His lips find my mating mark, and arousal spikes in me in response. Through our bond, I feel his pride and love wash over me. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“I know.” The confidence in my voice makes him chuckle. “Now come on—we’ve got a sanctuary to build.”
Together, we shift and race back toward Pack Jade territory, leaving the sacred ground to its quiet rest. Behind us, ancient magic whispers approval. Ahead, new foundations rise from broken earth.
This is what I was saved for, after all. Not just to survive, but to thrive. To build bridges between past and future, between center and outskirts, between different kinds of strength and different types of warriors.
Let the fae come again if they dare. We’ll be ready—stronger together than ever before.
Chapter 49
Kieran
The scent of celebration fills the air as I survey the gathering from the newly finished deck of Aurora’s sanctuary. Pack bonds hum with energy as shifters from different territories mingle freely, their traditional divisions forgotten in the joy of the moment. Music and laughter drift up from the courtyard where the inter-pack festival is in full swing.
Through our mate bond, I feel Aurora’s satisfaction as she moves through the crowd below. She’s in her element here—greeting outcasts and alphas alike with the same warm welcome, making everyone feel like they belong. The easy confidence she carries now is a far cry from the uncertain girl I once foolishly rejected.
“Quite a turnout.” Dana appears beside me, her usual smirk softened by pride as she watches her best friend work the crowd. “Although I notice some of the more traditional alphas sent representatives instead of coming themselves.”
“Their loss.” I hide my own smile as Aurora demonstrates a combat move to a group of young shifters, her movements fluid and precise. “They’re missing quite a show.”
Below, various fighting styles are being demonstrated in the training area. Traditional shifter techniques blend seamlesslywith human martial arts, creating something entirely new. I spot Fortuna—one of the first outcasts Aurora welcomed—teaching engine repair to a mixed group of fascinated onlookers.
“Your father would hate everything about this,” Dana observes, although her tone holds no malice. “All these different packs mixing freely, outcasts teaching skills, traditions being reformed, outsiders welcomed without even having to prove their strength…”
“He would.” The thought brings no pain anymore, just quiet certainty that I’ve become a different man than him, a man I think my mother would be proud of. “Which only proves we’re doing something right.”
Movement in the crowd draws my attention as Pack Quartz warriors arrive. They’re led by Jacen, now their alpha in his own right since his father never returned, who makes his way straight to where Aurora is teaching. Through our bond, I feel her pleased surprise as he formally requests permission to send some of his younger pack members to train here.
“We need to adapt,” I hear him say clearly. “The old ways of isolation nearly destroyed us all.”
Pride swells in my chest as Aurora handles the negotiation with grace and authority. She’s come so far from the outcast who couldn’t shift—now she’s teaching other alphas about strength and unity. My wolf rumbles with satisfaction, completely at peace with his mate’s power.
A commotion near the bar catches my attention. Two younger wolves—one from Pack Jade’s center, one from the outskirts—square off with hackles raised. Before I can intervene, Aurora is there, her presence commanding respect.
“Take it to the training ring,” she tells them firmly. “Channel that energy into learning from each other instead of fighting. And don’t let me catch you trying to start shit with each other again.”
Through our bond, I feel her quiet satisfaction as they comply without argument. The two wolves who might once have torn each other apart are soon engaged in showing each other different fighting techniques, their earlier aggression bleeding off into a sparring match.
“She’s good at this,” Dana comments unnecessarily. “Better than you sometimes. Most of the time. Hell, all the time.”
“She is.” The admission comes easily now. I have pride for my mate, instead of feeling like I have to compete with her to prove I’m not weak. “That’s why we work so well together. Different kinds of strength, remember?”
Making my way down to the courtyard, I catch snippets of conversation that would have been unthinkable a year ago. Pack Sapphire’s warriors discuss combat techniques with former outcasts. Pack Amethyst’s hunters trade tracking tips with loners who’ve learned to survive on the fringes. Waylon, now alpha of Pack Amethyst, is discussing the disappearance of Pack Ruby with the alpha from Pack Opal. Everywhere I look, old barriers are crumbling.
The scent of my mate draws me toward the garage section of the sanctuary. I find her bent over a motorcycle engine, explaining its workings to a captivated audience. The sight of her like this—confident, capable, covered in grease—makes heat pool between my legs and my arousal harden.
Through our bond, she feels my appreciation and shoots me a knowing look. “You need something, alpha?”
The title rolls off her tongue like a caress, conjuring memories of that tongue caressingotherthings. Before I can respond, one of the younger pack members calls for her attention, and she’s drawn back into teaching mode. But the heat in her eyes promises we’ll finish this conversation later.
The festival continues as afternoon fades to evening. Lanterns are lit around the courtyard, casting warm light overthe gathering. Someone starts playing music—traditional pack songs mixed with newer rhythms. The sound draws couples to dance, their movements uninhibited by celebration and a good deal of liquor.
I find Aurora again near the bar, watching the dancers with soft eyes. Through our bond, I feel her contentment mixed with something deeper—a yearning for more that matches my own growing desire for our future.
“Dance with me?” I offer my hand, pulling her close when she accepts.
We move together easily, our bond humming with shared pleasure. Her body fits perfectly against mine, just as it always has. The scent of her—lilac and honey mixed with motor oil and triumph—makes my wolf rumble with satisfaction.
