Chapter 191
Miles's POV
I took Vera's hand and nearly staggered at the electric jolt of contact. Her eyes widened—she felt it too.
"I—hi. Nice to meet you too."
"Vera joined us two years ago," Dad explained, oblivious to the bomb that had just detonated in my chest. "Fresh out of her PA program. She's been a godsend for the pack's medical needs."
Two years. She'd been here two years while I'd been alone in Cedar View, and now—
Vera's cheeks flushed slightly, but her voice stayed level. "Should I—is there room in the circle?"
"Of course!" Mom practically shoved people aside to make space. Right next to me.
Vera settled cross-legged on my left, close enough that I could smell her—rain-soaked pine and something herbal, medicinal. Close enough that Thaddeus was losing his mind.
The ceremony continued, but I couldn't focus on anything except the woman beside me. The way firelight caught in her hair. The competent strength in her hands. The fact that she was my mate and at least ten years younger and what the hell was I supposed to do about that?
"You okay?" she murmured, leaning slightly toward me. "You look a little shell-shocked."
"Just—it's been a long day."
"I bet." Her smile was sympathetic. "Finding your family after fifteen years. That's huge."
"Yeah." I couldn't stop staring at her profile. "How did you end up in Silverbrook?"
"Wanted to work with an underserved community. Silverbrook fits the bill—remote, tight-knit, suspicious of outsiders." She grinned.
Marcus called for the moonlight song. The pack rose, forming a tighter circle, hands linked.
Vera's hand slipped into mine. Her skin was warm, calloused from work. The bond between us hummed like a live wire.
We sang the old songs, and I cried for the third time that night. For the years lost. For the family I'd found again. For the impossible gift of this woman at my side.
When the last note faded, Vera squeezed my hand gently.
"Welcome home, Miles," she whispered.
And for the first time in fifteen years, I believed I truly was.
After the ceremony, people drifted toward the food tables. Vera and I stood awkwardly in the firelight, hands still linked.
"So," she said. "That thing that just happened—"
"Yeah."
"You felt it too."
"Yeah."
She laughed softly. "Well. This is unexpected."
"I'm sorry." The words tumbled out. "I'm ten years older than you, I just got here, I don't want you to feel pressured—"
"Hey." She cut me off with a look. "I'm a grown woman, Miles. I can make my own decisions. And right now, I'm deciding that we should probably talk about this somewhere less public."
She was right. Half the pack was definitely watching us.
We walked to the edge of the square, finding a quiet bench under the birches. The moon painted everything silver.
"I've never had a mate before," Vera said bluntly. "Didn't think I would. So this is new territory for me."
"Me too." I scrubbed a hand through my hair. "I mean, I'm full-blooded, but I spent fifteen years alone. Figured I'd missed my chance."
"So we're both flying blind."
"Basically."
She turned to face me fully. "Okay. Here's what I know: I feel drawn to you. Strongly. And from the way you can't stop looking at me, I'm guessing it's mutual."
I nodded mutely.
"But I also know that mate bonds can be intense. Overwhelming. And I don't want either of us making decisions based purely on biology." Her jaw set firmly. "So here's my proposal: we take this slow. Get to know each other as people first. The bond isn't going anywhere."
Relief flooded through me. "You're incredibly practical."
"Comes with the medical training." She smiled. "So. Tell me about Cedar View. What was it like, being alone for so long?"
We talked for hours under the moonlight. I told her about the loneliness, the endless searching, the databases and forums and dead-end leads. She told me about her grandmother's stories, about choosing Silverbrook, about slowly earning the pack's trust.
"Your mom knew immediately," Vera admitted. "About the bond, I mean. The second you walked into the circle, she got this look."
"She's subtle as a brick."
"She cornered me an hour ago and told me I'd better treat you right because you've been through enough."
I groaned. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. It's sweet." Vera's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Plus, now I know where you get that protective streak from."
"I haven't been protective. I literally just met you."
"Miles. You've positioned yourself between me and the bonfire. You keep scanning the tree line. And you flinched every time someone walked too close to us."
Had I? Damn it.
"Sorry. I'll try to dial it back."
"I didn't say I minded." Her voice softened. "Just that I noticed."
The pack was beginning to disperse, families heading home with sleepy children. Marcus caught my eye and mouthed "staying at the house?" I nodded.
"I should go," Vera said reluctantly. "Early shift at the clinic tomorrow."
"Right. Of course."
We stood. The bond pulled tight between us, making it physically difficult to walk away.
"Miles?" She touched my arm lightly. "I'm glad you found us. Glad you never stopped looking."
"Me too."
She walked toward the medical clinic at the edge of town, and I watched until she disappeared into the darkness. Thaddeus whined mournfully.
"I know, buddy," I muttered. "But she's right. We do this properly."
Marcus appeared at my shoulder. "So. Vera."
"Don't."
"Mom's already planning the bonding ceremony."
"Marcus—"
"She's good people, Miles. Smart, strong, fits the pack perfectly. And after fifteen years alone, you deserve something good."
"I'm staying," I said abruptly. "Not just visiting. Staying for good."
Marcus's grin could have lit the town. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. I'll need to tie up things in Cedar View, but—yeah. I'm home now. For real."
He pulled me into another crushing hug. "We've been waiting for this. All of us."
We walked back to the family house—rebuilt here in Oregon, similar layout to our old Montana home but new. Mom had set up a guest room for me, filled with photos from the fifteen years I'd missed.
"We documented everything," she explained, eyes wet. "Thought—thought if we ever found you, you'd want to see what you missed."
I spent an hour flipping through albums. Marcus's wedding. Thomas's birth. The twins' first steps. Every milestone I'd searched for them through, never knowing they were safe and together and here.
But tomorrow, I'd start making up for lost time. I'd learn the names of all those kids who didn't know me. Build relationships with my nieces and nephews. Build a life here, properly this time.
And maybe, if Vera was willing, build something with her too.
I fell asleep to the sound of wind in the birches and the distant howl of a pack-mate running under the moon, feeling more at peace than I had in fifteen years.
I was home. Finally, truly home.