“No, put them in the center!” Willow called to a pack member who was setting a centerpiece at one of the hundreds of tables that sat in the meadow beyond the cornfield. I’d just married Sawyer in the little Paladin church. People had packed the space and then spilled out into the town. I’d walked down the aisle holding Creek, before handing him off to my mom. And it was perfect.
It had been two weeks since we’d won the war. Walsh had to escape into Spokane and stay with Luka for a bit to lay low, but they all said they would risk it and come for the wedding. I looked now at Sawyer standing by the outdoor open bar we’d set up. He leaned against it, handing out shots from the bartender to his boys. Walsh, Luka, Bennett, and Talon, they all made it.
The sun set deeper into the skyline as the white Christmas lights flicked on and lit up the meadow. The boys pounded their shots and then asked for another, getting louder by the moment. I grinned, pretty sure I was the only one sober right now.
“You know my favorite part of this amazing wedding?” Sage said.
I turned to face my redheaded bestie. She pointed and I followed her gaze with a mischievous grin on my face. Meredith sat at one of the dining tables, two wolf security guards standing behind her to make sure she didn’t run. She scowled at the cornfields and sipped on her glass of water as the silver cuffs on her wrists glinted in the moonlight. I’d invited her mother too, but she couldn’t come on account of the fact that Sawyer had found her alive and well and living in hiding with the vampires and then had her imprisoned.
“I can’t fucking believe you put her in the front row at church. I thought Meredith was going to leap forward and strangle you to death.”
My grin grew wider. “Front row too petty?”
Sage tipped her head back and laughed. “Not at all.”
Did I care? No. Meredith was forced to watch me marry Sawyer in front of everyone, and after she and her mother tried to ruin our relationship, she deserved a lot worse.
I glanced to Marmal, who was chatting up Talon and totally flirting. It was so nice to see that she was happy here. I’d put her in charge of the stables, and we were building Pearl her own giant barn. Not many people could say they had a dragon in their pack, but I did. Pearl and Marmal were bonded in a way, and a package deal. My gaze then bounced to Astra. She’d fully healed and was now dancing with a younger teenage Paladin male named Steel. He was a good guy, though I suddenly felt protective over Astra as his hands went lower on her hips.
“Let her have fun. Party kill,” Sage snapped.
I scoffed. “I am not.”
Sage just shook her head. “Astra is your favorite. Everyone knows.”
I shrugged. “That’s true.”
Sage’s mouth opened in shock and she smacked me in the shoulder. “How dare you? I’m supposed to be your favorite.”
I burst into laughter, about to say more, when Sage’s face lit up with surprise as she looked at someone behind me. So many people had been coming through to send their congratulations on their way to their table that I expected a wedding guest. When I spun to see who had made her so stunned, I saw a troll-fey Ithaki walking toward me. He wore a black top hat and a dingy old tuxedo with dust on the pantlegs and patches on the elbows, but he looked handsome.
“Seam?” I was shocked he’d come. I hadn’t invited him—not that I was mad he was here. I had mailed him the queen’s ashes, just as promised, so he’d probably gotten it by now. Maybe he was here to thank me, which was really sweet, especially since he’d attempted to dress up.
I felt Sawyer bristle over at the bar and step toward me, but I put my hand out.
‘Who’s that Ithaki?’ Sawyer growled.
‘It’s Seam. The guy who helped me get you out.’
Sawyer relaxed, probably staring at the dude with awe. Seam was a big deal in Magic City Prison.
Seam tipped his hat to me, his pointed ears sticking out of the side. “I don’t want to interrupt your big night, but I got your package.” He grinned and it caused me to beam. “When I heard in town that you were having a wedding, I just had to come give you a present.”
He held out his hand to me, something in his fist, and my heart beat frantically in my chest.
Seam got me a present.
I offered him my flat palm and my engagement ring plopped into it.
“I couldn’t sell it. Varilla wouldn’t want me to. You keep it and be happy, okay?”
My throat tightened as I nodded, blinking back tears. “I’ll send you the money for it. I’ll buy it from you—”
He waved me off. “You’ve given me more than money could ever buy,” he said, and then tapped his chest. “You’ve given me peace. Knowing that monster is dead and not hurting anyone else.”
