Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Lion’s Arranged Marriage Epilogue

Neil

Light spilled over the maze from lamps hanging at the tops of the bushes. Soft spheres of white light blanketed the area, creating a haze that resembled a fantasy land. Shifters milled about between the statue of the Haydens' ancestor and the various benches providing seating for the mating ceremony. Weeks after the final battle in the field, life continued. It was odd how life could continue after such a bloody event, yet the pack soldiered on, intent on cleaning up what had happened and diving directly into a period of recovery.

Blake, however, appeared somewhat numb. The skin of his face was hollowed, likely from his loss of appetite, and his skin tone had paled significantly. Some of his muscles had shrunk. I knew that look-it was the familiar ghost of grief. Having suffered plenty of losses myself, I was more than qualified to offer support. But tonight, Blake had insisted on my participation in the mating ceremony, stating it would be best for me to focus on my mate instead of my alpha. No matter how much it hurt to try to split my attention between the two.

Gwendolyn walked up to me wearing a simple white tunic with slacks. She lifted my gold scarf-the only thing that wasn't white on me-and played with the red tinsel laid into the fabric. "What's this?" Her tone was teasing.

I smirked as I whispered, "I would have looked positively dreadful without a hint of color. Don't you think, snow?"

"It suits you." "You suit me."

She chuckled shyly and then nipped her lower lip, her cheeks hosting a rosy hue that invited my touch. Everything about her was gorgeous tonight. Her energy, her smile, her eyes-she was positively radiant. I held out hope that it was because of me.

Standing at the edge of the crowd were Cesar and his parents. The three of them looked on expectantly which was a shock to see. I had expected Cesar. But his parents? My partner's parents? That was another story. Gwendolyn followed my gaze. Her eyes hardened slightly when she spotted her parents. She turned back to me and forced a smile. "It'll be over quickly. I promise."

"I never want things with you to be over quickly," I assured. "I want the moments I have with you to last as long as they need to last."

She raised her eyebrows. "Wow, that's so..."

"Logical?"

She chortled. "I'd call it romantic."

"Consider me your personal romantic feline from now until the end of the time, darling." I swept her into my arms and dipped her back, coaxing chuckles from the depths of her soul. "I'll be everything you need and more."

"Alright, Casanova," warned a raspy voice. I glanced up to see a stout woman with white hair yanked into a bun and a medley of hippie garments draped over her body standing nearby with a bowl. "I'm her grandmother. You can call me Auntie May." "But if you're her grandmother, then why-"

She leaned in close with one eye bulging wide and the other closed. "Did I stutter, young man?"

I straightened up and fixed my mate's posture, patting her shoulders lightly while passing off the intimidation with a laugh. "Yes, Auntie May! Of course. I'm at your service as well. Always."

I bowed my head.

She tapped my head twice, leaving behind a glob of oil in my recently washed hair. Well, that's going to make my scalp oily.

Gwendolyn nudged me to fix my stance. I smiled at my mate and turned to Auntie May, who held up the ritual bowls. Each one provided its own scent. Gwendolyn got clary sage with pepper and I received peppermint. Auntie May spoke under her breath in rushed whispers while blessing our mating marks. When she was done, she raised each bowl in the air and shouted, "May this union provide peace!"

Cheers exploded around us. The cacophonous sound swallowed us up, pushing Gwendolyn and me into each other's arms. I cupped her face and stole a kiss-one of the first I had ever truly given her publicly.

Ever since that cramped cage, I had wanted to seal my mouth over hers repeatedly. Just one kiss was all it took to make me want more kisses, to steal her breath away in ways I knew would transport her out of this world. The stars awaited us beyond this lifetime. We had eternity to explore together.

So long as she wanted me.

Doubt crept into my mind even as my comrades-my only remaining family-applauded us in the background.

What if she does what Shelly did? My mind snatched up that tiny fear and spun it into a web, quickly attempting to fill the tiny nooks and crannies of my mind. What if she hurts me? What if she dies?

