Chapter 37 Lina #2
“Both shops,” Knox corrected gently. “Pine Valley’s is updated too. New equipment, better security. You can run both. You’ll never have to choose between worlds.”
I didn’t have words for what that meant to me. He’d understood that asking me to give up my human life completely would have broken part of me. So instead, he’d found a way to blend both worlds, to give me everything.
I kissed him soundly, not caring that we had an audience. “You brought my whole life here.”
“Ew, boss, get a room,” Vivi teased, but she was smiling. “Come on, you have to see inside. He let us design the kids’ corner and it’s ADORABLE.”
They dragged me into the shop, chattering nonstop about everything they’d seen and done.
Inside, it was exactly as I’d left it, but better.
The equipment was all updated, top of the line stuff I’d only dreamed of affording.
The space was expanded, with a proper kitchen in the back and a children’s corner filled with toys and books for pack cubs.
“The wolves here are actually super nice,” Mika was saying, pulling shots on the fancy new espresso machine. “Like, yeah, they sometimes sniff you weird and the growling took some getting used to, but they tip really well.”
“One of them brought me flowers,” Vivi added with a sly smile. “Said I smelled like sunshine. I mean, who says that? But also...” She fanned herself dramatically.
“Sarah knows, by the way,” Vivi said, her sly tone making me look up from examining my mother’s books, now safely shelved in their new home. “Kept calling them ‘very large dogs’ when they were moving stuff. Said she’s known you were meant for something special since you were little.”
“She’ll visit soon,” Knox confirmed from where he was leaning against the counter, watching me explore with satisfaction written all over his face.
“For the shop opening?” I asked, running my fingers over the familiar spines. Every book from Pine Valley had made the journey, even the ones with coffee stains and torn pages.
“For the wedding,” Knox said casually, as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb.
I spun around so fast I nearly knocked over a display. “The WHAT?”
“Did I not mention?” His innocent expression didn’t fool me for a second. That manipulative wolf knew exactly what he was doing. “My bad. Must have slipped my mind.”
“You can’t just announce-”
“I’m Alpha. I can announce whatever I want.” He pushed off the counter and stalked toward me with that predatory grace that still made my knees weak. “Besides, you already said yes. You’re wearing my ring. The pack just accepted you as Luna. Might as well make it official.”
“That’s not how wedding planning works!” I protested, backing up until I hit the bookshelf. “There are invitations and flowers and venues and-”
“Venue’s handled. Right here where both our worlds meet.” He caged me in with his arms, and despite my annoyance, my body responded to his proximity. “Your friends are here to help plan. Sarah’s coming. The pack’s expecting it. Really, all you have to do is show up.”
“You can’t just-”
He silenced me with a kiss that made me forget why I was arguing. When he pulled back, I was breathing hard and holding onto his shirt for balance.
“Marry me, Lina,” he murmured against my lips. “Here, where both our worlds meet. Let me give you everything. The shop, the pack, the family. All of it.”
“Oh my god, that’s so romantic,” Mika sighed from behind the counter.
“Get it, boss!” Vivi cheered.
“Wedding! Wedding! Wedding!”
I groaned as the twins voices joined in. They’d snuck into the shop with Hunt, who was trying to look innocent despite obviously being in on this conspiracy.
“This is manipulation,” I accused, but I was fighting a smile. The whole thing was so perfectly Knox. Overwhelming, presumptuous, and somehow exactly what I wanted even if I hadn’t known it.
“This is love,” Knox corrected, pressing closer. “And really good planning. Do you know how hard it was to coordinate getting your friends here without you knowing? To recreate every detail of your shop? To make sure Sarah could come?”
“You’re ridiculous,” I told him, but my hands were already sliding up his chest to loop around his neck.
“Ridiculously in love with you,” he agreed without shame. “So? Will you marry me? Properly this time, with your whole life present?”
I looked around the shop. My friends bouncing with excitement. My children chanting about weddings. The man who’d written me love letters for five years staring down at me with those intense gray eyes. The perfect blend of my human past and my wolf future.
“Fine,” I surrendered, trying to sound put upon even though my heart was racing. “But I’m picking the cake.”
The cheer that went up probably scared every bird in a three-block radius. Mika and Vivi started planning immediately, arguing about color schemes while the twins danced around us. Hunt was already texting someone, probably starting the pack gossip mill.
And Knox? Knox just held me, that satisfied smile playing on his lips.
“What?” I demanded.
“Nothing. Just thinking about how I already ordered the cake. Chocolate with raspberry filling. Your favorite.”
I shoved him, but he just laughed and pulled me closer. Of course he’d already ordered the cake. Of course he’d known I’d say yes. Manipulative, overwhelming, perfect wolf.
“I love you too,” I told him, because someone had to say it. “Even if you are insufferably smug about your planning skills.”
“I’ll be insufferably smug about making you my wife,” he corrected. “Though you can keep your name if you want. Winters, Raven, hyphenated, I don’t care. I just want you to be happy.”
“Basilinna Raven has a nice ring to it,” I admitted, and his whole face lit up.
“Say it again.”
“Basilinna Raven,” I repeated, and he growled in satisfaction before kissing me senseless again.