Page 100 of Hunted

“Is it rabbit friendly?”

I scoffed. “Like we’d go anywhere without Pancakes and Squash.”

“I knew they would convert you.” Her smile was shaky. “They have evil powers.”

“It’s all in the radar dish ears.”

“Or you’re secretly a cinnamon roll on the inside and don’t want anyone to know.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning up to kiss me. “I love you, River.”

I savored the sweetness of her lips, pulling away all too soon. “There’s one more thing.” I got down on one knee, pulling a second box from my pocket. Ellie covered her mouth with her hand. “The thing about being able to see into people’s heads is it gets pretty lonely. You’re privy to everyone else’s most intimate thoughts while every person you meet wants to keep you at arm’s length. You also learn pretty fast that there really is someone out there for everyone that gets them in a way no one else does. I’ve watched four of my brothers find their mates now and I didn’t think I would ever be that lucky. I always knew you were the one my wolf was fated to be matched to. I just didn’t believe I could ever deserve you. And the more time we spent together, watching Battlestar Galactica marathons, hanging out on soup making nights, and of course every night you came to my dreams, I felt my heart was being ripped out, knowing I loved you, and that I could never bear to let you go.”

I opened the small velvet box. Inside was a simple white gold band with a square cut diamond solitaire.

“I’m scared to wear it.” Ellie swallowed, extending her hand for me to slip the ring on. “Of course I want to be your mate, your wife. But what if I shift into a wolf and don’t reform the ring when I come back to my human skin? I turn into a wolf every night at sunset.”

For only being a wolf for less than a week, she wasn’t doing badly. She’d only bitten West, and that had really been more of a training bite when he’d tried to take one of her Impossible Burgers, claiming she was such a small wolf and didn’t look that hungry. My brother would seriously do anything for a cheeseburger. I still locked her in the bathroom every night until I could line up heaping plates of Thai takeout to keep her from leaping out a window and going Beowulf on us. But she would gain control with each passing week and month.

“I don’t know.” I smirked. “I could get used to you shifting back naked every time.”

“Very funny.”

“So you’ll wear it during the day.” I lifted her hand to my lips, kissing the gorgeous finger that now wore my ring. “And you’ll program a reminder into your phone to take it off an hour before sunset. As you practice shifting, it will get easier to take objects through. Borns have an easier time with it because from the first time we’re aware as little kids, we always feel the wolf living in our bones and changing shapes feels more natural. But Bittens learn to be good at it, too. Lacey can help you. My mom spent a year training her. We’ll all help you. We’re your family now, your pack. We’ve got your back. You’re not alone with this.”

Ellie burrowed into my arms. “Hayden and I were on our own as kids. Now we have Piper and Meera. She has Ethan. And I have you. Having a pack is going to take some getting used to.”

I kissed her forehead, the wispy curls trailing away from her messy bun tempting me as always to twine my finger around them. “Try to remember that when we’re all forced to sit through Dallas’s ultimate kale challenge tomorrow.”