Soft fingers stroked my scalp and drifted to the back of my neck. The kiss remained steady, sweet, and sincere as Gwendolyn massaged my neck and my shoulders. She rested her hands on my chest, gently peeling away from my lips, providing enough room for her to look up into my eyes.

"I'll never hurt you," she whispered. "I'll never leave. I promise."

She felt it, didn't she? She knew. She could sense my apprehension over the slightest shadow of a doubt. The fact that I had felt any doubt at all alarmed me-yet what chased away my terror was her comforting touch.

Gwendolyn would always know what I was feeling. And she would do everything in her power to help me with it.

The moment we stepped back, we were hounded by the crowd-first and foremost by Milton and Brandi.

Brandi twirled my mate while Milton yanked me into his side. "You know, your mate and I make a rather fantastic team. She should come flying with me sometime!" He slapped me on the back in a brotherly fashion. "You should try flying sometime, too." Laughter bubbled around us at the joke. Jermaine and Elva stepped up next, the two of them appearing like such striking opposites that I couldn't help commenting on it. Jermaine shut me up by wrapping me in a bear hug that nearly squeezed my balls off. Elva and Gwendolyn held hands. Leah came up to congratulate her as well. Jermaine joined the group praising my mate to allow Tanner passage to me.

"My favorite wolf," I teased as I hugged him. "But don't tell Blake about that."

Tanner cackled.

Blake materialized next to me like a ghastly spirit. As Tanner bowed out, Veronica slipped into his place, giving me a kiss on each cheek. She went to Gwendolyn to do the same.

I went to touch my alpha's shoulder, wondering if it was okay, trying to get a good read on his energy without asking too much of him.

His reassuring smile, while weak, told me it was just fine.

I beamed. "I'm glad to see you standing."

"I'm glad to see you finally following my orders."

My face flushed with heat. "Sorry about how long that took, Alpha. I, uh..."

"You had to make sure. I get it."

I nodded. "I'm glad you get it."

"Understand this, Neil. When I give you an order-"

"You expect me to obey. I know."

His brows furrowed together as he touched my shoulder. "I expect you to challenge it based on the circumstances."

I blinked rapidly. "But, Alpha..."

"Our pack is strong because we work together. I'm just the figurehead stationed at the top. I can humble myself to feedback." He paused to roll his eyes. "Most of the time, anyways."

I chuckled. "Thank you, Blake. I'll remember all that. I swear."

"I'll hold you to it."

Four men appeared behind Blake, each of them wearing unsure expressions. One had red hair with green eyes, one had tan hair with gray eyes, and the other two appeared related with the same shade of almond brown locs and amber eyes, but there was a distinct difference in height and body structure. Perhaps they were cousins.

The taller of the two potential cousins approached me and extended his hand. "It's nice to see you in the light, Neil."

I would recognize that voice anywhere. "Troy-I wasn't sure who you were for a second."

"We were hidden in shadows for a bit there."

"Just a few days."

He smiled easily and gestured behind him. "You remember Elias, Wendell, and Isaiah?"

Elias was the potential cousin. Wendell had tan hair. And the famous Isaiah with the rotten attitude was the one with red hair. Who would have guessed?

I nodded in turn to each of them. "Thank you for attending the ceremony."

While Isaiah rolled his eyes, Blake stepped forward, straightening up a bit as more color entered his cheeks.

He grinned proudly. "On behalf of the Beaufort Creek Pack, I'd like to extend the warmest of welcomes to each of you."

All of them perked up, including the irritated Isaiah. Something cracked his tough veneer for a second. Maybe it was the offer.

I smiled at my alpha.

Blake wore a muted grin, though I could tell his joy was genuine. "You've suffered great losses like us. You've lost your original pack."

I frowned hard while glancing at Gwendolyn. They lost their pack? I had no idea. I thought that battle only included us.

