EPILOGUE
WINTER
The manor hummed with energy as the pack enjoyed the festivities.
It was Winter’s first full moon as king, so he’d used the excuse to arrange a lavish gathering.
Some tried to convince him to host it in the castle, but he’d insisted on coming home.
Red flowers blossomed in vases all around the interior, filling the rooms with a sweet floral scent, and most of the furniture had been removed to accommodate the number of wolves in attendance.
Many of the pack members had ventured outside to shift and linger in the woods, but more than enough still partook in the copious amounts of alcohol their king had supplied.
Of course, it was all a ruse. If Sterling didn’t return to him tonight, then he could pretend this was nothing more than a celebration of their new monarch. But if she did come, he was prepared for her. Prepared to love her.
Once he understood how the chips would fall in regards to his father’s death, he’d started planning her grand re-entrance to Bloodstorm.
Winter lingered before the fireplace and attempted to quiet his roaring nerves. Someone was speaking to him—he hadn’t looked at the man’s face or listened to a single word. He kept glancing from the fire to the entrance of the manor as he spun the tankard of mead in his hand.
Amalli said she’d taken the cloak to Sterling and allowed her to think it over.
But the full moon was high in the sky now, and the pack had arrived two hours ago.
Perhaps Sterling still feared for her brother—it was where he’d been held hostage, after all.
Comfortably held, but a captive, nonetheless.
“Your Majesty?” the man asked.
Winter set his tankard down on the fireplace mantel and strode away without answering. What if Sterling had come but ran into trouble with some of the pack? Or maybe she was looking for him out in the woods.
“Have you seen her?” he asked General Rawling when he hit the cool night air.
Rawling guarded outside the main entrance to the manor, too stoic to join the entertainment, too wary not to come.
Winter knew he was still suspicious of everything that had happened in Valco’s room, so it was better to keep him close.
Watch him. Earn his loyalty. Winter already treated the general more fairly than his father ever had.
“Not yet,” he answered.
Winter’s fingers flexed. Had he ever felt this insecure before?
Is this what love does to people? Open yourself up, confess your feelings, and suffer for it.
Sterling was his mate—that wouldn’t change, regardless if she came or didn’t.
He’d never take another. King Winter would remain a foolish sap in love, whether she returned his feelings or not.
A flash of red drew his attention in the distance, and he snapped his gaze toward the bend in the gravel road. Sterling. She’d come. The first easy breath of the night filled his lungs.
He stepped forward, planning to storm toward her, but then warned himself. He was the king now—a new king who hadn’t earned the respect of the entire pack yet.
Instead, Winter sauntered down the path to the road, a hand in his pocket, toying with Sterling’s gift.
The red cloak billowed around her, its hood concealing her face, but still, he knew it was her.
Knew it in the way she carried herself. Lijah walked beside her, but once he spotted Winter, he abandoned the road and disappeared into the tree line.
He’d likely circle back to greet the carriage that followed secretly with Cyan, Nareth, and Jasira.
Sterling’s pace quickened, and when she finally reached him, she pulled back her hood and peered up at him with eager eyes that shone like emeralds beneath the moonlight. “I received your letter, Your Majesty.”
He lifted her chin with a forefinger and buried his face into her neck to inhale her apple scent. “And you’re wearing my gift.” He itched to remove it now, to bury his canines into her flesh, to taste her everywhere.
“I wish you had called for me sooner.” She smiled as she grasped his face and pressed her lips to his before whispering in his ear, “Now tell me what you have planned.”
“A celebration.” He smirked and rested his forehead against hers, his thumb tracing her scar. It seemed like a lifetime since he’d seen her, touched her, pleasured her.
“Wolves are milling about, and you had me wear a red reminder. Are you certain my cloak won’t bring out ire?”
“I don’t give a fuck.” Winter caught her mouth with his, slipping his tongue between her lips, kissing her for not nearly enough moments.
“You are Red Riding Hood and their queen. If they see we’ve forgiven one another, then they’ll have to accept or die by my claws.
” If anyone ever attempted to assassinate her, they would pay dearly for it—piece by bloody piece.
He grasped her hand and drew her toward the manor.
“I have something planned for you. A good thing.”
“You’re being very secretive.” Intrigue and a hint of suspicion tinged her voice.
