Epilogue #2
“It’s like I had it planned.” Aurora smiled up at me before lifting her pant leg to reveal black and deep red cowboy boots. “Old shirt. New boots.”
Cupping her face, I kissed her, swirling my thumbs over her cheeks.
With the shifters closest to me and Chelsea, Dion, Ash and Sable, we two-stepped around each other.
I couldn’t say the others knew how to do it all that well, but that’s never what the two-step was about.
At one point, I couldn’t help myself and showed off, spinning in circles, digging my heels in, and swiping my fingers over the brim of my hat.
Aurora clapped, the brightened smile on her face positively electrifying. Mostly because I’d put it there.
The song concluded, and as we returned toward the bar, Kaida burst through the doors. She held both hands in the air, taking deep, quick breaths. “I’m here. I’m here.”
Aurora squeezed my hands before trotting to greet her.
Kaida pulled Rory in for a hug, patting her back. “I wouldn’t miss it, vamp.”
Once Kaida joined the rest of us, Phelan smirked at her. “Way to be late, loser.”
Kaida snatched one of Phelan’s nipples through his shirt, making him yelp. “What did you say?”
“Fashionably,” Phelan squealed. “Fashionably late.”
Aurora held her hand out to me. “Need you for something real quick.”
I cleared my throat, signaling for Phelan and Kaida to stop, then pushed away from the bar and took Aurora’s hand. She led me to the table with the satyrs. My eyes panned from left to right quizzically.
“Rory, sugar, what are you up to?” I whispered.
Ignoring me, Aurora held up our joined hands. “Gentleman, this is the Alpha pack leader, Harkin.”
The satyrs nodded, one standing on the bench seat with his hands shoved in the pockets of his leather vest. “Nice to meet ya. I’m Clive.”
I tipped my hat. “Likewise,” I responded, trying not to let it come out as a question.
“The satyrs here have a motorcycle club. I told them most of the wolf shifters also ride motorcycles and it struck a kindred spirit conversation,” Aurora continued, bouncing on her heels.
“Uh huh,” I answered, still no clue where this was going.
“They’re willing to start a contract with our pack to run deliveries in exchange for rotating protection from predators. Apparently, they’ve been having problems lately at their clubhouse.”
The satyrs nodded emphatically.
“Deliveries of what, exactly?” I asked.
Aurora beamed at me. “Meat.”
Clive stepped closer. “We and a lot of other residents of the Cove aren’t exactly the best hunters. A lot are willing to pay for fresh meat to stock their fridges.”
I’ll be damned. Aurora solved a pack problem.
Nodding, I tightened my grip on Aurora’s hand. “Yeah. Alright. I think we can work something out. Clive, mind stoppin’ by my office tomorrow so we can work out the details?”
The satyrs bounced excitedly in their seats.
Clive plucked his vest. “Absolutely.”
“Thanks boys,” Aurora said.
I pulled my mate to my side and kissed the side of her head. “You’re amazing, sweetheart. And all the more reason why I have an announcement.” I raised my voice at the last part to alert everyone in the bar.
Aurora’s chocolate eyes lit up. She exchanged glances with first Chelsea, then Kaida, and finally shrugged at Ash.
“I realize a lot y’all may not be familiar with shifter pack rituals or rankings, but I figured a ceremony centering around us becoming mates, Aurora, was the perfect time.” I stood in the center of the space, extending my hands for her to take.
Aurora gulped before hesitantly moving from our crowd of friends. Her palms slid against mine. Our shoulders relaxed from the skin-to-skin contact. “Yes?”
“Rory, you’ve proven not only your loyalty to this pack, but shown you’re an asset. That’s why as alpha, I’m namin’ you—” Smiling, I rubbed my thumbs over her knuckles. “Omega.”
Kaida gasped and shook Phel’s shoulders. “Did you hear that?”
“Holy shit,” Garrick mumbled.
Aurora’s lips parted, but she said nothing at first. “Are you sure, Harkin?”
I couldn’t help but laugh because that was the last thing I expected to hear. “Of course, I’m sure, sweetheart. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Aurora looked to the trio of wolf shifters in our pack before turning back to me. “I’m not even a wolf,” she whispered.
Dipping my chin to her ear, I whispered back, “Doesn’t matter.” I squeezed her hands. “You’ve brought harmony to our pack, Aurora. Joy. Vibrance. Everything an omega should be. And—” Pulling her toward me, I planted a quick kiss on her lips. “—you’re the alpha’s mate.”
“Fuck yeah, you are,” Kaida hollered, clapping her hands but stopping when no one else followed.
“Then I accept, Alpha.” Aurora smiled with her fangs bared. She leapt to wrap her arms around my neck.
I caught her by the ass and nuzzled my nose against her cheek. “You’re perfect just the way you are, Rory.”
She combed her fingers through my beard. “You have a few things we could work on.” Aurora stuck her tongue out between her fangs.
Dion provided ample Ambrosia wine, and the rest of the night included more two-stepping and conversation. There was even a bit of roughhousing that Aurora encouraged between Garrick and Phelan, Kaida eventually getting in on it as well.
Erebus never showed up, which was just as good considering he didn’t like me or Dion. It gutted me to see Aurora disappointed by it, though.
When the party dwindled to a close, I patted Aurora’s thigh. “I need to hit the head. Be right back.”
“Don’t take too long,” she mused.
Chuckling at her, I headed for the back to use the restroom. After doing my business, I rinsed my hands and looked at myself in the mirror.
“What a lucky son of a bitch you are, Harkin.” I smirked at my reflection, adjusted my hat, and pointed at myself. “Never forget it.”
When I exited, Aurora smiled at me in the hallway, her boot propped on the wall. My heart damn near tore from my chest. I sauntered toward her, pushing a hand against the wall near her head and hooking a thumb in my belt loop.
“You’re surprising, wolf,” she said, slipping my hat from my head and plopping it onto hers.
I didn’t take the hat back this time around.
“And you look good in red, vamp.”
Aurora pushed from the wall, her fingers finding the top part of my jeans and playing against my stomach. She bit her fangs into her lower lip before changing the entire game. “Your place, or mine?”
My cock hardened underneath my jeans, my pulse thrumming, imagining those fangs sinking into my neck again. “Yours. Definitely yours. It’s closer.”
I instantly hoisted her over my shoulder, firefighter style with her butt to the ceiling. Aurora squealed but cackled, smacking her hands on my ass. I carried her into the bar, our friends laughing at our escapades.
“I’ll lock up, boss,” Ash said, waving Aurora off.
Kaida and Chelsea made catcalls.
I didn’t stop moving until I was in the parking lot out front. Only then did I lower her to the ground.
“I’m so going to get you back for that,” Aurora teased, plucking the button undone on my jeans.
“I can’t wait.” I fused my mouth with hers.
We shuffled to my bike, impatiently making our way to Aurora’s house where we fucked on her living room floor, both aroused over what that night could have been.
The universe always had its reasons for pairings, for the timing.
All I needed to know was that the saucy vampire who had lived in my dreams every night for over twenty years was now mine to cherish, to taunt, to forge through our feral lives together for as long as the stars saw fit.
STAY TUNED FOR BOOK 4 IN
THE MYTHICAL MATES OF ARCANE COVE!