Troy bowed his head. "Thank you, Alpha. The invitation means so much to us."

"You may stay as long as you like so long as you adhere to our pack customs and the arranged mating ceremonies."

"Arranged?" Elias repeated. "You mean like them?"

I beamed. "It's not as bad as you think."

"It's for your protection," Blake explained. "If you'll come with me, I can tell you more about our bonds and what I do to ensure the strongest connection possible..."

And with that, the group of men wandered off, surrounding my alpha like dedicated students following a professor. That was Blake. He had that kind of influence on people. It was something I always appreciated about him. Especially when I was already overwhelmed.

Gwendolyn and I were engulfed by the crowd, non-blood family and friends alike granting us blessings, gifts, kisses, and hugs. Children darted around the area, their giggles filling the space with joy. It was good to hear my pack enjoying themselves after that awful fight. They deserved peace. They needed it to thrive.

A cool breeze swept over the area, rustling the bushes. Some of the lamps flickered from the movement. Jermaine grunted and sputtered angrily as he marched to the exit-the generator was just on the other side. Elva ran after him, calling for him to calm the hell down and that everything would be fine.

Ah, business as usual. It was music to my ears.

My heart sank slightly.

Gwendolyn grabbed my hand and squeezed it, inviting my gaze.

"What's going on, love?" she whispered.

"Nothing. I'm fine."

She narrowed her eyes in a knowing manner. "You can't hide that feeling from me. I'm part of you now."

"You make it sound so spooky."

"I can make it spookier if you don't tell me."

I grinned weakly, trying to keep my spirits up. But regardless of how much mirth erupted around me, I noticed the tiny sliver of my heart that was missing.

"I miss my Aunt Minerva," I whispered. "She loved mating rituals. She would have adored this one. Especially my scarf." I flipped my scarf dramatically to hide my quivering.

Though I didn't think I succeeded.

My mate stroked my cheek. "I'm sure she's watching."

Whatever snappy comeback I had stored away dissolved on my tongue. I folded myself around my mate. I honed in on her comfort.

She stroked my head. "Tell me about her."

"She was a badass of a lioness. She did no harm and took no shit. She got...she was..." I released a shaky sigh. "This rogue group of lions murdered her over a poker game. The damn woman was fantastic as a guardian, but she was loose with her gambling." My mate flinched. "I'm so sorry, love."

"I wish she was here."

"That's okay. You're allowed to feel that way."

Warmth slipped into my solar plexus and spread throughout my body. I let the feeling take me over, knowing it was my mate making it happen. She did it simply because she cared about me, not because she had to do it. This kind of natural instinct was quickly becoming the norm between us.

"Congrats to the happy couple," announced the squeaky voice of a teenager whose vocal cords hadn't yet stopped crackling. He cleared his throat. "Can I give you two a hug?"

I grinned as I released my mate and flung my arms wide to welcome Cesar. "Of course, dear brother! You're family now. You can have a hug any time."

"Don't overdo it, Neil," Gwendolyn teased. "Cesar will be bothering you all the time for hugs and sports."

"Owls are such affectionate little shifters." I tousled his hair and kissed his forehead. "It's so adorable. You're all so cuddly!"

"Is that how you talk to my sister?"

I beamed. "Not if I want to keep my head!"

Cesar laughed and stepped aside. Gwendolyn's parents stepped forward, appearing as lost as they were embarrassed.

That was probably for more than one reason.

Gwendolyn lost some of her shine. She pinched her lips together and put on her polite grin, the one she wore when someone was talking a little bit too long. "Mom, Dad, how nice of you to come."

"We wouldn't miss it," her father said. He frowned guiltily and offered her his hand. "Listen, Gwenny. We're sorry we haven't been around lately. I like pulling a lot of shifts in the field. The Haydens have done so much for us. I just want to make sure they know our appreciation."

