Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
The bonfire roared twenty feet into the night sky, sending sparks swirling towards the stars like fleeing fireflies.
Harper stood at the edge of the celebration, a wooden cup of something sweet and alcoholic clutched in her hands, watching the Moonstone Pack transform before her eyes.
The same wolves who had watched Adrian’s challenge in grim silence now danced and laughed and howled at the moon, their joy infectious and overwhelming.
I did it, she thought, still not quite believing it. I actually found somewhere I belong.
A young wolf—barely eighteen, with a shock of red hair and freckles across her nose—bounded up to Harper with two more cups.
“Luna! You need more mead. This is a celebration!”
She blinked at the title. “I’m not really—I mean, we haven’t had an official ceremony or anything—”
“The Alpha claimed you. That makes you the Luna.” The girl pressed both cups into Harper’s already-full hands. “I’m Maisie. My mom’s the head cook. She says you eat like a bird and someone needs to fatten you up.”
“I eat plenty,” she protested weakly.
Maisie just grinned and disappeared back into the crowd, leaving her with three cups of mead.
Well then.
She found a flat rock near the fire and sat down, setting two of the cups beside her.
The warmth of the flames felt good against her face after the chill of the mountain evening.
Across the clearing, she could see Adrian surrounded by pack members, accepting their congratulations, their pledges of loyalty, their relief that the challenge had ended as it did.
He caught her eye through the crowd and smiled—that rare, devastating smile that still made her knees weak.
Mine, she thought, touching the mark on her shoulder through her sweater. He’s actually mine.
“Harper!”
She turned just in time to brace herself as Elise gave her an enthusiastic hug that nearly knocked her off the rock.
“I was so worried. Derek told us what happened and I wanted to come right away but John said we should wait until the challenge was over and I was so scared—”
“Elise.” She laughed, hugging her friend back. “Breathe.”
“Right. Yes. Breathing.” Elise pulled back, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I can’t believe you’re actually mated to the Alpha. You’re going to be like werewolf royalty.”
“I’m going to be Harper,” she corrected gently. “Just with more fur around.”
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a calm, pleasant face appeared behind Elise, his hand settling on her waist with easy familiarity. “I believe congratulations are in order.”
“Harper, this is John.” Elise practically glowed. “My mate.”
John inclined his head. “Luna.”
“Please, just Harper.”
She studied him, noticing his protective air, and decided she liked him. She could see the quiet contentment between the couple—a contentment that she recognized because she felt the same thing humming beneath her own skin.
Derek and Julie joined her next. Derek was dressed in jeans and flannel, but he still carried himself with the same unmistakable arrogance. An arrogance that vanished whenever he looked at his pregnant mate.
She rose to meet them. “Thank you, Derek. For everything.”
“You cracked the case. I just provided the legal muscle.” A hint of fang appeared. “And it’s never been more satisfying.”
Julie gave her a quick hug. “Derek told me what you found. That took a lot of courage.”
“More like a lot of caffeine and determination.”
She looked at the other woman—human, like her, but clearly at home in this world of werewolves and pack bonds and ancient traditions.
“Does it get easier?” she asked quietly. “Fitting in?”
Julie gave a half-shrug. “Some days. Other days, you’ll still feel like you’re speaking a different language.
But we’re only visitors. You’ll be living with it every day.
” Julie glanced at Derek, who was now deep in conversation with John about something business-related.
“Just remember that good days make the hard ones worth it. Or maybe I should say the good nights,” she added with a knowing smile, and heat immediately rushed to Harper’s cheeks.
“And the pack? They accepted you?”
“Some do, some don’t. “ Julie squeezed her hand. “But you saved them, Harper. They won’t forget.”
She wanted to believe her. She really did.
But as she looked around the celebration, she caught glimpses of the truth behind the festivities.
The older wolves who smiled when she looked their way but whispered among themselves when they thought she wasn’t watching.
The ones who toasted Adrian but let their cups lower when their gaze slid to her.
The careful distance some kept, as if she might be contagious.
They were in the minority, but they were there.
“Harper?” Julie asked gently. “You okay?”
“Fine.” She managed a smile. Everything took time. “Just… taking it all in.”
A group of younger wolves had started some kind of traditional dance around the fire.
