I never gave out hope that Avery would accept my claim, and look at me now.
“What’s that smile for, Baby?” she asked, and i felt her eyes on me.
I looked down at her, adoration blanketing me like something tangible, love for her heating me from inside like a furnace.
“I was just thinking,” I said, kissing her nose.
“Yeah? What were you thinking?”
“That Rosie might like a wagon for Trixie to pull. Something she could sit in and hold her new brother or sister. They could go for rides together,” I said, liking the idea more as I said it.
“Oh Dante, that would be so sweet. But this baby isn’t going to be here for a while,” she said.
“I know. Meanwhile, she can help me build it.”
Avery’s entire face seemed to glow with her happiness, and I felt ridiculously proud to be the man who made her feel that way.
“Dante Bianco you are without a doubt the best man, the best mate, and the best father I ever saw,” she whispered, her voice breaking at the end.
Pride filled me. And love. So much love, I thought I might burst.
“You make me a better man. I love you, Honey,” I said, kissing her sweet lips.
Her body warmed beneath my hands, and the heady scent of arousal, hers and mine, permeated the air.
“I love you, too,” she moaned as I kissed her neck, licking over the first mating mark I’d given her.
She shivered in response and I grinned. My cock hardened , aching to be inside her soft, wet heat. I growled as I licked and kissed, exploring her gorgeous body.
Oh, but I liked being mated.
“I like it too, mate. Now are you going to claim me again or what?”
“Yes. Right now,” I said, and I thanked the Fates for gifting me this woman right.
Then I claimed her again, just because I could.
Mine.
Epilogue 3-Kian
“Welcome to the Cow Country Valentine’s Day Rodeo!”
The announcement was all broken up over the sound system because of the wind and static. My sensitive ears hurt, so I hunched in on myself and waited for it to end.
February was cold as fuck in Barren County, but since we missed the January rodeo, I was actually looking forward to this one.
But it would have been better without all the noise.
My inner Bull bucked and snorted, the monster inside me was eager to fight.
This was the first time I planned on entering the ring in my Shifter form. A little project Dante and I had been working on.
See, as Shifters we had to keep our secret, but performing in these mostly human events was tricky.
We couldn’t give ourselves away, but that got more and more difficult.
Ever since the Bear had gotten mated his animal had been particularly gnarly. Usually, he was great with the normal critters on the ranch. But not when he was riled.