Cruz smiled and lifted his beer.“Welcome to the family, Ford.”
His words hit him square in the chest.Their bottles clinked, and Ford said, “Thanks, Cruz.I’ve always wanted a brother, and I’m glad to call you mine now.”
Saturday night, Darcy couldn’t shake her nervousness as she got ready in their room in the farmhouse for the joining ceremony.Ford had left at dawn to prepare for the ceremony, and had told her to hang out with the females and enjoy the day.
Now that it was close to sunset, she had a big case of the nerves.
And she missed him terribly.
All week there had been a sweet peace on the farm.As Ford had predicted, they’d stopped the patrols, solely using the electronic monitoring to ensure their territory was safe.It had eased a burden in the herd, and made things a lot better all around.No more looking over their shoulder, no more worries about abductions.
They could rest easy.
And enjoy being with each other.
When someone knocked on the door, she called for them to come in.
“Oh, you look so lovely,” Tatum said as she walked in.The other women followed, all of them dressed for the party in long, fall-colored dresses and boots.It was chilly outside, but Ford had told her it would be warm where they were holding the ceremony inside the barn where he normally worked on the farm machinery.
She couldn’t wait to see what the barn looked like.
But she was more interested in finally belonging to Ford for real.He said once she knew the truth of shifters and they made love, they were mated.But she liked to think they were mated that first night because it had been so amazing.She wouldn’t have ever let him go, no matter what.
“We’ve got a little something for you,” Nancy said.
“It’s something each of us has,” Tris said.
Fallon moved forward and lifted a chain from a box that Tatum held.A stallion charm hung from the silver chain.“Oh, I love it,” Darcy said.
“It’s our gift to each other, a way to tie us close as herd and family,” Tatum said.
Darcy’s eyes stung with happy tears.She hugged them, thanking them one by one for being so sweet to her, and for becoming her family so easily.She hadn’t known when she went out on the first date with Ford that she’d end up with such a big, loving family.
And now, she couldn’t imagine it any other way.
After ensuring her makeup hadn’t been messed up by the happy tears, she followed the women downstairs and out of the house.She stopped on the porch where Dexter waited in a dress shirt and pants, smiling sweetly at Nancy as she passed by.
“You look radiant, Darcy,” he said, offering her his arm.
“I’m just so dang happy.”
“It’s a wonderful thing to find your soulmate.We’re so happy to have you join with Ford and the herd officially, but you were already his the moment you met.Stallions are like that.”
“I feel the same way,” she said.
They walked toward the big barn, which didn’t look any different from the outside.
But as they drew near to the front, Khyle and Avi pulled open the doors and the interior of the barn made her gasp in delight.
The whole inside of the barn had been transformed.The machines, tools, and workbenches were gone, replaced by a few benches, a trellis covered with ivy, tables set with white cloths and crystal dishes, propane fireplaces warming every inch of the space, and more twinkle lights hanging from every possible surface than she’d ever seen in her life.
Under the trellis, Crew and Ford waited.
Her sexy soulmate wore a suit, looking like he could grace the cover of a romance novel.His tie was a rich olive, the color of the dress she’d picked out.
Her eyes stung as Dexter led her down the center aisle to her mate, who greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and a whisperedI freaking missed you, sweetheart.
Dexter took his seat by Nancy.Darcy looked out at the small crowd and all the soulmates seated together.She was so happy to be with Ford and be part of the herd.Crew cleared his throat.
