Page 53 of Wolf Bound

“No. No, I’m happy,” she sniffs. “I can’t believe you did this. It’s…”

“Too much? Totally crazy?” I fill in for her.

“No.” She laughs. “It’s perfect. I would love nothing more than to create more happy memories in this house with you.”

And that’s all I need to hear before I’m swooping her up in my arms and pulling her face to mine.

23

Pruitt

While some aspects of the house are dated, it’s still the kind of home you drool over online. The layout is perfect, with tall ceilings and big windows that cover the whole back of the house. It has a perfect view of the shimmering lake below, and I have a gut feeling my parents used to sit on the patio at night watching the sunset over the water.

I’m heartsick I don’t actually have those memories, and I must rely on people like Ryker to tell me about them. But if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine what my parents’ life here was like. I imagine them laughing in the kitchen while making dinners together, I imagine them cuddled up on the couch in the living room watching movies on a cold night, and down the hall where the bedrooms are, I imagine my mom’s voice coming through the doors as she reads me a bedtime story. And I imagine my life with Ryker here can be as happy as theirs was.

“We will have the kitchen and bathrooms redone before we move in,” Ryker tells me as he whisks me around the house, giving me the grand tour. “And the floors probably need to be redone,” he says out loud, but I think he’s speaking more to himself.

“Ryker, how are you affording all of this?” I can’t help but ask. I know for a fact that lakefront properties aren’t cheap, and this one is on a fairly large lot.

“My grandfather was an oil tycoon and invested wisely in different companies like cattle and construction. When he died, he left a good chunk to each of his grandkids,” he explains. “I invested in some profitable companies and real estate myself and have been able to make some pretty good money off of that.”

“Wow, I had no idea. Remi never said anything.” I always assumed Margot and Elias paid for everything since they obviously have a decent amount of money themselves. “There was money left to me after my parents died. I feel guilty using it.”

“They would want you to use it,” he tells me. “That’s why they left it to you.”

“I’ve never needed to use it other than paying for school,” I say as we head down a hallway off the kitchen, the bootie heels I’m wearing clacking against the floor, and the sound echoing off the empty space. “I’ve designed some pieces for Addison’s clothing line, and she allows me to keep all the profit from them.”

“That’s nice of her.” Ryker pauses at a pair of double doors. “Close your eyes.”

“Okay.” I close my eyes tight, careful to keep them closed the whole time he maneuvers us into the room behind the doors.

I hear him walk away for a second and move some things around. I’m tempted to peek, but I keep my eyes closed the whole time. He had obviously invested a lot of effort in setting up whatever it is, and I don’t want to ruin it.

When he comes back, he positions himself behind me with his hands on my upper arms. “You can open your eyes now,” he whispers into my ear, his voice causing chills to run down my spine.

When I do and see what’s before me, I’m speechless. Strings of lights similar to what he put in the trees out front are the only source of illumination in the room, crisscrossing over the ceiling. In front of the fireplace on the far wall, pillows and blankets are carefully placed to create a romantic seating area. I can see a bottle of wine and glasses sitting on the hearth of the fireplace next to a picnic basket.

“You set all this up?” I ask, spinning around so I can see his face.

“I had some help, but I wanted to do something special for you.” There’s a sheepish look on his face I haven’t seen before. Ryker is usually confident, and now he looks a little unsure of himself. “Is it okay?”

“Ryker!” I gasp. “How could you think thiswouldn’tbe okay?” I gesture around the room with my hand. “This room, thishouse? It’s absolutely perfect.”

“I just worried you’d think I’m moving too fast.”

I smile up at him, snaking my hands around his neck. “Like you said, we got to bypass the awkward dating phase and the time of uncertainty where we try to figure out if this is a relationship we want to pursue.” I kiss the side of his mouth softly before continuing. “We were made for each other.”

It’s funny to be the one to remind him of this since he was the one who originally had to convince me. I don’t need any convincing anymore. Even before the ritual, there was no doubting the connection I have with Ryker. And ever since my wolf was partially released that night, my feelings for Ryker have only intensified. I think it’s because it’s not just my feelings anymore. I’m feeling the adoration my wolf has for him too.

“Don’t ever forget that,” he says before placing a sweet kiss to my lips. “Come on, let’s go sit.”

He takes my hand and leads me over to the little picnic area he’s set up for us. We get comfortable and chat about everything while we eat the food he packed. I cry when I talk about Addison, and as always, he’s quick to comfort me and tell me everything is going to be alright. Even when so many things are uncertain about our future, he makes me believe everything will work out, and we will indeed be okay.

I’m warm from the wine I’ve been drinking and feel more content than I have in a while as I lay my head on his chest and cuddle into his side. Soft music plays from his phone, and the flame from the fireplace dances, creating shadows on the walls.

“I’ve been dreaming about moments like these for most of my life,” he says, his voice cutting through the comfortable silence between us, “and now you’re actually here…it's better than I imaged. I’m incredibly lucky.”

“I’mthe lucky one,” I reply with a shake of my head. “Before coming to Montana, I spent my life feeling like a piece of me was missing. I thought it was my parents that I missed, and while I still wish they were here, it’s you I really needed. Ever since the morning of the rogue attack, the empty hole I’ve always had has begun to fill in.” I push off his chest so I can sit up and look him in the eyes when I speak. “Thank you for completing me, Ryker.”

---