Epilogue
Mid-term graduation didn’t happen with the fanfare of spring graduation. Administration called me to the office, handed me my diploma, and shook my hand. That was it. And I didn’t mind. The people who mattered would celebrate with me at home.
I walked out of the school doors for the last time with a sense of anticipation that wasn’t all mine.
Sam was waiting for me next to his truck. Snow had started to fall earlier than forecasted. It lightly dusted his hair in the winter midday light, making him even more handsome, if possible.
“Congratulations, Clarity,” he said, opening his arms.
I squealed a little and ran to hug him.
“You survived,” he teased, nuzzling my hair.
“Barely. I don’t know how time can feel like it’s not moving fast enough and still be a hectic whirlwind at the same time.”
In the weeks since our first family dinner, the Moms had organized our wedding—which was taking place in three days—I’d finished school with honors, and I’d somehow managed to pass the interviews for the assistant librarian position the town council had posted a week ago.
It felt like everything was coming together so fast, yet not fast enough.
Every second apart from Sam felt like torture, and I couldn’t wait to officially move in with him tonight.
“Are you sure you want to move in tonight and not wait until—”
I cut him off with a hard look.
“Why? So I can feel lonely, barely sleep, and look like a zombie bride in three days? No, Sam. I’m not waiting until our wedding night to move in. You get me today, and you’re going to thank me for it.”
My feet left the ground as he hugged me harder for a brief moment.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry I’m not controlling myself better.”
“I love knowing how much you want me. Don’t ever try to mute that. Except maybe during work hours. I really need to focus for the first week, okay?”
He nodded and gave me a quick kiss.
“Ready to go home?”
I nodded, looking forward to what was waiting—his family. Our moms were already at our house, setting out the food and prepping for the rest of his extended family, who were arriving early for the wedding to help celebrate my graduation.
It felt like I knew them all already, even though I’d only met one of his aunts and uncles. He often shared stories of his childhood, though…the kind that left me crying with laughter.
He was close with all his cousins, but closest with Teg, short for Thomas Grey, who was a year older and usually his partner in crime. I couldn’t wait to meet him…and Grandpa Grey and Uncle Jim, who seemed to be both instigators and shields for the pair’s antics.
Actually, there wasn’t a member of his extended family I wasn’t excited to meet.
When we parked in the driveway, I saw a congrats grad banner in our picture window. Recognizing Mom’s influence, I smiled as Sam came around to open my door for me.
He was quick to take my hand and quicker to steal another kiss, his neediness still present even though the loneliness I’d felt had mellowed after firmly committing to moving in today.
I loved that he couldn’t get enough of me.
I never felt smothered by it. Maybe because he was always aware of how I was feeling, too, which was almost as needy for him.
Mom and Gabby both congratulated and hugged me as soon as I walked in. They’d just finished putting out everything we needed for a self-serve nacho bar, which smelled amazing.
The arrival of Uncle Luke’s family stopped me from snitching any chips. The kids pulled us toward one of the folding tables placed around the living room to start a card game.
Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to finish dealing before there was another knock.
Sam’s dad answered the door, and I watched the guy on the other side bear-hug him.
“Didn’t think yours would be first, did you?” the man said with a laugh.
Sam drew me closer to them.
“Uncle Emmitt and Aunt Michelle, this is Clarity.”
“Hello.” His uncle smiled and nodded in greeting, and his aunt hugged me.
“I’m so happy for you,” she said. “I heard from Gabby that you're adjusting much better than any of us did.”
“She had the advantage of knowing werewolves were real,” Aunt Bethi said.
Sam smirked at the side glance I shot him, but neither of us corrected her.
The door opened again while Sam was introducing everyone to Mom, and two men in their mid-twenties came in with large gift boxes.
“These are my brothers, Liam and Aden.” Liam, the one with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, nodded at me when Aunt Michelle said his name.
Aden, the one with the brown hair and deeper blue eyes, grinned at me, then winked at Sam.
He called them his funkles. One was a politician, and one was a lawyer.
You wouldn’t know by how they dressed, though.
