Epilogue - Flora
Flora knew that, if given the chance, Alpha Harold would have been able to make the changes that had brought peace to the people of Silverrose after the battle with the Ironbrand pack.
She grieved that he would never see how well his people had overcome their circumstances, but hoped that he had been able to find his own peace in whatever fate awaited him after death.
The pack had gone through a transition after Harold’s passing, and although a number of people had put forth their names for consideration as the next pack alpha, only one had the overwhelming support required to take on the mantle of leadership.
Alpha Camden Hughes now led the pack, with Flora and Sofia by his side.
Despite Flora’s hesitance at being a luna, she had taken to the new role with grace and strength.
Thanks to Camden’s work at changing the attitudes of the pack, they welcomed her with open arms and hearts, especially when they learned that Sofia was Camden’s daughter as well.
The girl’s inquisitiveness and cheerful innocence had warmed whatever hardness remained among the elders of the pack who were more likely to cling to the old ways.
Camden’s squad, Thompson, Marbles, and Jasper, had all decided to stay longer in Silverrose with their leader.
While their job as special operatives would always be necessary, the immediate need of the pack was for peace and stability within their territorial borders.
With Camden’s blessing, they had taken on a temporary role closer to home.
Flora had been excited to hear about their plans to stick around, and over the past few months had enjoyed getting to know Camden’s friends better.
But now that the pack had stabilized and Camden had the full support of the pack behind him, his squad was planning to head back out on missions with Jasper as their leader.
Today was their going-away party, and Flora was equally sad and excited that they were going to go back to doing what they loved.
“I know you’re going to miss me,” Cillian told her with a grin.
“Careful, Thompson,” Jasper warned. “Don’t let Camden catch you flirting with his wife again. You know how he gets.”
“Oh, he’s harmless,” Cillian teased.
A growl behind him made him jump, and Flora laughed as Camden clamped a hand on his shoulder.
“Hey…hey, buddy,” Cillian said tentatively. “How’s it going?”
“Are you making a pass on my wife again?” Camden’s voice was a deep timbre as he eyed his friend suspiciously.
“N-no,” Cillian stuttered.
“Yes,” the other two chimed in.
As Camden, Flora, and Jasper broke into laughter at Cillian’s sheepish expression, Cillian let out a sigh of relief.
“Did you really think I was upset?” Camden said, smiling at his friend. “You should know better by now. I know I have nothing to fear when it comes to Flora.”
“I’m yours, through and through,” Flora said as she wrapped her arm around his waist. He kissed the top of her head.
“Sorry, boss,” Cillian said. “You know me, I see a beautiful woman, and the words just fly right out of my mouth. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know,” Camden said with a chuckle as he mussed Cillian’s hair in a brotherly fashion.
“Where’s my goddaughter?” Jasper said suddenly. “She promised to go with me into the bouncy castle today.”
Flora nodded to the crafting station that Clementine had set up, where a dozen or so of the pack children were making wolf masks out of paper plates.
Jasper and Cillian scurried over to Sofia, and Cillian scooped her up and plopped her onto Jasper’s shoulders.
She let out a loud exclamation of laughter and grabbed onto his head.
“Uncle Jasper!” she said excitedly.
An added bonus of the squad staying in Silverrose was that Sofia, for the first time in her life, had an extended family.
The men had become her surrogate uncles, and when it became clear that she and Jasper had developed a special friendship and trust between them, they had decided to make him her godfather.
After everything that had happened, they knew there were no guarantees, and Sofia’s protection was more important than anything to both Flora and Camden.
If the worst were to happen, they knew she would be safe with Jasper.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to seeing all you big, burly warriors turn into such softies whenever Sofia wants your attention.
She really does have you all wrapped around her little finger,” Flora said as she watched Jasper put Sofia gingerly back onto the ground.
Sofia grabbed onto her uncles’ hands, and the three of them ran toward the bouncy castle.
“Of course she does,” Camden agreed, pulling Flora tight against his side. “She’s perfect.”
“Yes, she is. She’s going to miss having the squad around all the time. So am I,” Flora admitted.
“Me too. But mostly because we’re going to lose half our babysitters,” Camden said with a laugh. “How am I going to get any time alone with my wife now?”
“They haven’t left yet,” Flora pointed out.
She pointed her chin away from the party, toward the woods behind the park, and grabbed Camden’s hand. His eyes flashed with excitement as he followed her away. The sounds of the music and laughter coming from the park were long gone now, but Flora continued walking.
“Where are you taking me?” Camden asked.
“Our place.”
“Are you sure?”
She hadn’t been back to the bridge since the night that Camden had rejected her.
From the tension in his grip, she knew that he was hesitant to return there, but it was time for them to leave the past behind them.
No matter what had been said under the bridge, it was still their spot. It was time they reclaimed it.
“I’m sure,” she replied.
The sound of the rushing water greeted them before the bridge came into sight. Neither Camden nor Flora made a sound as they walked down the path, curving back toward the stream and finally coming to a halt underneath the wooden beams. It looked exactly the same as Flora remembered.
“I haven’t been here since…” Camden trailed off.
“It seemed like it was time,” Flora said. “We’ve closed that chapter of our lives and made something entirely new together. I want this place to be ours again, a reminder of what we’ve overcome as a team.”
Camden nodded solemnly and reached out to tuck Flora’s hair behind her ear.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said.
Flora tilted her head, pressing her face into Camden’s palm as she closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his touch against her skin. She made a low, contented sound as he caressed her face and looked up into his eyes.
“Camden,” she said. “I want to create a new memory here.”
He kissed her again, more urgently this time.
The hand against her cheek felt warm against her skin, his fingers trailing their heat down to caress her neck.