He tipped his hat again and bowed. “I must get back to my roses,” he said before walking away back into the crowd.
“You can stay!” I shouted after him but he merely lifted his hand and waved me off before disappearing into the forest.
My head slowly spun to Sage, to see she was wiping away tears.
“We totally underestimated that dude,” Sage said.
I nodded, blotting my eyes. “Damn.” I blew air through my teeth and watched him fully disappear into the trees as I slipped the ring back on my finger. I looked over at Sawyer, who was watching me keenly.
‘Did he just give you the ring back?’ He sounded confused.
I nodded, still overcome with emotion and then smiled at Sawyer from across the garden. My little felon looked sexy in a tuxedo.
Luka pounded his tenth shot and slammed the empty glass onto the bar top. Then he grabbed Sawyer’s hand and thrust it into the air. “One pussy for life!” Luka screamed, causing me and Sage to shake our heads, laughing. Sawyer punched Luka so hard in the shoulder that he went flying into the bar. Prison had changed these boys, they were wild and rowdy and unpredictable, and I liked it.
Sage continued to shake her head. “He’s a wild card, that one.”
I giggled, enjoying the little bro-fest Sawyer was having. He’d missed his friends while they were hiding out in Spokane. They had such a close bond.
“So’s that one.” I pointed to Walsh, who had the shot glass poised to his lips as he stared at Sage over the top, his eyes burning yellow. “Have you guys talked?” I pressed her.
She sighed. “Yep. He told me he wanted to date, he’s finally ready.”
“That’s great!” I said. “But why don’t you sound excited and why is he glaring at us?” I asked her, unnerved by Walsh’s gaze.
She looked at me, chewing on her bottom lip. “He’s a wanted felon, jumping around with Luka and hiding with the humans in Spokane. I’m your second-in-command. I can’t follow him around the country—”
I put a hand up to her face. “Wait, he asked you to go live with him and you said no because of duty? Are you crazy?” I shook a finger in my bestie’s face. “That’s as bad as what he used to do when he wouldn’t give your relationship a try because of his responsibilities to Sawyer.”
“Yeah, well, payback’s a bitch!” she growled, her eyes going yellow.
I shook my head. “You’re not like that though, Sage, and you love him. I can smell it.”
She burst out laughing and rolled her eyes. “You can’t smell love.”
I shrugged playfully. “Sure I can. It smells like sunshine, roses and…” I looked around and spied the chocolate fountain our guests were dipping strawberries into. “…and chocolate.”
She shook her head, but she was grinning from ear to ear. “I don’t smell like that.”
“But you do love him. Right?” I knew she did. Out in the Dark Woods we’d had the most honest conversations two people could have. Sage loved him. He was the one for her.
She glanced at Walsh, who hadn’t moved; he’d gone full-on stalker mode, just staring at her. “Of course I do. It’s Walsh.” She sounded mad, like she wanted to stop it but couldn’t.
I nodded, taking in a deep breath. “Rab!” I yelled over the crowd where he was dancing with Daisy. He snapped to attention and walked over, holding his baby girl on his hip. Reaching out, I placed one hand on either of Sage’s shoulders. “Sage Hudson, you are relieved of duty as my second-in-command.”
Her mouth popped open and I could feel the hurt flash across our bond as she stared at me in shock. I swiveled my head to the left, just as Rab walked up. “Rab, you’re my new second.”
He looked surprised, glancing from Sage to me before breaking out into a grin. “Position accepted. Thank you, Alpha.” He bowed and walked away.
“You can’t do that!” Sage snapped, shrugging out of my grasp.
“You forget I am a true alpha, connected with you through a pack bond. I feel you pining over him.”
She covered her chest, glaring at me. “It will go away when he goes away.”
I chuckled. “That’s not how it works, and what if he shows up next time with a new girl?”
Her eyes flashed yellow as her teeth clenched. “I’d kill her.”
I tipped my head back and laughed. “Sage. Sister. Best friend. Go. Say yes.”
