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"Only if you taste better than steak," I chuckle, turning back to the leopards with a shake of my head. "Isn't that right, Zoya?" The leopardess nuzzles my hand, a silent agreement passing between us.
"Easy for you to say," Wilder grumbles, but I notice the grip on Kat's arm loosening ever so slightly. Curiosity peeks through the wariness in his eyes–a hint that the adventurous spirit we all know is still in there, biding its time.
"Trust me, they're more afraid of your aftershave than you are of them," I quip, tossing a reassuring glance over my shoulder.
Wilder shoots me a glare that's half-hearted at best, and I can tell he's starting to thaw. After all, fear has always been just another opponent for him to size up and conquer, and today seems no different. Just another story for him to laugh about later–once his heart stops trying to beat its way out of his chest, that is.
I'm still reeling from the comedy of Wilder's jittery nerves when out of the corner of my eye, I spot Wyatt edging away from the group. He's trying to be discreet, almost aloof, but those leopards have a sixth sense for the shy ones.
"Guys, I think I'll just-" Wyatt starts, but his words are cut off by a blur of spotted fur.
"Oof!" His grunt is music to my ears as he's tackled to the ground by what looks like a hundred pounds of purring feline love. The look on his face is pure shock, eyes wide, mouth agape–a picture-perfect moment I'll store in my memory forever.
"Looks like you're not so invisible after all, Wyatt!" I call out, chuckling as one of the leopards, probably mistaking him for a new plaything, nuzzles against his chest.
"Help?" It's a weak plea, but it only serves to encourage the leopards more. Joining their friend, they all bound over and roll around with him, paws batting playfully at his hands as he tries–and fails–to push them away gently.
"Come on, Wyatt, embrace the love!" I tease, knowing full well he's not in any real danger. These leopards are big babies at heart, and something tells me they've just found their favorite human toy.
My attention shifts back to Kat, who's been busy making heart-to-heart connections with every leopard that comes her way. It's like watching poetry in motion, the way she moves among them, a whispering charmer weaving spells of tranquility. Her gentle strokes, the soft murmurs, the respectful nods–everything about her sings in harmony with these majestic beasts.
It's impossible not to be drawn in, to feel that same adoration swell in my chest. I can't help but smile, warmth flooding through me as I watch Kat in her element. This is the woman I fell for–the one whose heart beats with a wild rhythm, echoing the untamed souls of the creatures she cherishes.
"Kat," I breathe out, my voice barely above the wind, though she doesn't hear me. No matter, the sentiment hangs there, suspended in the crisp air of admiration and love. There's no denying it–I'm head over heels for her, and seeing her here, amidst the raw beauty of nature, it just seals the deal all over again.
"Emrys," she turns, catching my gaze with a smile that holds the spark of shared secrets and promises yet to be fulfilled. "Enjoying the show?"
"Immensely," I reply, my heart pounding a fierce rhythm that mirrors the playful scuffle behind us where Wyatt is slowly coming to terms with being a leopard's favorite wrestling partner. It's a day of revelations and unexpected turns, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
“Wanna hear something cool?” Kat gestures towards the drowsy creature beneath my touch, the female who hasn’t left my side. "She's pregnant. You're going to be a sort of...godfather to a whole new batch of these spotted beauties."
For a moment, I just stare, and then it hits me–the magnitude of what she said. A grin splits my face so wide it hurts. I close the distance between us and wrap her up in my arms.
"God, Kat," I laugh into her hair. "You're incredible, do you know that?"
"Only because you tell me every day," she teases, tilting her face up to meet my gaze. The look she gives me is pure Kat–intense, full of mischief, and brimming with an emotion that goes beyond words.
"Every day isn't enough," I murmur, and then my lips are on hers, soft yet demanding.
"Get a room, you two!" Wyatt calls out, now standing a safe distance away, trying to brush off remnants of dirt and leopard fur. His sheepish grin betrays the fondness he feels for the scene unfolding before him.
As we stand there, the sanctuary around us alive with the chorus of untamed spirits, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be. The journey ahead might be fraught with challenges, but together, there's nothing we can't face. And with a little luck, maybe our own lives will be as vibrant and wild as the leopards we stand beside.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS AFTER CANCUN
I thumb the corner of the small box through the fabric of my pocket, a little square bulge that's about to change everything. The night's alive with sparks and laughter, the Sharpe Clan in full revelry around the bonfire that's sending up embers to flirt with the stars. It's one of those nights where the world feels like it's holding its breath, waiting for something monumental to happen. Emrys is fidgety, trying to look anywhere but at Kat, while Wilder's jaw is set so hard I'm surprised he isn't grinding his teeth to dust.
"Guys," I murmur, my voice barely a thread against the crackling backdrop, "this is it."
Emrys gives a firm nod, his face pale in the firelight. Wilder just claps me on the shoulder, the weight of his hand as reassuring as an anchor. We're in this together–have been since we all fell head over heels for the same incredible woman. It's crazy, unconventional, and yet, it feels so damn right.
I lift my gaze across the flames and there she is, Kat, laughing at something her cousin's saying, her head thrown back, completely carefree. She catches me staring, and for a second, her turquoise eyes lock with mine. My heart doesn't just skip a beat–it does a whole gymnastics routine.
"Are you guys ready?" I ask, even though my pulse is pounding loud enough that I'm sure they can hear it.
"Been ready for this since Cancun," Wilder says, a rare vulnerability flickering in his eyes.