Her mother nodded. "And I've been rebuilding my clientele. But I'm stable now. I won't be gone all the time." She scratched her elbow nervously. "I want to spend time with you. Is that okay?" She gestured to her husband. "We both want to spend time with you." Gwendolyn looked empty for a second. I thought perhaps my mate had been broken until she sprang to life and lunged at her parents, wrapping them up in a loving hug. Cesar joined the group and waved for me to jump in.

If that apology was good enough for my mate, then it was good enough for me. I hugged my family tight and swore quietly never to let them go.

***

Hours after the festivities concluded, the maze emptied out, leaving my mate seated on a bench with a glass of champagne and my scarf around her neck. She leaned back and peered up at the sky, her expression doused in happiness. That was exactly what I wanted to see.

Shadows lurked around the corner from the main part of the maze. A private area had been roped off earlier. The space was provided to allow us both to recover from the crowd. But the celebration had been all-consuming and we hadn't gotten a second to breathe. Until now.

My hand swept over her shoulder. She focused on me, pupils exploding with an affectionate awareness as she extended the champagne flute in my direction. I waved it away. "I like keeping my mind sharp." "Me too."

I arched my right brow. "Were you not just sipping that?"

"I was holding it for my mother until she disappeared. I guess I forgot I was holding it. You know how crowds can be so..."

"Overstimulating."

She hummed in agreement as she set the flute aside. A few rogue bubbles sprouted to the surface, crackling in the comforting silence of the night. My ears were ringing. I needed the comfort of my mate-among other things.

After she stood up, she took my hand and led me toward the area that had been roped off. The lanterns in here had been turned off. Either on purpose or because Jermaine had too much trouble with the wiring from the generator.

I chuckled under my breath. "We don't even need this place anymore."

"I think we both need it more than you think."

The moment she turned around, she planted her mouth on my lips, whimpering into the kiss like she hadn't seen me in decades-and hadn't tasted me for even longer. She draped her right leg over my hip and cupped my face, urging me to lift her up. How could I say no to my mate?

Her kiss deepened when I scooped her up. I cupped her bottom, enjoying the way she bucked instinctively into me. It roused my cock to life as pressure grew in my center, inspiring me to carry her over to the other side of the area. The bushes rustled when I ran into a wall. She giggled as she slid out of my arms and dropped to her knees.

"Darling," I whispered, "you'll get your slacks dirty. What are you-?"

Warm lips around my cock silenced me instantly. My mouth slacked as I caressed the back of her head, quivering while her lips worked diligently up and down my shaft. The sheer dedication of her mouth to my pleasure set me off like a volcano that had been sleeping too long.

Saliva slicked her journey while soft moans vibrated my flesh. The way her tongue danced along with her lips satisfied me to my core, inspiring me to clutch a handful of her satin curls. She swallowed me entirely with a hungry groan.

My head lolled back and the stars came into view, milky heavens painted through the midnight sky with an artist's careful hand. Each stroke from her lips warped the image above until I felt my knees knock together.

I grabbed her hair and tugged her back.

"Oh, sweet snow," I whispered while pushing two fingers into her mouth. She sucked them obediently. "I don't want to come in your mouth. I want to come in you."

Gwendolyn fell back with a desperate whine. She tugged on my shirt and yanked me to the ground, burying me between her legs in one swift motion. As she kicked off her pants, I sloppily worked away my slacks, trying to get every barrier between us out of the way. Too many layers. Not enough skin. I needed her heat against me or I would perish. The moment her wet slit engulfed my cock, I soared with the satisfaction of it all, eager to have her wrapped around me much like when she embraced me. I propped my hands on either side of her shoulders and hovered over her, nudging gently into her p***y.

She cupped my bottom. "Please."

"Easy, snow. Breathe."

She shook her head. "Don't be easy on me, Neil. Please, just claim me. Just f**k me."

That was all I needed to hear.

