She still craved her mate like air to breathe.

  Jason called everyone to head to the clearing. Her parents joined them on the deck.

  “It’s really pretty here,” her mom said as they followed the pack to the clearing.

  “I’m so glad you could come. It means the world to me that you’re here.”

  “We wouldn’t miss it,” her dad said.

  Since it was freezing out, she was wearing the traditional mating ceremony outfit–a black corset and a stretchy black mini skirt. To keep from getting frostbite anywhere important, she’d paired the scandalous outfit with fleece-lined leggings, knee boots, and a puffy coat.

  When they reached the clearing, the bonfire was blazing.

  She left her parents with Luke’s parents, then she and Luke joined Jason and the high-ranked members.

  Jason lifted his hand and the pack went quiet.

  Luke took off his hoodie and Rena took off her coat. They were close enough to the fire that she wasn’t too cold.

  They grasped left hands and Jason wrapped a length of leather from Luke’s forearm, around their joined hands, and up her forearm. He rested his hands on theirs.

  “We come to join Luke and Rena in mating and to welcome Rena into our pack as a treasured mate. Is there anyone here who has reason to believe the two should not be joined?”

  The pack was silent. Even the woods were silent.

  Rena smiled at Luke and he returned it, her insides going melty at the sight.

  Jason nodded, then began the ceremony, which was in Ancient Greek. They spoke vows to each other and marked each other with ash, blood, and oil.

  Jason said, “This joining is forever and ever, until death parts you and you join again, together, in the great beyond.”

  Rena and Luke kissed and the pack cheered and howled.

  Jason unwound the strap and Luke took it, wrapping it around Rena’s wrist like a bracelet and tucking in the end.

  “Let’s hunt!” Jason shouted.

  He clapped Luke on the shoulder and smiled at Rena. “Welcome to the pack and congratulations on your mating.”

  “How are you feeling?” Cades asked as she hugged Rena.

  Rena let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. Her muscles were pulled tight, her bones aching. “I need to take a walk I think, it’s starting to get bad again.”

  “Okay, be safe you two. Hope you feel better quickly.”

  Luke said, “Let’s go say goodbye to your folks. Then I have an idea.”

  “Running in the woods?” Rena asked. She put on her coat and picked up Luke’s hoodie.

  “Eventually.”

  She was going to tell him that she just wanted a good long run, but the heated look in his eyes told her he had something else in mind. The question was, what exactly and where?

  They found her parents saying goodbye to Crimson and Lindy and the alphas.

  “Thank you again for inviting us,” her dad said. “We’ll see you next week for the fae ceremony.”

  “We’ll be there,” Jason said.

  Rena said goodbye to her parents, hiding her wince as they hugged her. Her whole body was aching right now. She felt like she was going to split apart.

  Her parents stepped through the portal and her mom turned around. “We’ll see you Thursday?”

  “You bet,” Rena said. “I can’t wait.”

  “Have a good time, honey,” her mom said, blowing her a kiss.

  Rena blew a kiss to her parents and closed the portal.

  “Our relationship is stronger than it was before all this happened,” she said. “They’re so accepting of everything now.”

  “Parental regret,” Crimson said. “We’ve all been there.”

  “I’m just glad you and Luke are together, that bastard is gone, and everyone’s safe,” Lindy said.

  “Hear, hear,” Cades said.

  “We’re going out for a run,” Luke said, taking Rena’s arm. “Bye!”

  “Be careful out there,” Jason said.

  “We will be, thank you,” Luke said.

  She followed him away from the clearing and into the woods. “So where are you taking me?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “A sexy one?”

  “You’ll see.”

  His voice had gone all deep and growly again and she shivered. How had she gotten so lucky? He was the best mate on the planet, and the sexiest male she’d ever seen. He was hers and she was his, and the night belonged to them. Lifting her head, she let out a whoop, her inner wolf dancing with joy.

  “You said it, baby,” Luke said, echoing her whoop with a howl.

  Howls reverberated back to them from pack members, sharing in their joy.

  “I love everything about today,” she said. “But I love you most of all.”

  “I love you too.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Luke was so turned on by his beautiful mate that he couldn’t think straight. They were officially mated according to pack law, and his wolf was doing cartwheels in his head over the notion that she was one hundred percent his. Wearing his marks, covered in his scent.

  They reached their destination ten minutes later–an unused shed.

  When he’d been patrolling the day before, he’d been thinking about how to help her with her aches and pains. Logan had mentioned something to him about how pleasure could override the pain signals the blood bond was giving Rena. Then Luke had seen the shed and taken a look inside. It was mostly empty and very dilapidated, a corner of the roof missing from a storm and some holes in the walls where boards were broken. The nice thing about it, was that it was far from the hunting areas in the territory, and no one would be around to see or hear them.

  “Uh, what’s this?” she asked. He could hear the strain in her voice from her aches and pains.

  He opened the door and ushered her inside.

  When he cupped her face, she sighed at the contact, which only proved his train of thought–that pleasure and touch would help her right now.

  “You smell so good,” he said, feathering his lips over hers. “You’re driving me wild.”

