“I know it’s real, though,” she said, coming to a stop on the riverbank. She stared across the river in silence, and he sat onhis haunches, leaning against her leg, her hand resting against his neck.
He could hear everything – the water rushing by, the birds and insects in the woods, his brothers chasing some small animal nearby. But he was mostly attuned to Juliette – the sound of her breathing, her heartbeat, the way she shifted from foot to foot.
She squatted down next to him and hugged him tightly.
“I’ve spent a good bit of time since we met listening to the little voice in my head telling me that my feelings were too strong too fast, that something that happened so swiftly would burn out just as fast. Because my past taught me that. But at the heart of things, when I push away that voice that always expects good things to disappear, I know that what we have is real. I can feel it in my heart, in my bones. You and I were meant to meet because we’re truemates. And I know that means what we have is going to last. We’ve got each other forever.”
He wished he could talk. That would be so damn handy.
She was spilling her heart out to him and all he could do was offer her an agreeing, wolfy hum.
She chuckled and pressed her forehead to his. “Ah, I wanted to wait until you’re human, but I’m just going to say it right now instead. I love you, Sigh. I love you.”
He growled softly, then tipped his head to the sky and howled, pouring all his love into the song from his wolf. His brothers, somewhere in the woods, added their howls of happiness to his.
He caught the scent of Juliette’s tears. “Oh that was beautiful,” she said. “I love hearing you howl.”
They stayed at the riverbank for a little while longer, and then they meandered back to the house. She stood next to him while he shifted back and she immediately jumped into his arms.
“I love you, Juliette. Sweet mate, my forever girl.”
“Oh, Sigh. I love you too.”
They kissed and the world quieted around them, like it was collectively holding its breath for this special moment.
He’d found his forever girl. He was going to claim her, mark her, and give her his last name, because she deserved every part of forever that he could give her.
It was funny to think that the best night of his life had happened because he’d taken a picture of a burger and posted it on social media.
“Let’s go inside,” she whispered. “I want to talk to you some more about this marking and mating business.”
He set her on her feet and looked down at her. “We don’t have to do anything right now. It’s whenever we’re ready.”
“Are you ready?” she asked, a hint of a challenge in her tone.
He hooked his arm around her and drew her against him. “Yes.”
“I am too. So take me to bed, Sigh. And make me yours. I want it. I want you. I want forever.”
He kissed her, his wolf growling in happiness, then swung her up into his arms.
“I hope you can take tomorrow off? I have a feeling you’ll be very tired.”
“I already texted Emery and let her know I wouldn’t be in until after lunch.”
“My smart sweetheart.”
Her laughter followed them as he carried her into the house and closed the door behind them.
For the first time in his life, he knew what forever felt like.
It felt like love and home. Like sweet promises and moonlight.
It felt like Juliette.
Juliette spent Monday afternoon discussing her future at Willow & 2ndBooks in between patrons and shelf-stocking. Sigh had been very earnest with her when he’d dropped her off at the shop that he didn’t want her to quit. He wasn’t the sort of guy who demanded his mate drop her whole life and change everything to suit him.
She loved the bookstore.