The music—drums and fiddles and something that sounded like a cross between a flute and a howl—swelled to fill the clearing.
Elise grabbed John’s hand and dragged him towards the dancers, her laughter bright and carefree.
Derek touched Julie’s shoulder. “My brother’s heading this way. Let’s go and talk to the Elders. I want to try and smooth over any ruffled fur. And decide who Adrian needs to keep an eye on.”
Julie rolled her eyes but kissed him before they went.
Then it was just Harper, standing at the edge of the firelight, watching as Adrian cut through the crowd towards her. Wolves stepped aside for him without being asked, a natural parting that spoke to their respect for their Alpha.
Their Alpha.
My mate.
The two concepts still felt surreal.
“Hey.” His hand closed around hers, his fingers warm and rough and exactly right. “You’re thinking too hard. I can feel it.”
“Is that a mate bond thing?”
“Partly.” He tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear. “Also, you get this little crinkle between your eyebrows when you’re overthinking.”
“I do not.”
“You absolutely do.” He kissed the alleged crinkle. “What’s wrong, kitten?”
She hesitated. The bonfire crackled beside them. Somewhere nearby, Maisie’s voice rose in a cheerful argument about the proper way to roast a deer.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she said finally. “I’m happy. Really, I am.”
“But?”
“But…” She looked at the celebrating pack, the wolves who had knelt for Adrian and accepted her as Luna, the ones who still watched her with wary eyes. “It’s a lot.”
He followed her gaze, and his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“Who?” The word came out low and dangerous. “Tell me who’s giving you trouble and I’ll—”
“No one’s giving me trouble,” she said quickly, squeezing his hand. “It’s not like that. It’s just… I spent my whole life being an outsider. Orphanages, foster homes, schools where I never quite fit. I learned to expect it. To be comfortable with it, even.”
She gestured at the celebration around them.
“This is the opposite of that. This is people wanting me to belong. Expecting me to belong. And some of them don’t even want me here, but they’re trying because you asked them to, and I can see how hard it is for them and—”
Her voice broke.
Damn it.
He pulled her against his chest without a word. His arms wrapped around her, solid and warm and safe, and Harper let herself lean into him for a moment. Let herself be held.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against his shirt. “This is stupid. We should be celebrating.”
“There’s nothing stupid about having feelings.”
“Says the man who communicates in grunts and glares.”
A rumble of laughter vibrated through his chest. “I’ve been told I’m learning.”
She pulled back enough to look up at him. The firelight painted his features in shades of gold and shadow, highlighting the strong line of his jaw, the dark slash of his brows, the soft warmth in his golden-brown eyes.
Beautiful, she thought. How did I get so lucky?
“I want to be here,” she said firmly. “I want this life with you. I just… need a minute. To process.”
He studied her face, and whatever he saw there made him nod slowly.
“Then let’s get you somewhere quiet.”
Before she could respond, he bent and scooped her up in his arms.
“Adrian!” She yelped, grabbing his shoulders. “What are you… Put me down!”
“You said you needed a minute.” He started walking towards the main house, ignoring her protests. “I’m giving you a night.”
“I can walk!”
“But why would you want to?”
A wolf-whistle cut through the noise of the celebration. Then another. Her cheeks flamed as she realized the entire pack was watching their Alpha carry his mate away from the bonfire.
“This is embarrassing,” she hissed.
“This is tradition.” His eyes glinted with amusement. “The Alpha claiming his Luna before the pack. Very romantic.”
“Very Neanderthal.”
“Same thing.”
Laughter and cheers followed them across the clearing. She caught a glimpse of Elise giving her a thumbs up, Julie smiling, and Derek raising his cup in a toast.
And yes, she caught some of the other looks too. The disapproval. The discomfort. The wolves who clapped because they were expected to but couldn’t quite meet her eyes.
They’ll come around, she told herself. Or they won’t. Either way, I’m not going anywhere.
He carried her through the main house and up the stairs like she weighed nothing. Which, to him, she probably didn’t. The unfairness of werewolf strength was something she was still getting used to.
He carried her into her room and set her down on the enormous bed, the same bed where they’d made love under the full moon and everything had changed, then knelt before her on the floor.
She blinked.
“What are you doing?”