Epilogue

The forest is quiet except for the sound of the breeze and the occasional sound of insects hidden in the leaves. I breathe in the clean air and feel the soft earth beneath my paws. Beside me, Rain growls softly, then looks up at the full moon in the dark starless sky.

I follow his gaze, then lift my head and howl. He joins me, and the sound carries through the trees and up as if to the moon itself.

Rainn bounds ahead, into the clearing. It’s a special place for our pack, where we come to remember his mother. It’s a beautiful clearing, overgrown with soft grass and wildflowers sprinkling the air with their scent.

“We’re here.” Rainn’s voice is in my mind, clear, as if it’s my own thought. I turn to face him and rub my neck against his.

“I’m ready,” I let him know.

He steps back from me, and I stand still, waiting with a held breath.

He pounces. Hard.

He’s far bigger than I am. Stronger. But I’ve been training and I’m a good fighter now. Better than I ever dreamed was possible. Snarling, I dodge and push away from him. He comes again, harder and faster each time, and I fight him with all my strength.

“Is that all you’ve got?” I taunt. I can’t go easy on him.

He lunges for me, pouncing, pushing me down, his jaws snapping at my neck. I fight with all my strength, only managing to push him off.

“You are strong,” he says. “Very strong. Have you been training in secret?”

“Are you giving up?” I taunt.

“Never.”

He pounces again. I fight as hard as I can, but I’m weakening, and my muscles are aching. This time, I’m barely able to push him off. He circles me, stalking.

“If you’re tired, you’re welcome to submit,” he says.

“You, submit.”

He laughs. “You know I have. In every way that matters. I think I submitted to you the first time I saw you. You’ve had my heart since then.”

My heart swells. I love him so much. “Oh, Rainn.”

Just then, while I’m distracted, he pounces again. I fight him, snarling and nipping with my teeth, but he holds me down.

“Submit.”

“You cheated.”

“Distraction is part of fighting,” he replies. “And I didn’t lie.”

I keep fighting. To make it easy for him would be an insult to both myself and to him, so I push with all my strength. He doesn’t budge. Slowly, he brings his jaw around my neck, holding my tender neck between powerful jaws until I stop struggling.

It’s the most vulnerable I can be to another wolf. He could snap my neck with one movement of his jaw. I relax and close my eyes. Letting him know I feel safe with him. I feel one sharp fang nip at my neck, tearing skin and drawing blood. A mark.

Rainn relaxes and pulls back. I get to my feet. “Congratulations, mate.”

He’s amused. “You’re mine now. So those wolves at the summit had better not get any ideas.”

We haven’t even decided if we’re going to the summit yet. Ever since Hugo escaped from where the alphas kept him to await trial, Rainn has rediscovered his former resentment of the alpha wolves.

“You are so jealous.”

“No. I’m just protecting my heart.”

I laugh. “I’m yours, Rainn,” I say seriously. “Forever.”

His breath rumbles, then he lowers himself on his haunches and extends his neck. “We’re not done yet.”

I look at him in surprise. “You want me to mark you, too?”

He nods. “You don’t even have to fight me for the right,” he says. “Imagine that.”

I snort. “You don’t have to make it easy. I can hold my own in a fair fight.”

Rainn rises and circles me. “I know. I’m willing to fight if you want. But I’m not promising it will be fair.”

In reply, I pounce.

***

It’s almost an hour later when I finally manage outmaneuver Rainn and get my jaws around his throat. After I’ve marked him, we shift back and lie naked in the grass. It’s a beautiful night, made even more beautiful as Rainn covers my body with kisses.

Not far away, the forest fills with the sound of howls.

“You think our pack knows you’ve claimed me?” I ask Rainn.

Rainn chuckles. “They know you’ve owned me for a long time now,” he replies, coming up to place a kiss on my lips. “You are everything to me, Bree.”

I sigh. “I love you,” I whisper.

“Forever,” he replies. Then he lowers his head to kiss me again.