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I lean into his neck, pressing my lips against it in a soft caress. He has a beautiful neck, rather lean and delicate, and currently glistening with sweat.

“Do we really have to let our wolves out?” he mutters.

I smile, considering. “A promise is a promise.”

“True,” he chuckles, pecking my lips softly.

We clean up our mess, and I thank the goddess that I’m on birth control. Lauren and Val’s mom, who’s always been more like an aunt to me, took me to get birth control from the pack doctor when I was sixteen. That’s not something you do with your father.

I do want to have children with Marius one day, but our souls have only just found each other, and Marius is still healing from his trauma. Everything needs the right timing, and now isn’t it.

Marius and I leave the pack house hand in hand and head toward the forest. Danica’s jumping around excitedly in my mind, which is a rare sight for my normally dignified wolf. She’s even chasing her tail around. Both Marius and I undress and shift into our respective wolves.

Finally,Danica stretches her paws before prancing in front of Cyrus, her stance proud and strong. She isn’t intimidated one bit by how strong and huge he is. He may be a lycan alpha, but we are a very rare hybrid, and she knows it.Now, now, big man,she coos at Cyrus.Let’s see if you can please a woman.

He growls, his eyes glowing at her taunt.

I take that as my signal to take a backseat and let Danica have full control. She deserves some privacy, and I certainly don’t want to watch their nighttime activities.

Later that week, we are invited to Marius’ parents for lunch. They want to officially welcome me into their family. All his siblings will be there, and I can already feel Marius’ nervousness growing the closer we get to Silverlake’s pack house.

Once we walk towards the pack house, his hand tightens around mine. “Why are you so nervous?” I ask with a smile. “They already know we are mates.”

“Yes,” he mutters. “But they also know I’ve hid it, and just because I’m trying to be a good mate now, it doesn’t mean they don’t know I was shit before. And…”

“Marius,” I smile at him. “Your family knows what happened, so yes, there is no need to pretend, but they also know that we reconciled. And for all that matters, I think you are a great mate.”

“It’s all that matters,” he admits.

“See, and—”

The door gets ripped open and Flora stomps outside. “Are you done talking!” she asks with a pout. “I’ve been watching out of the window, but you didn’t move for minutes.”

“Sorry Mom,” Marius says. “We were about to come inside.”

Flora spreads her arms, completely ignoring Marius for now and squeezing me instead. “I’m so happy you are finally part of our family! Welcome Celine!”

“And what about me?” Marius teases.

“You were keeping her all to yourself,” Flora scolds, but then breaks out into a smile. “But who can blame you.” She squeezes Marius too, before grabbing our hands and tugging us inside. The moment we enter the private dining room of the alpha family, we’re surrounded by them all.

“Look at that,” Finn grins. “Another one of my brothers who successfully fished in my pond.”

“Right,” Aurelia chuckles. “First Annie, now Celine.”

“And don’t forget Ella,” he points out. “She is mated to Dante, Liam’s beta, so technically, he is family too.”

Aurelia wraps her arms around him and squeezes him. “Maybe one of my friends is your mate?” she says with a smirk. “You know, that would only be fair.”

“Goddess,” Finn laughs. “They are like little sisters to me. Would be too awkward.” He turns serious again and approaches us. “Don’t listen to my teasing. I’m very happy for the both of you.”

“We all are,” Flora chimes in. “I swear if you weren’t mated to Marius, Celine, I would have made sure to set you up with someone here!”

“Good thing she has a mate,” Marius puts an arm around me and looks all possessive all of a sudden.

The hint of a smirk curls around Flora’s lips as she exchanges a gaze with Elden.

I take my time to chat with Marius’ siblings properly. While I’ve known Finn for a while and am friends with him, I don’t know much about his other siblings. Sure, Aurelia is one of Val’s closest friends, but it’s the first time I interact with her on a more familiar level.