“Yeah, if you want.”
“Being open to anyone who needs a place to belong is a wonderful idea. I’d want to build on that. To not just accept multiple kinds of supernatural people into our pack, but to make sure we’re also accepting of their choices. There’s no one way to be a wolf or a person. Our job as Alphas should be to support and nurture our pack and to respect their decisions.”
“Oh.” Now it’s my turn to process that.
I know exactly what he’s thinking, and the sentiment nearly bowls me over. My goal is to create a pack where everyone belongs and no one feels left out, like Josh did when he arrived here. Dad decided only the harshest wolf traits mattered, so Josh wants a pack where the Alphas let members decide whatthey value and then we can support and nurture those qualities instead of deciding for them. Like what I deserved from my Alpha.
My mate is so smart and perfect. With both of us in charge, our pack will be in good hands.
As Josh’s fingers intertwine with mine and we continue our walk through the territory that was once my entire world, I don’t feel sad about leaving the Iron Pack behind. It feels like the end of one chapter and the start of another. This place is my past. I’ve never been ashamed of it, and I’ll be always proud of where I came from.
But it’s not my future.
Our future lies beyond these walls, and Josh and I are going to build it together.
26.Happily(N)ever After
Josh
I fall back onto the mattress and see a grinning Bane over me.
“Why do you look so smug?”
His response is a low chuckle and then his fingers inside me shift, curling in just the right way to send a jolt of pure pleasure surging through my body.
“More,” I beg. “Bane, please, more.”
He grants my wish, fingers still working inside me as his lips crash against mine. His tongue sweeps past my lips in a fierce claim. I surrender completely, winding my arms around his bare shoulders and raking my nails against his skin because I’m just as eager to claim him too.
The excitement inside me is mirrored on his face when he pulls back. We’re both beyond ready for Bane’s knot to finally fill me like I’ve been longing for.
“See, wasn’t this worth the wait?” he murmurs against my lips. “This is perfect.”
“Almost perfect,” I correct. “I need—”
“And I’m gonna give it to you. Gonna give you everything, pup. You’re gonna take all of me.”
I positively whimper at that.
Guess he has reason to be smug. He has three fingers twisting inside me and I’m already a begging, desperate mess. Wrecked by his fingers. Wrecked by the knowledge that I’m about to getmore.So much more.
It’s finally time. Fate saw our potential, but it’s our decision to accept fate’s blessing and cement our bond. And destiny alone didn’t get us here. The rest of the world had other plans. We hated each other and fought at first, then we foughtforeach other, foughtwitheach other, all so that we could get here.
Bane’s fingers leave me, and I bite my lip to hold in my whine. The temporary emptiness is worth it. I need what’s coming next more.
“Remember what I told you about popping a knot?” he asks.
“That it just happens sometimes?”
“Yeah,” he says. “I mean, how else could they make werewolf porn?”
“R-right.” We’re completely naked, and he’s about to give me his knot, so I’m not sure whythisof all things is making me blush and stammer as I pretend I didn’t have this exact thought. “I mean, yeah, I guess. That makes sense. I never thought of that.”
“Well, it’s true. An alphacanpop a knot without their mate, but that’s not how it works with me. I’ve popped it alone, but never with anyone else. Not until…”
“Until me?” I whisper.
“Sorry I couldn’t tell you this the first time it happened.” He presses his forehead to mine, eyes warm and full of love. Even as he starts lining up his cock against my entrance, the smile on his face looks so sweet. “You were right. This is special.You’respecial.”
