I peer at the obnoxious prince. He didn’t give up on Tanith.
“You must love her,” I whisper.
“With the force of the full moon,” he replies as the wolves behind him blink as if coming out of a daze. A few of themapproach Alden with their hackles raised. They bare their teeth as Alden bares his back.
“Listen up!” Alden roars, his voice like a whip. “Lua will not be invading Corona today or any other day. We’ll return to our land and bring my father Zeus’s body. Anyone who has a problem with that or my leadership should challenge me now.”
The advancing werewolves pause. My breath catches as they bow their heads to their future king.
“Smart choice,” Alden says.
Unable to wait longer, I rush toward Wilder and Marlowe, dropping to my knees. I wrap my arms around Wilder’s shoulders, but I question why he isn’t hugging me back.
“I’m kind of tied up,” he says, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Alden!” I screech, causing him to jump. “Get these restraints off and, for the love of the gods, put on some damn clothes!”
Alden smirks. “Heinrich, release these prisoners.”
The guard I vowed to kill earlier releases Marlowe first, who scampers to her feet with flames swirling around her clenched hands. The threat is clear: if Heinrich dares to touch her again, she will fry him to a crisp. He retreats, but not before bumping into Wilder.
“Now him,” I command.
Heinrich removes Wilder’s restraints, but isn’t quick enough to get out of the way. Wilder punches him clean in the throat. Heinrich falls to his back, choking for air. Next, Wilder shifts to advance on Alden, who grins in anticipation of a fight. I step between them.
“It’s over,” I say. The fire in Wilder’s eyes slowly fades. “Desiree saved us.”
“You saved us, Leigh.”
Wilder smiles as he wraps his arms around me. I do the same, holding him tight. We don’t kiss; we just stand there in thecenter of the Charon Bridge, our hearts beating as one, until we hear a camera go off. Wilder and I pull away from each other to see Stellan taking our picture.
“This will make front-page news!” he says, a smug grin on his face.
Five Months Later
The Weiss TrainStation in Glaucus looks plucked straight from the pages of a fairy tale. Intricate red gingerbread markings adorn the pristine white walls, adding a whimsical charm with the delicate patterns. The ticketing agents—dressed in old-fashioned uniforms with gleaming whistles and jaunty hats—move about with a sense of timeless efficiency.
As I stand beneath a canopy of glittering stars, the cool summer mountain air envelops me. Its crisp embrace seeping deep into my bones, filling me with a sense of wonder and anticipation.
Beside me, Vane meticulously rereads our ticket vouchers. Our mountains of luggage, mostly his rather than mine, loom nearby. As I commit our surroundings to memory, I can’t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia. Vane and I have grand plans to explore the world, and who knows when I will have the chance to return to this magical place in the north? I’ve loved it more than I ever thought possible.
Vane’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Will you miss Lua?”
“Will you?” I counter.
We’ve lived ninety miles north of here with the wolves for five months. After Leigh and Alden returned to Borealis with mybrother, I explained that the cure wouldn’t be ready for Tanith in time. I told Alden that if he truly wanted to save his mate, he had to take both me and Vane back to his country. We were a package deal. Alden agreed, and after a quick goodbye with my brother, Vane and I left Borealis without looking back.
We might have never left the comfort of Lua if not for a letter I received from Mom three weeks ago. The cure is finally ready for mass market distribution—with approvals from Leigh, President Janus Dyer, and Vyvyan. I am expected back home for the official release party.
“I will miss the lack of sunshine,” Vane says, his voice tinged with a wistful longing.
We discovered a world that defied our preconceived notions of wolves during our time with them. Instead of slumbering in caves and hibernating through the snowy months, we found sleepless cities, charming villages rivaling Glaucus’s beauty, and ski resorts where wolves enjoyed winter activities beneath the ever-changing moon.
As Alden’s esteemed guests, Vane and I stayed in the opulent Nocturn Castle near Tanith during her recovery. My first encounter with her, a feral vampire in chains with soulless crimson eyes, still haunts me. However, as I calmed her and fed her my blood, a remarkable transformation occurred, revealing a timid, sweet nature reminiscent of a cartoon princess.
Alden has now devoted himself entirely to Tanith. Their passion, born from years apart, was all-consuming, heedless of anyone’s presence. The wedding invitation in my bag testifies to their enduring love—a ceremony hastened by the undeniable signs of Tanith’s condition. Despite her attempts to hide it, my trained medical eye recognizes the symptoms of pregnancy.
“You know what else I will miss?” Vane asks mischievously. I smile, already knowing the answer.
