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It’s time to confront the pack.
Iris stiffens, but I grab her hand. “Hold on.”
“Thorne…”
“I need to start making it up to you. All of it. And I want to do that forever. But I need to start somewhere. So, let me start with this? Please, Iris?”
She hesitates, but nods.
I turn to the collected wolves, Iris’ hand in mine. I take a breath.
“Thank you all for coming.”
The shifters gathered in front of us blink, looking between Iris and me.
I nod. “This is Iris. She’s my mate.”
The word has the desired impact. A ripple of whispers cascades through the crowd, and I hold up my other hand to still them.
“Iris is my mate. If anyone has a problem with that, you’re welcome to leave,” I call out.
Someone shuffles. “Is it true?”
I don’t respond.
The voice pipes up again. “Is she your fated mate?”
That I can definitely answer. A smile blooms across my face. “Yes. It’s true. Iris and I have been blessed with a fated mate bond.”
The cheer that breaks out is deafening. I laugh, waving at the crowd. “Iris is my mate. She’s your alpha’s mate. So will you protect her?”
“Yes!” The crowd yells.
With the cheering done, I pull Iris in for a kiss. This time, the pack goes wild.
There’s even a few howls among the crowd.
Amid the cheering, Iris pulls my face down. “You didn’t tell them.”
“Tell them what?”
“That I’m not human.”
I kiss her on her cheek. “No. I didn’t.”
“Don’t they need to know?”
“Iris,” I sigh, pulling her into my arms. “All they need to know is that I’m yours. And you’re mine. And together, we’re going to lead this pack. How does that sound?”
Her eyes meet mine.
Then, joy explodes from the bond.
“I think that sounds pretty darn good.”
Epilogue: Iris
“So, when will he start, you know… walking?”