Her arms fell to her sides and she seemed to consider it. Pulling her bottom lip into her mouth, she chewed on it for a moment, tossing the idea around in her head. Then she looked up at Walsh.
He was still watching her.
“He’s a wanted felon,” she griped.
I nodded. “And Sawyer and I will be working to clear him of that charge. I’m sure we can dig up crimes on the Vampire King.”
She looked wistful. “I mean I have always wanted to live in the human world for a bit.”
I nodded. “Do it. Go to Liberty Lake, there is a boba tea shop there called BocoPop. Get the oolong milk tea with cheese foam. You won’t regret it.”
She scrunched up her face. “Cheese foam? That sounds horrifying.”
I laughed. “It’s amazing. Come on, Sage. Follow your heart.”
She heaved a big sigh and then turned to face Walsh who was still watching her like a love sick puppy dog.
She put one finger out and pulled it toward her, beckoning him.
He set down his full shot glass, eyes lighting up a fiery orange, like the evening sun. Taking long strides, he crossed the lawn and made his way to her. He wore a dark gray tuxedo and had never looked more handsome. Sage’s deep green, skintight dress clung to her athletic form, and her hair was in a cascade of curls hanging loosely over one shoulder. If I had my camera with me, I’d have taken a picture of this moment. Walsh walked right up to her and grabbed her, dipping her backward as he cradled the back of her neck. Then he kissed her, a movie style kiss. A-holy-hell-is-this-really-happening-in-real-life-kiss. I smiled, happy for their tender moment, and Raven walked up beside me.
“Damn … I wanna be kissed like that,” she said.
I eyed Luka who was definitely tipsy. Werewolves were easy to get drunk, but vampires less so. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to someone, but I can’t promise it will be more than one night.”
Raven followed my gaze and her eyes glittered. “Oh, I’ll take one night of that.”
We both hooked arms and giggled as we passed Sage and Walsh, who were now full-on making out in full view of my wedding party.
I approached Sawyer and he spun, eyeing me with a look of absolute passion. My dress was a fully blinged-out, expensive number that Sage talked me into. There were more crystals and beads on this thing than there were werewolves in the entire world. But I loved it, and I felt beautiful in it.
“Luka…” I approached the vampire. “Have I introduced you to one of my bestest friends in the world?” I held up Raven’s hand and she spun, her tight black velvet dress catching the last of the dying sun’s rays as it accentuated her curves. “This is Raven.”
Luka’s eyes glittered, his nostrils inhaling as he was no doubt smelling what supernatural race she was.
He gripped his glass of whiskey and gave her a devastatingly handsome grin. “I have always had a thing for witches. Dance with me?” He set his drink down and stepped forward, holding out his hand.
Raven beamed, placing her hand in his, and they stepped out onto the dancefloor.
Sawyer faced me then, and holy hell on wheels was he sexy in his black tuxedo. His neck tattoos were sticking out just above the collar and his eyes absolutely smoldered as they looked at me.
“What are you thinking about right now?” I asked as he took me into his arms.
He gave me a devilish grin, reaching out to cup my waist. “Where the zipper to this dress is.”
A genuine laugh pealed out of me as he spun me around, and I sighed in contentment. Reaching out, he stroked the cuffs at my wrist. They were a new wedding set, encrusted with diamonds and pearls, at my request. We might have won the war, but I didn’t trust that history wouldn’t repeat itself. For now, I was going to fly under the radar and just enjoy my life with my beautiful family.
“Wife?” Sawyer gazed down at me tenderly.
“Yes, husband?”
“Let’s have five more babies.” Sawyer grabbed my chin and pulled me into him, planting a sweet kiss on my lips as I barked out in laughter.
Okay, clearly he was drunk because I was closing up shop after two more. Max. But I loved our life and I was excited for our future. We’d started to run this pack as one big family. Sometimes I took a city wolf issue and sometimes he took a Paladin issue, but mostly we kept to our previous packs when being in charge. It would all take time, we just had to figure out where we were going to live… a conversation for another day.
“Are you ready for your wedding gift?” Sawyer grinned.
“You got me a wedding gift? Shit, I suck, I didn’t get you anything.” I winced. I was so bad at this kind of stuff.
