Page 28 of Riding with the Rejected Wolf

She nods, stretching up to plant a quick kiss on my lips before turning back to the stove. "Dinner's almost ready. Why don't you go get cleaned up?"

As I head to the bathroom, I catch sight of our reflection in the hallway mirror. Me, the rough-around-the-edges biker with more tattoos than I can count, and Mika, the woman who's brought light back into my life. We're an odd pair, but somehow, we fit.

Under the spray of the shower, I let my mind wander over the past year. It hasn't all been smooth sailing. Mika still has nightmares sometimes, jolting awake in the middle of the night, her heart racing. But now, instead of running, she turns to me, letting me hold her until the fear subsides.

And me? I'm learning too. Learning to open up, to let someone in after years of keeping everyone at arm's length. It's not easy, but with Mika, it feels right and that old sting of rejection is now a thing of the past.

As I dry off and change, I hear Mika call out that dinner's ready. I head back to the kitchen, pausing in the doorway to take in the sight before me. Mika's setting the table, humming softly to herself. The room is filled with the aroma of home-cooked food and the warmth of belonging.

This is my life now. A life I never thought I'd have, with a woman I never thought I'd find. It's not perfect—we still have our challenges, our fears to overcome. But it's ours.

You just gonna stand there and stare? Mika asks through our bond, breaking me out of my reverie.

I grin, moving to take my seat at the table. "Just admiring the view."

She rolls her eyes, but I can see the blush creeping up her cheeks. "Smooth talker," she mutters.

As we sit down to eat, I reach across the table and take her hand in mine. She looks up, eyes shining, and I'm struck once again by how lucky I am.

"I love you," I say, the words coming easily now after a year of practice.

She squeezes my hand, her smile soft and genuine. "I love you too, you big furball."

And just like that, I know. Whatever challenges we face, whatever threats come our way, we'll handle them. Together. Because that's what mates do. And Mika? She's the best damn mate a wolf could ask for.

EPILOGUE 2: MIKA

The Pack Life

five years later…

The sound of little feet pattering down the hallway pulls me from my slumber. I smile, knowing what's coming next. Our bedroom door creaks open, and a small figure launches itself onto our bed.

"Mommy! Daddy! Wake up!" our three-year-old daughter, Aurora, squeals as she bounces between Silas and me.

I open one eye to see Silas pretending to snore loudly, which only makes Aurora giggle more. She starts poking his cheek, determined to wake her father up.

"Daddy! You promised we'd go to the lake today!"

Silas suddenly springs to life, grabbing Aurora and tickling her mercilessly. Her shrieks of laughter fill the room, and I can't help but join in.

Five years ago, I never would have imagined this life for myself. A loving husband, a beautiful daughter, and a sense of belonging I'd never known before. The Devil's Pack has become my family, and this little house on the outskirts of town has become my home.

"All right, all right," Silas says, sitting up with Aurora in his arms. "We'll go to the lake. But first, breakfast!"

As Silas carries Aurora to the kitchen, I take a moment to stretch and gather myself. My hand unconsciously goes to my stomach, where the slight swell of our second child is just beginning to show. We haven't told Aurora yet, but I have a feeling she'll be thrilled to be a big sister.

I join my family in the kitchen, where Silas is already whipping up pancakes while Aurora ‘helps’ by making a mess with the flour. The domesticity of it all still amazes me sometimes.

"Need a hand?" I ask, dropping a kiss on Aurora's flour-covered head.

"Nah, we've got this under control," Silas says with a wink. "Right, pup?"

Aurora nods enthusiastically, her blonde curls bouncing. She's the perfect mix of Silas and me—his blue eyes, my blonde hair, and a wild spirit that's all her own. We have no idea whether she’ll grow up to be shifter or human but either way, she's already got the heart of a warrior and a laugh that could melt glaciers.

As we sit down to eat, I can't help but reflect on how far we've come. The first year after Silas and I got together was a whirlwind of adjusting to pack life and learning to trust again. But with each passing year, the shadows of my past have faded, replaced by the warmth of this life we've built together.

Of course, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. There have been threats to the pack, moments of danger that reminded me of the life I left behind. But unlike before, I'm not facing these challenges alone. I've got Silas, the pack, and now Aurora to stand strong for. And soon, we'll have another little one to love and protect.

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