I gave him a genuine smile. “Isn’t your middle name ‘Get Lucky’?”
“Get-inLucky. And that’s just because I get a lot of ass. Not because I’m lucky enough to find my true love.”
“You will, Dyl. You’re too much of a catch not to.”
“Thanks, man, but I don’t know. My track record isn’t exactly great. Hell, a few months ago I ended up getting kidnapped when I thought I was getting some. Talk about a dick-appointment gone wrong.” He shrugged and offered me a cheeky grin. “That’s ok, though. I’m fine with my fate being that of a dumb fuckboy for the rest of my life.”
“That isn’t your fate, Dylan. And you aren’t dumb. Sure, you have a very thin grasp of things like geography and youdidthink Mario and Luigi were based on real-life plumbers?—“
“—Not my fault my uncle owned a plumbing company that was begging to be sued.”
I laughed, reaching over and giving Dyl’s shoulder a friendly squeeze. “Regardless, you’re also one of the biggesthearted, funniest, charismatic, and selfless man I’ve ever known. You’d lasso the moon if someone asked you to. Your fated mate is out there, and you’re going to find them.”
“Thanks, Gabe.” His grin grew wide. “It means a lot coming from you.”
Dylan and I were close in age but he still felt like the little brother I never had. A lovable goofball who had a knack for getting himself in trouble. I’d always have his back, same way I knew he’d have mine.
He leaned back in his chair. “Who knows, maybe it’s the new Physical Therapist we’re getting.” He chuckled, almost to himself. “Wouldn’t that be wild?”
“Crazier things have happened,” I said.
“Ok!” A sing-song, jubilant voice called out. I turned to look at the druid. “Time to take your places. The ceremony shall begin in five minutes.”
“Well,” Dylan said as he stood up, reaching a hand out to help me onto my feet. “Time for you to get fated.”
ELI
Tonight was the night.
In only a couple minutes, I’d be standing underneath the full moon, surrounded by bipedal wolf people, staring up at the blue eyes of my mate and making things ‘official’, tying us together for the rest of our lives (and possibly afterlife but the jury still seemed out for that).
The Elijah that had arrived in Burlington nearly a year ago would have turned and ran. Wouldn’t have been confident enough or accepted the fact that love was real and he’d actually found it with a damn shifter. I’d been brokenand defeated. Was looking for a fresh start and a new place to call home, a new team to call friends.
Turns out I found so much more than that.
I found my pack.
It had been a tumultuous road to get here and I was beyond grateful I got to walk that road with Gabe. He looked so breath-takingly handsome tonight. Like a prince ready to take his crown and proper place on the throne. He wore a jet black suit and a crisp white shirt with a midnight blue tie that made his eyes pop like gems. He still had the shadow of a beard on and his short hair had been perfectly cut. We’d been hanging out all morning—helping his sister settle into the new care facility. It was teasingly called Ritz-wood because of how nice it was. A place Gabe had told me he wished his sister could be in but couldn’t make it work financially.
That was before I came into the picture, though. I didn’t hesitate, offering up to split the cost between us to make it more affordable. It took a little bit of convincing but Gabe had given in and his sister was now living in what could be classified as a five-star resort.
I stood in front of him, my hands clasped into a loose fist, my smile a permanent fixture on my face tonight. The ceremony did feel like it was wedding-adjacent. There weren’t any seats, nor any flower girls or ring bearers, but the vibes of a wedding were definitely all here.
This gathered group—majority of which were about to transform—had become my family. No need for safe rooms tonight. At least not during the ceremony. Gabe didn’t have any neighbors close by. Once it was over, they would likely all run into the woods to burn off energy until the sun rose.
I had asked Gabe what he wanted to do after we tied the so-called knot. All he told me was to be preparedbecause the ceremony would need to be consummated. He emphasized the last part of that word. I had other questions to ask him but never got the chance to.
Guess I’d be finding out tonight…
“Thank you all for gathering here tonight,” Darlene said. She held a black leather tome in her hands. I had to have a long explainer about druids and their connection to shifters and nature itself. Apparently they had the power to manipulate plants and could sometimes speak to some animals—wild stuff, but I’d heard (and seen) of wilder.
“Oh, before we start, here.” Gabe pulled an oversized clip-on dark blue tie from his pocket. He handed it to me. “So you can put it on me after I shift.”
“Oh my heart, you’re going to melt me,” Darlene said, a hand to her busty chest. She looked like a cross between Dolly Parton and a witchy girl who made a living selling her spells on Etsy. “Now. Before the shift, let me start by saying I’m honored to be chosen to lead tonight’s ceremony. It is a rare thing to witness fated love and even more so to cement it. Thank you.” She gave us both a deeply earnest smile.
“As for the ceremony,” she continued, craning her head back to look up at the sky. “Let it begin.”
Then, as though she coordinated that moment with the moon itself, the shifts began to happen. Gabe fell to his knees on the hard wood of the deck. So did the rest of the pack around us. I took an involuntary step backward even though I’d seen this happen already.
