The shortest one with long gray hair held up her hand as she lifted her face toward the moon.
“It has been many years since the White Pine Pack gathered beneath a Second Christmas Moon,” she announced.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Brice turned to Keena slightly confused. There didn’t appear to be two moons out tonight. This one was huge—did that truly mean something.
“What does that mean?” Brice whispered. Keena’s eyes had grown wide as she stared up at the moon. She stammered as she turned to Brice.
“I knew of the stories. I never thought…” Her voice softened. She shook her head in awe. “I never thought I’d live to see one.”
The elder continued.
“Not every wolf receives only one great love. There are rare hearts chosen twice—not because the first love was not true, but because it was. That heart loved with honor. It endured. The Moon Goddess saw that its story was not finished.”
Brice’s chest tightened as she now understood. The elder’s eyes shifted to Keena.
“When a wolf loses her fated mate and stillcarries that love with reverence, the Moon Goddess may offer what our ancestors called a Second Christmas Moon.”
Tears blurred Brice’s vision. She leaned her head against Keena’s shoulder and gripped her hand tight. Keena turned to her and tipped her chin upward to where they could gaze into each other’s eyes. Her amber eyes were bright even in the low light. Keena reached beneath the neck of her sweater and pulled out the chain that had been hidden. A ring hung from it, catching the moonlight.
It was Lizzie’s ring.
Keena pressed the ring to her lips and closed her eyes briefly.
“Thank you,” she whispered. She tucked the ring back beneath her sweater and took both of Brice’s hands in hers. “Brice.”
“Keena,” Brice whispered. Her eyes widened at the sight of Keena lowering herself to one knee in the snow. Gasps rippled through the air. Brice’s hand flew to her mouth.
“I’ve spent five years believing that my heart had died with my first mate,” Keena said. Her voice carried through the quiet clearing. All eyes were on them, but Brice held Keena’s gaze. She didn’t want to miss a word the woman was saying. “Then youwalked into my life with books, coffee, and a smile I couldn’t stop thinking about.”
A tear slipped down Brice’s cheek.
“Keena,” she whispered.
“You taught me that love doesn’t have to be replaced. That our hearts will make room for more. You reminded me how to laugh, how to breathe, and how to live again. I don’t know what the future will hold, but all I know is that I want you by my side.”
“Keena,” Brice whispered again. Her heart was racing and she was sure it would find a way to push through her chest. Keena’s grip on her hands tightened.
“Brice Andrews, will you be my mate?”
“Yes,” Brice didn’t hesitate. She half laughed and half cried. “Yes, Keena. Yes!”
Cheers erupted around them, but Brice barely heard them. Keena rose and Brice threw herself into her arms.
“I love you,” Brice whispered as her lips pressed against Keena’s.
Keena went still. Her amber eyes grew wide as if she were truly surprised by Brice’s admission.
“I love you too.”
The kiss that followed was one that made Brice glad that Keena’s strong arms were wrapped aroundher waist. When they pulled apart, Keena rested her forehead against Brice’s.
“Merry Christmas, Keena,” Brice whispered. The bells in town could be heard off in the distance ringing, marking the midnight hour. Keena’s eyes softened. For the first time, there was no grief shadowing her when she answered.
“It finally is.”
One Year Later
Evergreen Hollow was completely covered in snow. It was a few days before Christmas and it had snowed almost every single day. This year, Keena smiled when she looked at the Christmas lights in town.
