And as I hold Lark in my arms, I know one thing for sure: we’ve found our home. Here, on Devil’s Peak, in each other’s arms. It’s not just passion or survival anymore. It’s everything.
Epilogue
Lark–one month later
The river is quieter today, its rush a soft murmur beneath the summer sun. It’s been weeks since I stood here, a mess of fear and desperation. But now, everything feels different—calm, settled. I look down at my reflection in the water and see something new in my eyes: peace. There’s a certainty here that wasn’t there before. A wild, untamed certainty that comes from finally knowing where I belong.
I lean back against a sun-warmed boulder, letting the cool water lap at my toes. I’m wearing Hunter’s flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, and nothing else. It smells like him—pine, smoke, and something ruggedly masculine. The shirt is a little too big, hanging off one shoulder, but I love it that way. It feels like a claim, a mark of possession that I welcome.
Hunter emerges from the trees, his gaze locking onto me like I’m the only thing worth looking at. His dark eyes glint with that familiar hunger, the kind that sends a rush of heat straight to my core. He’s shirtless, his muscles hard and glistening with sweat from the hike down. My heart stutters in my chest, the sight of him still having the same devastating effect, even after all these weeks.
“Comfortable, are we?” he teases, his voice a low rumble as he steps closer.
I stretch my legs out, letting the water ripple around my bare thighs. “Very,” I reply, a smirk tugging at my lips. “But you seem a little overdressed.”
His grin is slow, predatory. “Is that an invitation?”
“Maybe,” I say, letting my voice drop to a playful whisper. “Or maybe I just want to see if you’re as distracted as you look.”
He’s on me in an instant, his body pressing mine against the rock, his hands rough and possessive.
“You think you can distract me?” he growls, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine.
“Seems like it’s working,” I taunt, my voice breathy, my pulse racing.
Hunter’s mouth crashes down on mine, a hard, demanding kiss that leaves no room for doubt. I respond with equal ferocity, my fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, needing more. His hand slides up my thigh, his touch both teasing and insistent.
“You drive me crazy,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice low and hoarse.
“Good,” I manage to say, my words a mix of challenge and surrender.
He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his gaze intense, filled with a raw, unfiltered love that’s still new enough to make me breathless. “You’re mine, Lark,” he says, his voice rough with possession. “You’ll always be mine.”
I smile, the words settling warmly in my chest.
“And you’ll always be mine, my very own mountain man,” I whisper back, my voice steady, sure.
He lifts me up, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carries me to the riverbank. He sets me down gently, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Stay right there,” he orders, his voice a mix of command and tenderness.
I watch, curious, as he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small, black velvet box. My heart stops, my breath catching in my throat.
“What…?” I start to ask, but my voice falters.
Hunter drops to one knee, his gaze steady, unwavering. “Lark,” he begins, his voice soft but full of intensity, “I never thought I’d find someone who could match me—who could handle everything that comes with this life and still want to be part of it.”
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I force myself to stay steady, to listen. “You showed me what it means to be free,” he continues, his eyes dark and full of emotion. “But more than that, you showed me what it means to love someone, fiercely and completely.”
He opens the box, revealing a simple, yet stunning ring—a thin band with a small, unpolished diamond that catches the sunlight. “Will you marry me?” he asks, his voice raw. “Will you be my wild, untamed wife and build a life with me on Devil’s Peak?”
The tears spill over, but I’m smiling so hard it hurts. “Yes,” I say, my voice breaking with joy. “Yes, Hunter, I’ll marry you.”
I throw myself at him, covering him in kisses, laughing and crying all at once. He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me tightly, as if he’s afraid I might disappear. “Mine,” he murmurs against my hair, his voice filled with a mix of relief and love. “All mine.”
“Yours,” I agree, the word a promise, a commitment I’ve never been more certain of.
He slips the ring onto my finger, his hands surprisingly gentle. The diamond catches the sunlight, a perfect reflection ofeverything we’ve built, everything we’ve fought for. I look at him, my eyes bright with love and confidence.