One tug planted me firmly inside her. She gasped and arched against me, exposing her hard nipples for me to lick. I blessed one with a delicate lave and then slurped the other into my mouth, hooking an arm around her waist to keep her close. Only when I released her n****e did I switch our position.

"There," I announced while holding her hips. "Now you can ride me."

She bit her lower lip bashfully. Seeing that look on her face drove me wild-and inspired me to thrust into her. She responded with a hungry buck of her own. And soon, we were trading thrusts, grinding against each other like it was the end of days, swearing and kissing and whispering up a storm.

Heat encompassed us, sweltering waves inspiring my movements as I felt our bond cement even further. This was more than just f*****g-this was making love. This was what it felt like to meld with my mate.

It was better than I could have ever imagined.

I hadn't realized during the chaos of the war and the resulting period of cleaning up the mess that neither of us had done anything to initiate s*x. Having such a unique connection that didn't require it was new to me.

But that didn't stop me from wanting her body.

Every exposed inch of her invited my kiss. Each peak prompted my touch. Every dip felt like a glorious revelation. Our motions became synchronized as our bodies coupled, thoughts intertwining much like our hearts. My heart quickened. Her body stiffened as I bounced her in my lap.

And then we both came.

Miraculous swirls of color stole my vision. I must have kissed her hard enough to draw blood for I tasted it on my tongue. But it hardly stopped her rolling hips. She exploded once more as I buried myself deep, surrendering to the way she throbbed around my c**k. Minutes later, the two of us collapsed on the ground. We panted together for a long time in rhythmic gusts until our individual systems cooled down. Soon, we were breathing individually, though my heart wasn't fooled. I knew we were still in sync.

In our own special way.

Gwendolyn rolled to her side. She rested her hand on my chest, mewling with delight as I cradled her into my arms.

She sighed contentedly. "I can't wait to start a family with you."

"Do you think Blake will let us upgrade our suite?"

"I think he'd be happy to give us an entire floor as long as we kept it clean."

I chuckled. "You sure? He never liked sharing much."

"He seems like he doesn't want to be alone, Neil." She lifted her head and focused on me. "And if our alpha wants company, we'll be sure to give him company."

"Do you think we'll birth griffins?"

She cackled. "Do I look like an eagle to you?"

"Well, no, but..." I raised my eyebrows. "Do you think hybrid babies can turn into either species or is it that they have traits from both after they shift?"

"Does it matter right now, Neil?"

I lifted my head, meeting her gaze immediately. "I guess not. We have nine months, right?"

"I think it'll take more than one sexy encounter to make a baby happen."

"Ah, you never know."

She chuckled while tracing my chin. "That's true. Maybe that means we should keep at it. Right?"

She practically tackled me back to the ground. Her lips were warm and wet, full of affection, radiating devotion and care.

And love. True love. Bonded love. It wasn't something she needed to say. It was something she felt.

I knew because I felt it too.

She settled back into my arms and swept her hand over my chest. "Neil, what happens if we can't have babies?"

"Through thick and thin, snow."

"Meaning?"

I hugged her tightly. "Meaning I'll always be with you through everything. Good times and bad times. We're bonded now."

"And bonds are for those who love each other."

I smiled while tangling my fingers in her curls. "Yes, love. That's right."

She abruptly sat up, giving me a nervous grin while she parted her lips to speak. A croak appeared. Then a cough. Then a weak chuckle.

She cleared her throat and shrugged. "Well, that must mean I love you."

"I suppose that must be the truth."

"And you love me."

My smile widened. "Yes, that's true too."

"And we'll always love each other."

"Is this one of those chick flicks you love so much?"

Laughter exploded from my gut as she tackled me once more, digging her fingers into my sides to start a tickle fight. The two of us rolled around as naked as the day we were born, unabashed and entirely absorbed by the other. That was how it should have been all along. And that was how it would stay now that we had completed the ritual.

Because we were mates-we would always be mates. Fate had drawn us together.

And fate would keep us together until the very end of time.

*****

THE END