Beauty in Winter (Beauty #4)(8)

My stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten. Concern flashes across his face, and he emits a small growl. “I haven’t fed you.” He growls again, and I think he actually might be growling at himself.

He pulls me from bed and tosses me over his shoulder. I drag the sheet with me, unsure of where we are going.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask, but get distracted by his backside. He really is all muscle.

He doesn’t answer, but a moment later I’m being placed on a counter. I wrap the sheet around me and watch as he starts to pull things from the refrigerator, completely naked. I didn’t know someone so big could move so easily.

“You’re a shifter?” I ask, already knowing the answer to the question.

“I am now that you’re here. I’ve been waiting for you to save me for a long time.”

He sets down the container in his hand and comes to stand between my legs. I spread them wide to make room for him. “People in my pack call me alpha, but I was unable to lead. Until you, I had never fully transformed.”

“What am I?” I think about the mark he left on my thigh.

“You’re his mate.” At the sound of Mr. Blackden’s voice Reid spins around and snarls loudly. He widens his stance, blocking me from the other man’s line of sight.

“Calm, alpha. I’m only here to leave this.” I look around Reid to watch Mr. Blackden place a small box on the counter. Reid moves to grab it, opening the box. He looks down, and his whole body freezes.

“What is it?” I ask, trying to see why it feels like time has stopped.

“Where did you get this?” Reid asks Mr. Blackden.

“It’s hers.” Reid turns to look at me, and I see what’s in the box. My ring. “It’s how I knew she was yours.”

“My ring.” I try to jump off the counter, but Reid stops me. His free hand grasps my hip to keep me in place.

“Careful, little lamb. Don’t want you to hurt yourself.” He wraps his arm around me, pulling me from the counter and putting me on my feet.

“Leave. I need more time. I don’t think I’m stable, and I don’t like you even near her right now. My wolf wants out,” Reid says to Mr. Blackden.

“Alpha,” Mr. Blackden says before lowering his head and turning to leave.

Reid then picks me up, making me squeal out in surprise. He carries me out of the room, and before I know it, I’m back on my feet again in what looks like an office. I gasp as I look around and take it in. Hundreds of drawings of my ring litter the room. It’s as if he’s been drawing it over and over again.

“You drew these,” I whisper, looking around the room in shock.

“I can’t seem to stop drawing them. I started to dream about the ring.” He walks over to me and drops down to one knee. “I’ve been waiting my whole life to do this.” He slides the ring onto my finger.

“This is crazy,” I say in awe.

“No, this was fate. You were meant for me as I am meant for you.”

“You’re right. I feel it. I love you more than anything, I don’t care if it’s crazy fast.” My grandparents fell in love in a day, after all. He grabs my hips, pulling me into him as his mouth comes to mine in a soft possessive kiss.

“Love is simple,” he says, rubbing his nose against mine. “It’s a tale as old as time.”





Epilogue





Reid




A little over a year later…




“The pack has never been better,” Ron says as we make it into the clearing.

We had a pack run this afternoon, and it always creates a feeling of bonding between pack members. I look up and see Fiona sitting on a blanket by the tree, the sunshine spread out around her. Her belly is starting to show, and it makes me feel so much more possessive of her.

She’s playing with our son as he giggles up at her, and a few of the other females in the pack sit with her. She looks up at me, like she can smell I’m near, and I watch as her eyes roam over my bare chest. I’m a little sweaty from the run, and I catch the desire flashing in her eyes.

“All they needed was a little leadership. And we have her to thank for it.” I don’t take my eyes off of Fiona as I speak.

“She’s worthy of being by your side,” Ron says, and I shake my head.

“It’s me who needs to be worthy of her.” I smile and pat him on the back.

I walk over to where she is and kneel down in front of her, pressing my forehead to hers. It’s something we do anytime we have to be separated. I’m getting her scent back on me, but my wolf is also greeting her. She seems to love it as much as I do, though. Then I reach down and pick up our son, Silas, laying him on my chest, and I lie back on the blanket with her. The females sense our need for bonding and politely give us space.

He smells just like Fiona, and I let out a sigh of happiness. She cuddles in beside us as I kiss the top of his sleeping head and then hers.

Most of the families are playing and enjoying the picnic. It settles my heart to know my pack is together and happy, that Fiona was able to bring out my wolf and create the peace we now have. Everyone was lost before she came along. My beauty righted our world, and we are all grateful to her for it.