Epilogue
WYATT—THE NEXT THANKSGIVING
“If you feel awkward, just let me do the talking,” Jade murmured, as we stood in front of the door. “I’ll handle it.”
“I’m fine, Hoover.”
“I know, but if it’s weird when you see them, I—”
I kissed her.
Hard.
It took a few seconds, but she eventually returned the light kiss before pulling away.
“I really am fine.”
She sighed. “Alright, I’ll stop worrying.”
“You probably won’t, but that’s alright.”
She made a face, but didn’t disagree.
I knew her too well for that.
I draped an arm over her shoulders. She leaned closer.
I was still surprised by how comfortable I was with her, sometimes. I’d never expected it would be possible. Even if I’d imagined having a mate, I wouldn’t have pictured it being so… blissful.
It was fucking magic.
There was a sheet of paper taped on the chest-achingly familiar front door in front of us. It said in my mom’s writing:
COME ON IN!
I hadn’t warned my parents that we were coming, so I knew they weren’t expecting us. They’d be doing their usual Thanksgiving thing. That meant dinner with their adult pack, while the younger generations came and went.
My own childhood pack and a few others made up the younger generation. One or two of my old packmates already had kids, which was a real feat considering the shitshow that was werewolf fertility.
That was the main thing Jade’s team was currently researching. I knew more about it than I had ever even considered wanting to know, but I did love listening to her talk about it.
“You’re not going to freeze up if you see them, right?” Jade asked.
“No. Have a little faith in me.”
“If I saw someone who cheated on me, I think my wolf would want to claw their eyes out.”
She wasn’t that far from the truth about how I’d felt, but ultimately, it had happened a long time ago.
I was infinitely happier with Jade than I ever could’ve been with Corrine. My fiery mate had become both my best friend and closest companion.
The sex was really fucking incredible, too.
I finally opened the front door, and we stepped inside. No one was in the building, of course. Everyone was outside. It was a werewolf party, after all.
We made our way through the house and finally out to the backyard.
There were so many people, no one noticed us at first.
“It’s packed,” Jade whispered. “No pun intended.”
“Yeah. Extended family parties usually are.”
“I don’t think werewolves and humans have the same definitions for extended—”
“Wyatt?” My mom’s gasp made my stomach clench.
It had been too fucking long. I should’ve come back sooner.
People were staring at us by then, but I was too busy releasing my mate so I could hug the woman who brought me into the world.
Her grip was fiercely tight, and I felt her tears on my shirt as I squeezed her.
“You’re here,” she said. “And you brought my favorite daughter!” She released me to throw her arms around Jade. Jade’s eyes were wide as she hugged my mom too, looking at me for confirmation.
I gave her a small smile. It was what I could manage. Though she and my mom had met through video calls, my mother’s personality was even stronger than my mate’s.
“It’s nice to know that I’m at the top of the incredibly long list,” Jade finally said, relaxing after a few moments.
I was an only child.
“It was a hard decision to make, but I made the right choice,” my mom said with a grin.
Before she hugged me again.
Dad came over and joined the greeting too.
After a few other hellos and hugs, we loaded up a few plates and took the seats my mom ushered us over to.
I made accidental eye contact with someone across the lawn, and found Corrine and Aidan sitting together. Their hands were connected on top of the table, and he was holding a toddler that looked like both of them on his lap.
As I’d expected, I didn’t feel any hurt, hate, or bitterness. They were just… there.
Corrine mouthed something that looked like, “Congratulations.”
I tipped my head and turned back to the conversation my mom and Jade were having.
Whatever had broken within me with the loss of my first mate bond had healed. Now, I just wanted to enjoy being with my family. Particularly the stunning woman whose shoulders my arm was still draped over.
“I’m so glad you came,” my mom gushed.
“I am too,” I admitted, leaning back and tucking my mate closer to my side.
She was my favorite person on the fucking planet, and I was going to hold on to her with everything I had.