Epilogue #2
He seemed to sigh in relief and put his folded clothing down on the deck. “All right then. I’ll see you in a bit, love.” He gave her a quick kiss, then flowed down the steps to the grass, shifting as he went.
Claudia watched, mesmerized, as his body changed. Bones restructured, muscles reformed, white fur erupted across his skin. The transformation was fluid and graceful, taking only seconds, and when it was complete, a massive white lion stood where her mate had been.
Claudia’s breath caught in her throat.
Sam was enormous, easily twice the size of any lion she’d seen in zoos or nature documentaries. His fur was pure white, gleaming almost silver in the moonlight, and his eyes glowed with an inner light. He was powerful and majestic and utterly, breathtakingly beautiful.
Jabari trotted over to stand beside Sam in his lion form. He was nearly as large as Sam, his tawny coat darker in the moonlight, his mane full and impressive. The contrast between them—white and gold—was striking.
Zara joined them a moment later, a sleek lioness who was a bit smaller than the males but no less impressive. Her coat was a rich golden-brown, and her eyes held the same warm intelligence they’d had in human form.
The three lions moved out into the yard together, and Claudia watched as they formed a loose group with the other lions who’d joined them.
Sam was at the center, his sparkling white fur flanked by his golden relatives, all of them illuminated by the full moon.
For a moment, they simply stood there, apex predators acknowledging each other as family.
Then Sam turned his massive head toward Claudia. Even in lion form, she could read the question in his eyes, “Are you okay?”
She smiled and nodded, mouthing the words, “I love you.”
The white lion’s eyes seemed to glow brighter, and if lions could smile, Claudia thought he would have. Then he turned and began to run, his companions following, and they disappeared into the woods in a flash of white and gold fur.
Claudia sat down and settled in to wait, her heart so full of love and wonder she thought it might burst. That was her mate.
The magnificent, powerful, impossibly beautiful creature who also happened to be a sometimes-reluctant billionaire, a devoted Alpha, and the man who’d claimed her heart completely.
She could still see flashes of white through the trees in the distance, Sam’s fur catching the moonlight as he ran with Jabari, Zara, and the others.
They were hunting, playing, being what they were meant to be without the constraints of human form.
Claudia was honored to witness it, to be trusted enough to see this side of Sam that he usually kept so carefully hidden.
She wasn’t sure how much time passed before the three lions emerged from the tree line.
They moved with the satisfied ease of predators who’d run off their excess energy, their pace leisurely as they approached her position.
Sam shifted first, the white lion shimmering and reforming into her mate’s human shape.
He’d left his clothes nearby, and he pulled them on quickly before coming to her.
“What did you think?” he asked, sitting beside her on the rock. There was uncertainty in his voice, a vulnerability she rarely heard from him.
“I think,” Claudia said, taking his hand, “that you’re the most magnificent creature I’ve ever seen. You know I think your lion is beautiful, Sam. Powerful and graceful and absolutely stunning.”
He pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. Jabari and Zara had shifted as well and were approaching, now dressed in the clothes they’d stashed earlier.
“That was a good run,” Jabari said, his voice satisfied. “It’s been too long since I’ve hunted with you, Sam.”
“We should do this more often,” Sam said. “When you’re in town, or when I’m in Africa.”
“We’d like that,” Zara said warmly. She turned to Claudia. “Thank you for letting us steal your mate for a while. I know watching from the sidelines isn’t as exciting as participating.”
“It was perfect,” Claudia assured her. “Getting to see all of you in your lion forms, seeing Sam so free and happy, is wonderful. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
They walked back into the house together, the conversation easy and warm. Later, before Jabari and Zara departed for the Clan house in which they were staying while in Houston, Zara pulled Claudia aside.
“You’re going to be a wonderful queen. Not because of tradition, but because you genuinely care about Sam, about our people, and about doing what’s right. That’s all we could ever ask for.”
“Thank you,” Claudia said, hugging the other woman. “And thank you for making Sam realize that he’s earned his position, not just been given it because of his fur. He needed to hear that.”
“We should have told him sooner,” Zara admitted. “But sometimes, men need to figure these things out for themselves. Or have a strong woman point it out to them.”
After their guests left, Sam and Claudia tidied up a bit then headed upstairs. When they got to their bedroom, Claudia found herself pulled into Sam’s arms.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
“For what?”
“For letting me run free. For loving all of me, even the parts that aren’t human. For being willing to be my queen, even though it’s a role you never asked for.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Thank you for choosing me.”
“Sam.” Claudia pressed her hands over his.
“You’re acting like I did you some kind of favor.
But you chose me too. Out of all the women in the world, all the lionesses who would have been thrilled to be your mate, you chose a mage with no shifter blood who lived in a guest house and made magical jewelry for a living. ”
“I chose the woman who makes my heart sing,” Sam corrected. “Who challenges me and supports me and makes me want to be better. I chose my perfect match, my fated mate, the other half of my soul.”
Tears pricked Claudia’s eyes. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” He kissed her softly, then deeper, and soon they were shedding clothes and tumbling into bed, coming together with the passion and magic that always seemed to ignite between them.
Later, as they lay tangled together in the moonlight streaming through their windows, Claudia felt nothing but contentment and joy.
Her life had changed so dramatically in such a short time.
She’d gone from solitary mage to Alpha’s mate, from guest house resident to lady of the manor, and from independent consultant to queen of all lions.
Every change had brought her closer to this moment, this life, and this man who held her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
“What are you thinking about?” Sam asked, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her skin.
“That I’m the luckiest woman alive,” Claudia said honestly. “I found my mate, my home, and my purpose. I get to use my magic to help people, and to fight against real evil. And I get to do it all with you by my side.”
“We’re both blessed,” Sam said. “I spent years thinking I’d never find a mate, that I’d always be alone, despite being surrounded by the Clan. Then Granny Tucker sent you to help with some wards, and my whole world changed.”
“Granny always did know what she was doing,” Claudia said with a smile.
“Remind me to send her a very expensive gift,” Sam murmured, already sounding drowsy.
Claudia smiled and pressed a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. Through their bond, she could feel his contentment matching hers, their magic humming in perfect harmony.
Outside, the full moon continued its path across the sky, illuminating the world in silver light.
Somewhere in Africa, lion shifters were celebrating that their king had found his queen.
Somewhere in Germany, Seth was investigating Kettering’s legacy and making sure no new threats emerged.
And somewhere across the globe, the fight against the Venifucus continued.
But here, in this bed, in this moment, there was only peace and love and the unshakable certainty that they’d found what everyone spends their whole life searching for—a true partner, a perfect match, a love that would last forever.
Claudia closed her eyes and let sleep claim her, safe in her mate’s arms, her heart full of gratitude for the twist of fate that had brought her to Houston, to the Kinkaid Clan, and especially to Sam.
Her king. Her mate. Her love. Her everything.