“I can’t give all my secrets away this early.
” He chuckled, leading them to the front door of the manor as dozens of wolves watched with curiosity.
The moment they were inside, Winter nodded to the officiant, setting his plan in motion.
They would need a moment to prepare, so he brought Sterling into the nearest unused space.
Inside the pantry, she moved aside dried herbs dangling in front of her as Winter ducked around them.
A low burning lantern hung at both ends of the closet so the staff could see when they needed to collect supplies for the feast. Jarred goods, vegetables, and jellies and jams lined the wooden shelves.
“So a pantry is the surprise?” she whispered, the corners of her mouth lifting.
He grinned. “Before we return to the party, you should know something. This isn’t only to celebrate my first full moon as king.”
One of her brows rose. “It’s not a sacrifice, is it?”
“Don’t you trust your mate?” He trailed his finger across her silken lips.
“I do,” she murmured, her shoulders relaxed.
Warmth coursed through his veins, and he ran the backs of his fingers across her cheek. “You’re mated to a wolf, but you’re a human, which means you value your own traditions. So…”
“So?” she prodded when he paused.
“Since we mated in the tradition of wolves, I thought it was only fair we marry in a human wedding.”
“What?” Sterling gasped, her eyes widening.
“This is our wedding.” Winter studied her, unable to determine if she liked the idea.
“Sometimes a shifter’s perfect match isn’t another wolf.
Sometimes she’s a feisty, strong, and intelligent woman who can also be a pain in the ass.
But she’s my pain in the ass, and I would have no other as my queen.
” He rested his palm over her heart. “You make me feel things I never thought I would. I didn’t think I could love anyone, that I was incapable of it, and yet I love you.
” He drew in a shallow breath. “I worried you wouldn’t come.
And now I’m terrified you think the wedding is a foolish idea. ”
Sterling blinked at him, then a slow smile spread her cheeks. “Of course I came, and I would’ve married you tonight even if you didn’t just admit that you love me.”
A weight lifted off him—the wedding had been a risk, but if she hadn’t agreed to it, he could’ve postponed it for as long as she desired.
“Damn, you so easily make me reveal my secrets.” Before he gave into temptation and removed her cloak, Winter opened the closet door and led her into the hallway.
Once they entered the sitting room, Winter searched out Lijah to see if he’d come inside yet.
It took him only a few moments to find Lijah, and Winter gave the guard a hand signal.
“Attention,” boomed Lijah. “Attention everyone.”
Sterling slowed, grasping Winter’s hand, and allowed him to walk them through the crowd.
In front of the crackling fireplace, the mantel surrounded by red floral sprays, waited the officiant.
To the far left, Cyan, Nareth, and Jasira huddled together, not dressed for the occasion, but neither were the wolves.
Nareth and Jasira shifted uneasily in a room full of wolves, and Cyan stood close, though seeming more at ease.
Winter had sent another letter with Amalli and instructed her to sneak it to Nareth without Sterling’s knowledge.
If Sterling decided to come, he’d asked them to follow safely behind in a coach he would provide.
Though he hadn’t told them why in case the man held a grudge.
Forgiveness was a lot to ask for when the offense was nearly killing him once, and he didn’t want the surprise ruined.
Lijah knew, of course, from the third secret letter Winter had sent, and he was meant to fill them in as soon as it was safe to do so.
Nareth met Winter’s gaze. He scowled but nodded once. Tension eased from Winter and his wolf, knowing there wouldn’t be a scene. Cyan, on the other hand, beamed.
Sterling smiled and whispered to Winter, “So you had a secret meeting with my brother?”
“No, I told Nareth to come if you decided to. Then Lijah circled back to meet them on the road once I found you outside. Their carriage was right behind yours almost the entire time.”
“Oh, so that’s why Lijah said something was wrong with the wheel and we needed to walk the remainder of the way.” Sterling’s grin widened.
Winter only smirked.
Lijah ushered the wolves back to make space for the royal couple. “You’re all here to witness the human marriage of our mated royals.”
A quiet murmur filtered through the room, but quickly fell silent as Winter approached the officiant—a tall, lanky man wearing black robes. Sterling faced Winter, her eyes dancing with anticipation as the officiant droned on in another language, speaking some sort of prayer.