Page 94 of Drive me Wild (South Island Shifters)

“I feel it. Lily and Autumn picked it out. Of course, we told Autumn you were taking me on a special date for our six month anniversary, which is today,” Winter says.

I smile. “It’s the little things that count.” I pick her up and spin her around. I lower her to the ground and press my lips to hers. I love this woman with all my heart. I whip the LEGO keychain out of my back pocket and hold it up to her. “I wanted to give you this the weekend of the conference to Wellington, but I see now it wasn’t the right time. It sure as hell is now, though. Move in with me, Winter.”

“Yes,” she whispers, a few tears escaping to trail down her cheeks. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask for weeks.”

“Had to surprise you with this first.” She leans up, pressing a kiss to my lips. “Sometimes it’s not always the princess that needs rescuing but the prince. I love that my princess can save me as much as I can her. I know we are doing the bonding ritual tonight, but I will give you the big fancy wedding you want.”

“I love you, Declan Stone,” she says. She holds her palm up to me, showing me the mark she bears on her hand. She earned it the first time we made love after she shifted, making her the official Luna of my clan. The ritual tonight is about us bonding for life.

“Now, I have to get changed.” I bend and lift her over my shoulder, carrying her fireman style up to our room.

“Declan, I don’t need to watch you get changed. You know what it does to me.”

“I do. But I also don’t want you ruining your surprise. Since it’s not finished yet.”

“I wouldn’t peak.”

“We both know you will.”

After I change and my Luna approves it, I tug her back downstairs and cover her eyes with my hands.

“Are you ready for your surprise?” I ask. She nods, and I kick the door open with my foot, walking us both inside. “One… Two…Three…” I peel my hands away from her face, and she gasps.

“What is this?” she asks.

“Your new LEGO room. Where you can build and display all the pieces once you’re done.”

“What are those?” she asks.

“A LEGO set for each month we have been together.”

“Is this why a few months back you wanted to see my wish list?”

I nod. “You noticed that. You can open them tomorrow. For now, I want to make you my Luna.”

She squeals with delight as she heads over to the table I built in the middle of the room, where there are six huge parcels: one for every month we have been together. I knew it was our six month dating anniversary. She just thinks she’s the only one who remembered.

* * *

WINTER

My heart hammers in my chest. Declan and I are in his backyard, ready to do the bonding ritual. Margaret explained the ritual and how it works for each couple. We can create our own, but she explained tonight would be special. Tonight we bond for life as mates. I earned my Luna mark the night we first made love after I shifted for the first time.

We are doing it in front of the entire clan. The members who were sceptical about me being the Luna are now fully convinced I am where I am meant to be. We have had a few shifters depart us since I became Luna, one of which being Tammy. We have also had new ones join us. Tonight, we meet as one clan. The threat to us has disappeared for now, but I know Declan is always on the lookout for another. He has been on edge ever since his kidnapping. It won’t go away anytime soon, and we have to manage it as best we can.

Zane is standing in front of us. “Turn and face each other.”

We do, and I feel like we are getting married. We’re not, at least not yet, or in the eyes of human laws. Zane brings out a long green piece of ribbon. “Will both of you hold your marked palms together, please?”

“I love you,” Declan announces as he holds out his palm, and I place mine on top. I smile as an electric energy rushes between us.

“I love you, too,” I reply.

Zane winds the ribbon around our wrists. And ties it in a knot.

“Do you as Alpha and Luna promise to protect, serve, care for and love this clan with everything you have?” Zane asks.

“We do,” Declan and I say simultaneously.

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