17. Harper #3
The world narrowed to the space between their bodies as Dorian pulled her against him, one hand splaying possessively across the small of her back while the other captured her fingers.
His intoxicating scent surrounded her completely, making her feel dizzy with want and contentment in equal measure.
This is perfect, Harper thought as they began to move together, their bodies finding a rhythm that felt as natural as breathing. I never thought I could feel so seen, so safe, so completely cherished in one man's arms.
"Are you having a good time?" Dorian asked, his breath warm against her ear as they swayed together.
Harper tilted her head back to meet his gaze, her heart clenching at the vulnerability she saw there—the Alpha who'd spent eighteen years denying himself happiness, afraid to hope for moments like this.
"Anywhere with you is a good time," she said softly, meaning every word.
The song soon ended, and applause erupted around them—pack members clapping and cheering and whistling their approval. But before Harper could feel self-conscious about the attention, Dorian was cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs stroking across her cheekbones with devastating tenderness.
Then he was kissing her—not the desperate, hungry kisses they'd shared in private, but something deeper and more claiming.
A public declaration that spoke of forever and belonging and love that couldn't be contained or hidden.
Harper melted into him, her hands fisting in the lapels of his suit as she kissed him back, pouring all her love and commitment into the connection.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and glowing, the pack's cheers had grown even louder. Harper expected to feel embarrassed by such a public display, but instead she felt only joy. These people weren't just accepting her—they were celebrating her place among them.
"Harper!" Lila's voice cut through the applause as the teenager appeared at their side, practically vibrating with nervous energy. "I need to talk to you really quick."
Concern immediately flooded through Harper. "Of course," Harper said, already moving toward the edge of the dance floor. "Let's go talk."
They made their way through the crowd to the small restroom at the back of the town hall, Harper's mind racing through possibilities. Was Lila feeling overwhelmed by the crowd? Had something triggered memories of her attack? Was the progress they'd made starting to unravel?
Once they were alone in the quiet space, Harper turned to face the teenager, her professional instincts fully engaged. "Is everything okay?"
Lila's cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with excitement rather than distress. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just—" She took a deep breath, her words tumbling out in a rush. "My crush Tobias asked me to dance, and I said maybe later because I was feeling really shy in the moment."
Relief flooded through Harper, followed immediately by warm affection. This was such a beautifully normal teenage problem—the kind Lila should have been dealing with all along instead of trauma and fear.
"Okay," Harper said, smiling as she settled into mentor mode. "We can handle this."
Lila's shoulders relaxed slightly at Harper's calm response. "I really like him, and I think he likes me too. But I don't want to make things weird, and I definitely don't want Dorian to freak out either."
Harper reached out to squeeze Lila's shoulder, her heart aching with tenderness for this brave girl who was finally ready to reach for normal teenage experiences again.
"Listen to me," Harper said gently. "You don't need to be anything but yourself. Just take things slow during the dance, enjoy the moment, and don't try to overthink it. As for Dorian—I'll handle him. You just focus on having fun with Tobias, okay? Take it one step at a time."
Lila's smile was radiant as she nodded. "Okay. I can try that."
Then, without warning, she threw her arms around Harper in a fierce hug that nearly brought tears to Harper's eyes. The gesture was so spontaneous, so full of trust and affection, that Harper felt something shift inside her chest—a final piece of her heart clicking into place.
This is my family now, she realized, hugging Lila back just as tightly. This is where I belong.
When Lila pulled back, her eyes were bright with tears of her own. "Thank you, Harper. For everything."
Harper had to blink rapidly to keep her own tears from falling and ruining her carefully applied makeup. The depth of love she felt for this girl, for Dorian, for the entire pack, threatened to overwhelm her completely.
"I'll see you out there," Harper managed, her voice thick with emotion.
After Lila left, Harper remained in front of the restroom mirror for a moment, taking in her reflection.
The woman staring back at her looked different from the one who'd arrived in this mountain town just a week ago.
Gone was the guarded, emotionally distant professional who used helping others to avoid dealing with her own needs.
In her place stood a woman who'd found her true place in the world.
I'm home, Harper thought, dabbing carefully at her eyes. I'm finally, completely home.