  She tangled her fingers in his hair and kissed him harder. In between kisses, she said, “You told me no outside fuckery because you didn’t want anyone to see or hear us.”

  “You. I don’t want anyone to see or hear you, since you’re too damn sexy for your own good.” He stepped back and undid his jeans, shoving them down his legs and breathing out a sigh of relief as his hard cock was set free from the tight confines.

  Her eyes flashed, first amber and then red. “Want.”

  Dropping to his knees, he slid his hands up the outside of her thighs and tucked his fingers into the waistband of her soft leggings. He pulled them down slowly to her knees, then helped her out of her boots. She shivered in the cool air as he stripped her lower half, leaving her skirt on. Then he sat back and stretched out his legs, crooking his finger at her. “Come here, my sweet sirenfae. Ride me, let me take care of you.”

  She wasted no time straddling him and lowering herself onto his hard length.

  His eyes crossed at how good she felt, how perfectly she gripped him with her slick heat.

  “Yes,” she groaned as their bodies met. She curled her hands over his shoulders and kissed him, flexing her hips.

  He put a hand behind him to brace himself and then he put his thumb on her clit. She bit her bottom lip and moved on him, lifting and lowering herself, her fingers digging into his shoulders. He played with her clit, rubbing back and forth in time to her movements. He felt her draw close to climax and he rubbed her clit faster, finding just the right spot to send her over the edge.

  She threw back her head and cried out her pleasure, her hips moving wildly on him. He followed her into bliss, letting out a howl of happiness. She pressed her hand to his and looked at him, her eyes a mixture of amber and red. “More. Again.”

  “Yes, always.”

  He brought her to another climax, and as she crested another great height of pleasure, his cock hardened again within her. He flipped them, carefully bracing her from the floor with his arms, and he fucked her swiftly and soundly until he came and she let out a soft mewl of completion as another wave of pleasure wove through her.

  She sighed deeply and curled her arms around him, holding him close. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  He kissed her forehead and her nose, both cheeks, and her chin, then made his way down her neck to his marks. She shivered and let out a little moan, which made him smile.

  “You’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met in my life,” he said. He went onto his knees, then helped her stand as he rose to his feet. “I think I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

  “I feel the same way. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Luke Ta’Rek.”

  “I can’t wait until you’ve got my last name too. Then we’ll belong to each other in every way.”

  “There’s just one thing you need to do.”

  She sat on an upturned barrel and pulled on her panties and tights.

  “What’s that?” he asked. He toed off his shoes and stripped more fully. Then he pulled a box from his pocket.

  “You need to propose.”

  He dropped to one knee in front of her and held out the box. “Like this?”

  “You’re naked! You can’t propose to me when you’re naked.”

  “Oh come on! Do I have to get dressed?”

  “Yes, please.”

  He put the box down and went to his clothes, hurriedly tugging on his jeans and hoodie. Then he returned to one knee in front of his mate. Her eyes were dancing with laughter, her lips split into a wide grin.

  “That’s better,” she said. “When I tell the story of how you proposed, I don’t have to explain why you were naked.”

  He shook his head with a chuckle. “Whatever my sweetheart wants.”

  She sobered. “I just want you.”

  “You’ve got me, Rena. Forever.”

  She leaned forward to kiss him, and he said, “Hold on. This is not going at all how I thought it would. Then again, my life’s been upside down since I met you. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. You’re the sweetest, most amazing female I’ve ever known. I count myself lucky to know you and blessed to have you in my arms. I promise to take care of you and protect you and our family. Will you marry me, Rena?”

  “Yes!”

  Once more she leaned in and kissed him, and he tasted the salt of her tears. He opened the box and pulled out the engagement ring that had belonged to his great-grandma on his dad’s side. It was a stunning ruby surrounded by diamonds. It reminded him of Rena–fiery and gorgeous, full of color and life.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful, Luke.” He put it on her finger and rose to his feet. She joined him for another kiss and hug.

  He told her who it belonged to. “That’s amazing.”

  “Now, I need to strip and shift so we can go for a run. How are you feeling? Are your joints still hurting?”

  “I was feeling pretty miserable, but you took care of me. I feel great.”

  “I’m glad. I aim to please.”

  “You did, Luke. You so totally did.”

  He stripped–again–and shifted. They headed out into the cold for a run.

  He didn’t care if he caught anything, or if they even found any animals to chase. All he cared about in the whole world was Rena. She was everything to him and he was a better male for knowing her.

  Chapter Twenty

  As the final vows were spoken between Rena and Luke, a bell tower rang out twelve times.

  Luke pulled her close and kissed her at the final bell, telling the whole city that it was now New Year’s Day. She smiled against his lips, feeling the vibration of his wolf’s happy growl against her.

  “What an awesome way to kick things off,” he said, giving her one more quick kiss.

  “It was perfectly timed,” she said.

  They faced her sirenfae clan in the great hall of her grandparents’ castle which was decked out in dark green ivy and bluebells with white and blue ribbon interspersed everywhere.