Down to earth with jeans and button-up shirts.
They recruited Uncle Luke and Sam’s dad to help with a “big” item.
I watched them carry in the top for a gorgeous dining room table. It wasn’t the one I’d registered for, but much better, and it would expand to seat twelve, which would be perfect for holidays.
“Gabby mentioned that you didn’t have your heart set on the dining room table you picked out. That you just wanted something big enough for everyone. So Emmitt and Jim made this. We didn’t want to wait until your wedding day,” Aunt Michelle said.
I was so touched that I hugged her again.
While they were still setting that up, Sam went to answer the door again, holding it for an elderly woman with a cane. Her gaze was sharp but not unkind as it scanned the room, landing on me.
Sam motioned for me to come over.
“Clarity, this is Grandma Winifred. Nana, this is Clarity, my mate.”
“You’re going to have your hands full with him,” she said to me. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
I felt Sam’s need spike, and I smiled at his Nana.
“I was waiting for him before I even knew him,” I said. “These last few weeks have been torture, and I don’t want to wait another second.”
Her smile lit her eyes, and she pulled me into a hug.
“Welcome to the family, Clarity.” Over her shoulder, I saw Sam’s grandpa Grey, who winked at me.
The woman next to him with the red hair was his aunt Isabelle, and a Hispanic-looking man was his Uncle Carlos.
Something about him seemed vaguely familiar.
His eyes. But before I could place why, Winifred pulled away and patted my cheek.
“Let me give you my number so you can call me if he steps out of line.”
“I’d like that,” I said.
I felt a thread of worry from Sam and saw his dad’s quick grin.
We were still exchanging numbers when the door opened for the last of his family.
“Please tell me there’s cake,” the man said, walking with his hand on his wife’s waist. She was a petite, very blonde woman.
“Yeah, we’re starving,” Sam’s youngest cousin said.
His mom lightly cuffed his head.
“No acting like Uncle Jim.”
“He’s an Elder,” the boy said. “Elders deserve our respect.”
Aunt Bethi snorted, and Jim winked at the boy. “And that’s how you get an extra slice. Come on, let’s find the cake.”
The four teens behind them came over to say hi and introduce themselves, along with Sam’s Aunt Olivia. So many people talking at once should have felt chaotic, but it wasn’t.
We ate. Uncle Jim stole more food off my plate than I thought possible without being caught, and I watched Mom really relax around people for the first time ever. I knew I wasn’t the only one gaining an extended family.
The afternoon blurred into games, food, noise, and more people than I’d ever willingly spent time around. Somehow, it didn’t feel overwhelming. Maybe because Sam was always near. Maybe because everyone was so happy and welcoming.
By early evening, Grandma Winifred announced she was tired. That was apparently all it took. Food vanished into the containers. Folding tables disappeared into the back of someone’s truck. Kids were collected. Hugs happened quickly and in alarming quantities.
Mom hugged me last. “Three days,” she whispered.
“Think I can still run?”
She gave me a look, kissed my forehead, hugged Sam, and left.
Then it was just Sam and me.
In our house.
Alone.
“Are you thinking about running?” he asked, threading his fingers through mine.
“Maybe. Depends on what you have planned for the rest of the night.”
“Tonight can be whatever you want it to be.”
My heart gave one hard, certain beat.
For so long, I’d thought belonging meant fitting in with the people around me. But it wasn’t that.
Belonging was having a person who chose me. Not just once, but every time. Consistently and without hesitation.
I slipped my hand into his.
“Then I think it’s time to claim my side of the bed.”
“I thought you were going to let me wear a blanket.”
“Exactly. Now, can you take your shirt off?”
His smile was soft, hungry, and entirely mine.
For once, I didn’t need a book to escape into another world.
I was already living in the perfect one and didn’t want to miss a second of it.
Thank you for reading Bitten Drawn Bound, the prequel to the Shadow Huntress series.
The series continues with Dark Wolf Marked, where Ever's search for the shadow that took someone close to her brings her face-to-face with the last person she ever wanted to need.
Keep reading for a sneak peek.