Chapter 34
CLEMENTINE
A MONTH LATER
The evening of my mating, there’s a thunderstorm.
In the week leading up to this day, I knew Griffith had been checking the forecast with trepidation. I told him not to worry, but he did anyway.
He didn’t realize I wanted there to be a storm.
The sky stayed clear all day. Then, fifteen minutes before I was supposed to walk from The Folk Haven Public Mythic Library to the dock, meeting Griffith in front of our friends, family, and his pack, the heavens opened up.
But being a fully healed mermaid comes with benefits. As I stroll down the grassy path toward the man I love, with my loyal dog at my side, I use my magic to direct the rain to fall around—rather than on—us.
That is, until I reach his side. Then I let the water past my barrier, and it soaks me thoroughly.
Good thing my makeup is waterproof.
Griffith blinks down at me, his eyelashes spiky from the deluge. He’s never looked more handsome.
Griffith’s alpha, Baron, guides the mating ceremony, directing us to say words of love before we exchange a bite.
I shiver as Griffith goes first, pressing his teeth into the top of my shoulder until there’s a prick of pain, followed by euphoria.
He licks the wound, then draws my face toward his neck.
When I place my fangs against my wolf’s skin, I can feel the quick, heavy beat of his heart.
I press my hand flat against his chest, wanting to memorize the tempo as I take my first true taste of him.
And as if forgetting our audience, Griffith lets out an indecent groan when I bite down and take a sip.
“Don’t make me come in front of this crowd,” he whispers.
Carl, who’s standing behind me, lets out a strangled cough that has me fighting a chuckle.
I straighten, Griffith’s blood a stain of devotion on my lips. As we stand, staring into each other’s eyes, the sky lights up with a crackling bolt. I gasp, and Griffith pulls me closer. But my surprise simply turns into a delighted laugh.
The gathering cheers our commitment to one another. If we were both wolves, we’d probably shift now and sprint through the woods together.
But Griffith mated a mermaid, so he doesn’t try to break free when I grab his hand and sprint down the dock. Together, we run toward the expansive stretch of water, glittering with the falling droplets. Then, with whoops of happiness, we jump into the lake, hand in hand.
The water engulfing me is refreshing in a way that will never get old.
Below the surface, Griffith drags me to him and presses a hard kiss against my lips, bubbles our only witnesses.
Eventually, we return to the surface in time to watch half our mating guests stripping down before jumping into the lake themselves.
Joy fills the air.
I know not every day will be like this. There’s still a hunter being held by a monster no one seems to fully trust. Griffith is taking all the measures he can to fulfill the blood vow he made to Luke, which means, soon, we’ll have to deal with an unknown mythic who has a hunter after her.
But I set aside those worries for another day, allowing myself to be pulled into my mate’s embrace and kissed passionately until I’m sure the lake will start boiling.
“I’m the luckiest wolf,” he murmurs against my mouth.
And I thank the gods for bringing me home.