Page 90 of Forever Mine

Maddie finally broke our kiss, blushing and laughing along with our friends and family.

“We did it!” I announced, picking up my kid with my left arm, and wrapping my right around my bride as the band played more music and we headed back down the aisle with our wedding party in tow.

I headed into the house and kissed my bride again, as Oscar hugged us both together, before thanking the others, especially Lily, for making it such a wonderful day. I truly meant it, too.

The reception passed by in a blur of dances, hugs, and well wishes. I even took it well when Maddie smashed cake into my face at Lily's insistence. I never understood that tradition, and still didn't after experiencing it.

Life wasn't perfect. The Verndari were still out there. Jacob had been concerned enough that he and Annie had decided against coming to the wedding, for Maddie's safety. There was still evil in the world, but looking at Oscar it was hard to reconcile the nightmare Madelyn had faced with the amazing outcome of my son.Mine, I thought. From that day forward he would always be my son.

We said good night to each of our guests and looked around at the massive cleanup job we had before us.

“No,” Lily said, doing that weird, awkward twin thing she sometimes did that felt like she was reading my mind. “We'll be over in the morning and all of this will be taken care of and cleaned up before you get back.”

“Get back? From where?” Maddie asked.

“No clue,” Lily said. “Liam insisted on handling that part all himself. Won't tell anyone a thing. Not even a teeny, tiny little clue.”

“Go home, Lily,” I said, hugging her tightly and picking her up and twirling her around as she giggled. “And thank you. Really. It was perfect.”

She had tears in her eyes and for once was speechless as she left after hugging Maddie goodbye, too.

“So?” Maddie said awkwardly. “What's the plan?”

I scooped her up in my arms and carried her down the hall and up the stairs. “Well, Lily's going to inevitably put a major kink in them,” I said, kicking our bedroom door open and hearing her gasp at the sight of the bed she had all but begged for and I had told her was too big for the room. “I hadn't really planned on going anywhere.”

She looked back at me, smiling. “It's perfect. I really was dreading the idea of a car ride somewhere tonight. I'm exhausted.”

“I hope not too exhausted,” I growled, nipping her earlobe.

I carefully undressed her like the precious gift she was, and laid her on our bed. Making quick work of the penguin suit, I quickly joined her. I wanted to give her a sweet, beautiful moment to remember, but I had been hard since the first moment I'd laid eyes on her hours earlier. I wanted her too much to take it slow.

“Mine,” I growled aggressively, encouraged by the smell of her arousal. She was mine, for always. We were married. It may have only been a silly human tradition, but it felt like more than before somehow, even if only in my own mind.

I feared I might be too rough in my need for her, but she met me with equal force. I was on the cusp of what I sought most when she gasped and jumped back. I looked at her, panting in the midst of our lovemaking, but there were tears in her eyes, happy tears. Grinning, she smiled brightly, showing me a full set of canines. Nothing could have shocked me more and I didn't even fully register it until I felt her teeth sink into the base of my neck. I followed her lead and a sort of frenzy started that sent us both into blissful oblivion.

When I finally came to my senses, she lay in my arms, sobbing tears of joy. I could feel that joy more clearly than I ever had before. Our bond.

“Mine,” I growled, stroking and kissing her. “Forever and always. Forever mine.”

Maddie

Epilogue

I sat on the back deck watching Liam push Oscar on the swing.My guys, I smiled to myself. Life might not always be exactly the way we want it, but mine was a pretty good one. I had a wonderful man who loved me unconditionally. Lord knew he'd proven that time and time again. I had a smart, funny, courageous son who filled my heart.

I was proud of how well Oscar had settled into San Marco. He might have even fit in better than me. The mystery of what he might or might not be only added to his popularity among the other children.

There certainly were few kept secrets in Westin Pack. Kyle and Kelsey believed in open honesty with their pack, for the most part. The truth about the Verndari was still kept to only a select few, and I understood their reasoning behind that decision.

I was worried about Annie and Jacob. They hadn’t come to the wedding, and though we’d spoken a few times, not much was ever really said since the day I rescued Raina and the shifters being held as prisoners there. I wondered if Jacob even suspected it was me.

My parents and sisters were coming for a visit in just a week. I was a nervous wreck and had been obsessively cleaning the house for days in preparation. I guessed those extra bedrooms Liam insisted on adding to the house were going to get used after all. It had been wonderful to see Shelby again and she had stayed and been back to visit a few times, but I hadn't seen the rest of my family in over eight years. They hadn’t met Oscar yet. It was going to be a tough reunion, but I spoke to at least one of them every day. Thomas still wasn't talking to me, but I hoped he'd come around eventually.

Lily was coming over tomorrow to help me prep some meals for their visit so I wouldn't have to spend all my time in the kitchen, though I already knew Mary was planning to have us all over at least one night. She loved cooking for a crowd. Me? Not so much, but I could learn. My kitchen skills would never be gourmet, but my cooking was getting better and my guys had no complaints, at least not that they'd admit to me. Who knew running a house was so much work?

As I sat there, contently sipping a steaming cup of coffee and smiling to myself, I thought back to all we'd come through, and all we had to look forward to. I was secretly hoping to make Oscar a big brother soon. I had finally made an appointment with Micah, the local physician, who had seen no physical reasons I couldn’t get pregnant again. I hadn’t told Liam yet, but knew he would be over the moon about it. He was so good with kids.

I shifted in my seat and my back began to itch. I scratched it, not giving it much thought. A few minutes later it started to kick in. I tried to think back through everything I had eaten that day. Nothing seemed off, but I knew I was about to have another allergic reaction. I was already rubbing my back against the chair, trying to find some relief.

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