Sawyer waved me off and walked over to my mom, who was holding Creek. Taking our son, he brought him over to me and beckoned me toward a lantern-lit pathway that disappeared into the forest.
“Sawyer, we can’t leave our wedding. Where are you going?” I whisper-screamed.
He turned a corner and the path wound to an open … parking lot? My eyes widened at the sight of the freshly laid gravel parking lot; it was full of electric scooters, like the ones from Wolf City.
Sawyer spun. “I cleared it all with Rab and Arrow. We replanted the trees, and the scooters are electric and solar powered so nature wasn’t harmed.” He pointed to a baby pink one with a little side car on it that had a car seat inside. I grinned.
“It that for me and Creek?” Tears welled in my eyes.
Sawyer nodded. “This thing clocks thirty miles per hour. I timed it and it’s only nine minutes to the edge of Wolf City, where we can build one of two homes.” He gestured to the new paved path that led into the forest. There’d been a road between our two territories, and he’d essentially joined them as one and it meant the world to me.
The tears spilled over and my chest felt tight as Sawyer planted a kiss on Creek. “One home there and our little cottage here. We will split the time, fifty-fifty.”
I was too choked up to say anything more. Sawyer reached out and grabbed a pink helmet, slipping it over my head.
“What? No, Sawyer, our wedding!” I fussed as he clipped it under my chin and then strapped Creek into his car seat side car.
“We’ll be back in twenty minutes to cut the cake. Everyone is too drunk to notice we are even gone.” He assured me as he stepped over to a matte black scooter.
I grinned. This man and his romantic gestures.
“Twenty minutes! And I better not have helmet hair after.”
Sawyer’s lips curled into a smirk and then he took off on his scooter as I turned mine on and followed after him. The paved road was a smooth and beautiful ride through the stunning thickly treed paladin forest. My gaze kept flicking to Creek to see that he’d fallen asleep in his little car seat. The path was well lit and sure enough, in under ten minutes we approached the edge of Werewolf City.
Zipping out onto the road, I followed Sawyer as he took a left, towards the ruins of what used to be Sterling Hill.
Just as I was wondering if this was really necessary to take us on a tour of the destruction of werewolf city during our wedding, I saw the giant construction cranes moving panels of glass and metal sheet roofing as they rebuilt the school.
He’d started the rebuild already? Emotion clogged my throat.
Sawyer zipped inside the school parking lot, avoiding chunks of asphalt and cracked concrete and pulled right onto the burnt lawn, stopping in front of a brand new building. It was huge, two stories high and there were tradesmen installing doors and windows on the red brick building.
Red brick.
It looked like it was taken right out of Paladin Village Right down to the freshly planted garden beds. It was the only complete building on campus so far, but the others were going up quickly from the looks of it. Yet from what I could see of the materials, they were going to be glass and steel, the usual modern Werewolf City vibe.
“Sawyer?” I parked the bike and turned it off, glancing back to see Creek still asleep.
Sawyer stepped off his scooter and walked over to a lit up sign which had a piece of canvas draped over it. Reaching up, he ripped it off and I stared at the words etched into metal.
Paladin Cultural Studies Building
A sob left my throat as the realization of what this was settled into me.
“I thought Rab and Arrow could teach some classes here. And any of the paladin that want to go to school here can too, but I think most importantly future city wolves need to learn more about our nature loving brethren.” Sawyer said.
I laughed, wiping at my eyes and threw myself into his arms. “It’s perfect.”
He had no idea, did he? He had no idea that he was everything I never knew I needed. The glue to all the broken pieces inside of me. My wolf practically purred inside my chest at that, and I leaned forward, capturing Sawyer’s mouth in a passionate kiss. When I pulled back, he was looking at me with half-lidded, bedroom eyes.
“You’re stuck with me for life now, you know that, right?” I held up my ring finger and Sawyer’s eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled.
“Lucky me.”
Life wouldn’t be easy. We’d still have challenges running a pack with two alphas and two territories. I still had power-boosting blood that someone might one day want. But we were going to make the best of this amazing life we had, and create a beautiful future together with our son.
Forever.
