“You can’t stop me,” he said. The corner of his lip curled up in that way that made me gooey in the knees, and he shook his head. “I’ve always wanted freedom, that’s true. But there’s something I’ve always wanted more. You. I would give anything for even the slightest chance at us.”
I opened my mouth, but really, there was nothing to say. He was giving up the thing he wanted most in this world. For me.
“I love you.” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, certainly not in front of my father and a room full of alphas, but there it was. I loved Slade McAlister.
“I love you, too.” His lip quirked, and he grabbed me around the waist, lifting me high then setting me down close. In my ear, he whispered, “I intend on spending the rest of my life proving that I’m worth that love.”
Epilogue
Slade
One year later…
The crowd gathered in front of me was much bigger than last time I’d stood here. The atmosphere was different, too. Lighter and less stuffy. In the front row, Risa sat beside Kensey’s brother, Aden. They’d gotten close over the last few months.
There were other familiar faces in the crowd as well. Wolves I’d grown friendly with. Wolves I’d considered my family. My pack.
Sam Deaton cleared his throat. Kensey stood to the right of him, I on the left. He took her hand then grasped mine. “We gather today to announce the claiming of Makensey Rebekah Deaton and Gavin Slade McAlister—again.”
Around the room, wolves let out a chorus of hoots and cheers.
Sam smiled. He joined my hand with Kensey’s. “I’m going to forego my typical speech because these two are anything but typical. Not long ago, I stood before you and made my contempt at this union very clear. Slade was in no way a suitable match for my daughter. He was uncontrolled, unruly, violent, and, well, let’s be honest. A mess.”
More laughter from the crowd.
“In the last year, the change in him has been astounding. He has grown to be the Deaton pack’s most esteemed—and fairest—enforcer. I am proud that I will have the privilege of calling him my son.”
The ceremony continued with Sam talking about the future and how Kensey and I would make him proud. By the time it was all over and everyone moved from the living room to the backyard, I was jittery. You’d think the claiming ceremony would have been the most nerve-wracking part of the night, but it wasn’t. There was something else I had to do.
“One sec.” I caught Kensey’s arm as she started for the backyard. “We need to make a stop first.”
Her brows furrowed. “Stop?”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I led her out the front door and around the house to the treehouse. I helped her up the ladder and through the sill, then told her to sit.
I breathed in deep and stuffed my hands into my pockets. “I need to talk to you.”
“You need to talk to me,” she repeated. I didn’t miss the not-so-subtle hint of panic in her tone.
“Yeah.”
She straightened and started to stand. “What did you do?”
I stopped her. Jeez. You’d think I was a troublemaker or something. “Nothing. I said I wanted to talk—not confess.”
She played with the hem of her dress. A knee-length red satin thing with a fitted bodice and floofy skirt. It was a far stretch from the worn jeans and a T-shirt that said, If I was a Jedi, there’s a 100% chance I’d use the force inappropriately, she’d been wearing a few hours ago.
“Okay…”
“Actually, it’s more I wanted to give you something.”
“You got me a present?” Her face brightened. “Is it a puppy? Or a pony? Oh! A car. You got me a car.”
I didn’t ask her where the hell she’d think I got the money for any of that. Sam paid me a small allowance as one of his enforcers, but it was more to groom me than pay me. I fumbled for the thing in my right front pocket and pulled it out.
Without opening my palm, I held it out between us.
She cocked her head to the side and stared for a moment. “I don’t—am I supposed to fist-bump you?”
I flipped my hand to that it was wrist-side up, then uncurled my fingers.
We both stared down at the small silver thing in my palm. The heart shaped stone at its peak, a small red diamond, flanked by two chips on each side, was delicate, yet at the same time, radiated strength. Just like the girl I was giving it to.
“I know engagement rings are a human tradition. Wolves don’t normally exchange jewelry to mark occasions.” I could tell her it was because today was her eighteenth birthday or that it was just a random present, but it wasn’t. It represented so much more than that.
She carefully took the ring from my hand, like she might break it.
“You’ve always insisted I was human. More human than the rest of them. I’ve always told you you were wrong. That I was more monster than anything else. You were right. I am part human, but I’m that way because of you.”
I took the ring from her and got down on one knee. “Obviously we won’t be doing this for a few years. There’s college and pack obligations and all that shit, but I wanted to ask you, like, officially ask—”
She threw herself forward and latched on to my neck. “Yes!”
“I haven’t asked anything yet.”
She disengaged and settled back on the floor, hands folded in her lap. To the unknowing onlooker, she appeared to be the picture of civility and grace.
“Kensey Rebekah Deaton, will you marry me?”
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Acknowledgments
I’ve always wanted to write a shifter book. Werewolves were my first paranormal love. A huge thank you to Liz Pelletier for believing in me and making it possible. These characters were a blast and it was a pleasure to spend time in their world.
To everyone at Entangled Publishing, especially Robin Haseltine, Melissa Montovani, Stacy Abrams, Jessica Meigs, Stephen Morgan, Crystal Havens, and anyone else who helped bring this book into the world, thank you. None of this would happen without you guys! Also a huge thank you to Kelly Martin for the perfect Slade and Kensey!
Thank you to my agent, Nicole Resciniti. For believing in me, for being the voice of sanity when I’m feeling unsure. I’m honored to have met you and very lucky to have you in my corner.
Unending love and an eternity of coffee (and yes, Mia—chocolate) to Kelly Bonns, Mia Thomas, and Keisha Patten for being my first eyes on this one. Your thoughts and suggestions made all the difference in the world and I love you guys.
Finally, a special thank you to my husband who continues to astound me with his love and faith (and ability to see past all my quirks, flaws, and weird habits), and to my mom… The strongest, most badass woman I know.
About the Author
Jus Accardo spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.
Also by Jus Accardo…
Touch
Untouched
Toxic
Faceless
Tremble
Darker Days
A Darker Past
Ruined
Rules of Survival
Embraced
Released
Infinity
Omega
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