  Her grandfather, who had presided over the mating ceremony, and Hecklin, a local fae who performed the marriage ceremony, congratulated them and then introduced them to everyone.

  Mr. and Mrs. Ta’Rek.

  It was incredibly crazy how much her life had changed in the last month. She’d been in hiding, never sharing anything truly real about herself with anyone, trying to avoid the future her parents had chosen for her. And then she’d met Luke.

  Hell, she’d started on this path when she met Zoey in college. She’d had no way of knowing just how much her life would change by meeting the sweet human, but she was so very glad she had.

  The clan and their guests rose to their feet with claps, cheers, and howls. She and Luke walked down the white carpeted aisle and out into the foyer. They had just a moment to themselves before their guests were going to file by on the way to the ballroom for dinner and dancing.

  Luke hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”

  “I was yours the moment we met.” She kissed him. He put her on the floor and brushed the happy tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

  “I was yours too.”

  They wore traditional fae mating outfits in dark blue silk with silver thread. Her dress was straight out of medieval times with a corset and cinched waist, and huge skirt. Luke’s frock coat and trousers made him look like royalty.

  Their guests made their way out to them. She and Luke hugged and kissed their family members and friends, then the members of her clan. When the last guest had been received, Luke took her hand and led her toward the ballroom where a huge feast awaited, followed by cake and then dancing. At dawn, she and Luke would take a horse-drawn carriage to a guest home near her parents’ castle.

  Then they’d be leaving for their honeymoon–a week in Luke’s parents’ home in the Homelna Glen.

  She couldn’t wait. Just her and Luke for a whole week together, doing whatever they wanted with no thought for work or anything else.

  The double doors of the ballroom were closed as they approached, manned by two members of the sirenfae clan. The males nodded with a smile and pulled the doors open, to cheering and clapping from their guests.

  Rena and Luke walked into the big room. They made their way to the head table where Micah–Luke’s best man–and Zoey–Rena’s maid of honor–were seated. They wore similar, but less fancy outfits of dark blue silk.

  Once she and Luke were seated, their meals were brought out and everyone was served.

  “It was a gorgeous ceremony,” Zoey said. “I’m so glad I could be here for it.”

  “Me too. Thanks for being my maid of honor.”

  “My pleasure. You’ll be my maid of honor too, right? Or matron of honor since you’re married now.”

  “You know it.”

  The night was a blur as they ate and then danced. Her favorite thing was tossing the bouquet and watching it fall right into Zoey’s hands.

  After saying goodbye to their guests as the sun began to rise, Rena snuggled against Luke. He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

  “We’re ready,” he told their driver.

  There was a “ha” followed by the snap of reins. The carriage lurched a little on the cobblestone street and they were on their way.

  She turned to look behind her at their family and friends who stood in the cold dawn and waved. She waved back and then settled against her mate.

  The perfect night was ending with a beautiful, cotton candy sunrise, the sky slowly turning from inky black to soft ambers and pinks.

  “I’ve never been happier,” she said, lifting her face to his.

  He wiggled his brows and kissed her. “I bet I can make you even happier.”

  She giggled. “I bet you can too actually.”

  “Tell me, Mrs. Ta’Rek,” he said softly, “do you know that you’re the center of my world?”

  Her heart clenched with joy. “I do. You’re the center of mine, too.”

  There wasn’t a need for more words in that moment. They’d said everything they’d needed to during their vows, promising to love and cherish each other, to protect and honor until the very end. He was her light and her life, the only male who had ever held her heart.

  * * *

  January Full Moon

  Jessamyn–Jessi for short–Gerrick stood at the back of the pack as they gathered in the clearing before the hunt. Her mom was human, and her dad was a wolf, which meant that while her brother Micah could shift, she’d missed out on the genes to do so. She was part of the pack, but also not part of it. A perpetual outsider. Looked down upon by many females and males simply because she couldn’t turn into a wolf.

  She was twenty-two. When she hadn’t been able to shift at sixteen, it had broken her heart. Her dad was a powerful wolf, second ranked in their pack run by her Uncle Jason and Aunt Cadence. For the last six years, she’d stood with the pack on the full moon, then watched her friends and family shift and race off into the woods. No male looked at her like a potential mate. In their eyes, she was good for a tumble in the sheets but not as a mate.

  And now, she was two days away from heading to a multi-pack gathering in Ohio to try to find a mate. The problem? She’d been to several over the years and the result was always the same. Males would approach her with interest, but the moment they knew she couldn’t shift? Bye-bye Jessi. Her parents didn’t really understand. Her dad Michael believed her truemate was out there somewhere, a wolf who wouldn’t care that she couldn’t shift. Her mom, Shyne, had promised that her truemate would see her value and not care that she couldn’t change forms. They just didn’t know the feeling of constantly being told she wasn’t enough.

  “Have a great hunt, everyone!” Uncle Jason called out in his big, booming alpha voice.

  Jessi turned and headed back to the alpha’s house to wait out the hunt with the other pack members who couldn’t shift–young pups, human and non-shifter mates, and pregnant females.