where the mating mark should be.
“What if I told you that you could remember everything?”
“That would be nice, but—” Soren goes utterly silent, eyes widening. “Wait… can I?”
I can’t help but smile. “Aye. I visited the Council this morning and they told me that if I claim you, your memories should return.”
Soren laughs softly. “No way.”
I press my lips to his forehead. “Yes way. Our bond will be complete. It will undo the spell that stole your memories.”
“All you have to do is bite me?”
I nod and, to my amusement, Soren wrestles his clothes off with such ferocity, it looks like he’s fighting a bear. He’s naked in seconds and sprawled out before me like a delectable feast. He bobs his eyebrows. “Then put your teeth in me, sweetheart.”
