“Mine,” he breathes against my skin.
The word vibrates through me, not as a demand—but as a promise.
A truth.
I turn my face toward him, my lips brushing his, my voice softer—but no less certain.
“Yours.”
The bond flares at that.
Brighter.
Stronger.
As if the words themselves seal it.
He pulls back just enough to look at me, his gaze searching, grounding, making sure I’m still here.
Still me.
“Don’t move,” he murmurs.
But I don’t think I could even if I tried.
Because I’m wrapped up in him.
In us.
In this impossible, overwhelming, right thing that just happened.
He tends to me gently, his touch reverent now, careful, like I’m something precious instead of something he just claimed.
And when he gathers me into his arms?
Holding me close, steady, unyielding—I don’t feel lost.
I don’t feel overwhelmed.
I feel found.
Like every broken piece of me just slid into place.
Like I finally understand what my Bear has been trying to tell me all along.
This wasn’t something to fear.
This wasn’t something to run from.
This was always meant to be.
“I love you, Mate,” Rob whispers, cradling me close.
“I love you right back,” I say just as sleep pulls me under.
Epilogue 1: Rob
Falling asleep wrapped around my mate on a lazy Sunday afternoon?
