10. Logan
TEN
LOGAN
“That’s the last of it.” Emmie came in with a small pile of books. “Now we need to unpack it all.”
She said “it all” as if she came with an entire mansion’s worth of belongings. She didn’t. Seeing all of her things in the cabin had me wanting to take her shopping.
“We can do that later.” I took the books from her and set them on the stack of boxes on my side. “Right now, we have more important issues to attend to.”
I brushed the hair that had come loose from her ponytail and put it behind her ear.
“Now? I’m not even… look at me.”
“I am, and you’ve never looked more beautiful.” I kissed her and then took her hands in mine. “We don’t need to do this now, if you don’t want to.”
“No. I do. I just thought I’d finally move in fully and then plan the event.” She swished her mouth to one side. “But I guess there isn’t a reason to wait. This isn’t a wedding where I need to book a venue and send out save- the-date cards.”
“Do you want that? A wedding, I mean?” To shifters, a wedding wasn’t a consideration. Mating was forever. Why would we spend a bunch of money and time to have a ceremony that gave us a piece of paper?
But my mate wasn’t a shifter. It was easy to forget that, the way she adjusted to her life here so quickly. If she wanted a wedding, we were going to have a wedding.
“Yes, no. Not really. It’s just something I grew up thinking was the endgame, you know?” She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Like I was supposed to want that.”
“How about this… If you ever decide you want a wedding, let me know, and I’ll throw you the event of the season. I’ll even take you to that fancy place where you have to make an appointment to buy anything like on that TV show.”
She rested her head against my chest. “Those dresses are ugly and cost more than my vehicle. I think I’ll stick with our plan.”
“If that’s what my mate wants, that’s what my mate gets.” And she would soon discover that she was getting more than she had planned. I loved my pack and the way they’d helped me organize the surprise that would be waiting once we mated.
After taking a quick shower, we walked to where we’d first met. The idea had come to her during a shared dream. We could never figure out which of us pulled the other into our nocturnal wanderings. My gut said it was her, since I could never see her face. Not that it mattered.
We’d visited each other most nights. Sometimes it was hot and heavy, others we sat by the river and talked. But every dream visit was special, and I treasured them. They gave us extra together time—almost like we got to share two lifetimes instead of one.
“It was here that I first saw you—first understood that I found what I had been looking for—you.”
Emmie pulled my shirt up and over my head, dropping it to the ground and working on ridding me of my pants.
“I didn’t understand the feelings I had that night, but I loved you even then, my sexy wolf.” She removed her shirt, her bra following shortly thereafter. She knelt on the ground, pulling her hair to the side, exposing her left shoulder.
“Today, I want to seal our bond, for your wolf—my wolf—to mark me in the ways of old. I want everyone to know who I belong to and that his beast fully accepts my human side.”
When Emmie told me how she wanted to be mated, it floored me. It was a sign of complete acceptance. And now the moment had arrived, my emotion was choking me. Out of all the wolves in this world, this amazing woman chose me to be hers.
“It is a great honor that we fulfill your desire today, to mark you as our own.”
Mate.
Mark.
Now.
Yes, now. My wolf. Now.
I fell back, allowing my beast to take over. He landed on all fours, raised his head, and scented the air.
“I’m safe, silly wolf. You made sure of that already. There are no threats.” Emmie whispered, “I have waited for this moment long enough.”
My wolf went to her, rubbing the side of his face against her cheek, licking it and then clamping down on her neck.
Ours. She’s ours. Finally. He pulled off her, licking the wound.
“Mine,” she all but growled. “You’re mine.”
She closed her eyes.
“All mine.”
I shifted back and helped her up. “I am.”
We kissed, my cock ready for more than a hug and a kiss, but we had places to be.
“Let’s get you home and clean your mark so it doesn’t get infected.”
“Okay. But I want it to scar. None of that fancy anti-scar cream.”
“Absolutely none. You think I want my mark unseen?” I got dressed, and the two of us walked toward the cabin, but, as it came into view, so did the mating party Wolf Mountain Pack had put together.
It wasn’t much. Meats for the grill, snacks, a cake, and beer. But from the way my mate choked up, it was everything.
“You arranged this, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “I wanted you to have human experiences, and a mating reception sounded like a good idea. But if you want a wedding, say the word, and I’m there.” I gave her hand a squeeze.
Emmie leaned in to my side. “And never think that this, mating me and giving me a party, isn’t more than enough. It’s everything. I love you, Logan—mate.”
“I love you, Emmie.”
“Stop with the lovey crap… I made cake,” Blair yelled.
“You heard the woman. Let’s go get some cake.” Emmie raised her voice. “I hope it’s chocolate.”
“Get your butt over here and see for yourself,” Blair sassed back.
It was chocolate, a perfect addition to a perfect day.