His other arm wrapped around her waist to press her closer to him.
There was no space between them, and she felt his readiness protruding from his pelvis.
Flora was glad that he was as keen to replace their last memory here with something more enjoyable for both of them.
No longer would this place hold the memories of their brokenness and hurt. Now it would hope for their future.
With deft hands, she removed his jacket and then his shirt. Her hands trailed along his abdomen and chest as they hiked the shirt up over his head. The feeling of his muscles against her palms excited her, and she felt her body respond to the heat of his skin.
“My turn?” Camden asked with a smirk.
Flora lifted her arms up over her head. Slowly, tantalizingly, Camden lifted her shirt up over her head.
With each inch that he raised it his fingers teased the skin on her stomach, breasts, and arms. By the time he was done, Flora was already short of breath, but Camden didn’t give her a break from his advances.
He reached behind her back, unhooking her bra and letting it fall to the ground at their feet.
He lifted his eyebrows in a quick, mischievous rhythm as he looked down, taking in the sight of her bare breasts.
His mouth lifted up on one side in a sly smile.
“I’ll never get used to this,” he said, running his hands across her waist.
Camden leaned down to kiss her once again. It started tender, but within seconds, the tension began to rise between them once more. Flora could taste the salt on his lips and the sweetness of his tongue as they devoured each other hungrily.
They separated reluctantly, removing the rest of their clothes. As Flora finished removing her underwear, she saw that Camden was laying his jacket and shirt on the ground. He saw her eyeing him, and he shrugged.
“If I had known you wanted to come back here, I would have brought our blanket,” he said.
“This will do just fine,” Flora said, laying down on the makeshift bed he had made for them. It may not be as comfortable, but with Camden here—a Camden who loved and cherished her—she couldn’t think of anywhere else she would rather be.
He hovered over her, kissing her neck gently. Flora’s hands searched his back and torso, feeling the rippling muscles beneath the skin. No matter how much they were together, she still couldn’t believe this perfect specimen was her mate.
“Camden,” she whispered as his lips moved over her collarbone. “I love you.”
He placed his hand between her thighs, teasing her opening with his fingers as she gasped in excitement. “I love you, too,” he whispered back.
His fingers rubbed against her clit, stimulating her slowly at first. With each sound and movement she made, Camden responded. His attentions were deliberate, fine-tuned after months of intimacy and enjoyment.
Flora felt his hardened erection against her thigh as Camden’s fingers became more insistent, pushing her closer and closer to orgasm.
Her hips wriggled, trying to line herself up with Camden’s cock.
His fingers were hitting all the right spots except for one.
She wanted to feel him fill her up. Nothing would satisfy her until she felt their bodies fully joined.
“I want you inside me,” she gasped.
“Are you sure?” he teased.
Her eyebrows creased as need overtook her. She could hardly breathe, hardly speak, her desire was so great.
“Please,” she begged. “Make love to me, Camden.”
Camden obliged, deftly replacing his fingers with his cock.
Steadily, he pressed into her, filling her up with his member as she moaned his name.
Her eyes closed in rapture as she felt him move inside her.
Her muscles contracted, tightening around him and eliciting an echoing moan from his own lips.
“Damnit, Flora,” he groaned with his voice full of wonder. “What are you doing to me?”
His hands tangled in her hair as their bodies moved together.
Her senses were in overdrive now, and she felt as if she had left her body and become a part of the nature surrounding them.
A slight breeze blew across their naked bodies, raising the hair on her arms and sending a shiver of delight through her.
Somewhere in the trees above them, Flora heard a bird calling to its mate, and she smiled.
They didn’t have to sneak out in the middle of the night just for a stolen moment away from the pack’s prying eyes, like they had when they were younger.
This spot wasn’t a hiding place anymore; it was a refuge. Camden was her refuge.
She looked into his eyes as he thrust into her, and she felt the heat of her passion pooling in her abdomen.
His clear blue eyes looked back at her, pulling her into their brightness.
With a gasp, her back arched as her desire culminated in an orgasm so intense that Flora was surprised it didn’t shake the earth beneath her.
Camden followed suit, spilling his seed inside her with a grunt of satisfaction at his release.
Flora stretched her legs, feeling the aftereffects of their lovemaking send waves of relaxation throughout her limbs.
As she looked into Camden’s eyes, Flora felt as if she was floating.
For a long moment, they remained like that, staring at each other in wonder.
When they were finished, he knelt between her legs, rubbing his hands along her thighs teasingly as he relished the sight of her naked body.
“How is it that each time we’re together, it feels even better than the time before?” he asked, grinning.
“Because you’re perfect for me, Camden,” Flora said.
“And you’re perfect,” Camden replied, helping her sit up. He took her face between the palms of his hands and kissed her face gently. “My perfect mate.”
“I don’t know about perfect,” Flora said with a laugh. “But I promise that I’ll always be by your side, no matter what.”
“And I, by yours,” Camden agreed.
Flora knew, without a doubt, that she had found her home. With a smile, she pulled Camden to her feet and tossed his shirt back to him.
“We have to go back already?” he asked.
“They’ll notice we’re gone pretty soon,” Flora pointed out. She frowned, seeing the dirt and grass stains on the back of Camden’s shirt from where it had been pressed beneath her, and pointed it out to Camden. “Hopefully, they don’t ask too many questions about where we were.”
“Let them ask. I’d be proud to announce I was making love to my smoking-hot wife in the middle of the forest,” Camden said with a smile.
Flora sighed in relief. His words were exactly what she needed to hear to erase what had happened the last time.
“Come on,” Camden said. “Let’s go home.”
*****
THE END