Page 115 of Rocky Top

He opened a side compartment I hadn’t noticed before and pulled out a cooler and a folded quilt. Minutes later, we were spread out on that mountaintop, having a picnic in the snow like it was the most natural thing in the world. Sandwiches, fruit, chocolate truffles I’d bet my sparkly purse came from that fancy candy shop in Gatlinburg. And sweet tea, of course, he knew I wouldn’t survive without it.

“You planned all this?” I asked, munching on a strawberry.

He leaned back on one elbow, smirking. “Been planning it since the day you made eyes at me when I was behind the bar at the Wild Dog.”

My brows rose. “That was our first conversation.”

“Exactly.”

We lay there talking ‘bout everything. What kinda wedding we wanted. He said leather and lace, I said glitter.

“Knox says Eliza wants a double wedding.”

“She finally going to marry him?”

“I think she’s been waiting for me to ask you.”

“Where will we live? My place or yours?”

“How ‘bout we dust off the ol’ homestead?” Rocky said with a sly grin.

“Ain’t that a bit big for the two of us?”

“Maybe not after last night. Maybe we started our litter.”

My hand shot to my middle as I thought about Eliza’s little fox. Was I ready to bring another shifter into this world?

“Maybe?” I replied, though I wasn’t sure I was ready for that, but if it happened, I’d cross that bridge. Or rather we would.

The sun dipped lower.

And the wolf in me stirred. A tug in my chest, in my bones, like my blood was being pulled toward the moon.

I sat up and looked at Rocky, and he knew. He always knew.

“It’s time,” he said softly, standing and holdingout his hand.

I took it.

He helped me outta my boots, peeled off my jacket, and kissed my shoulder before stripping his shirt too. We walked barefoot to the edge of the overlook, the mountains stretching out below us like the whole damn world.

The moon was rising now, full and white and blazing with a kind of ancient fire.

Come run with me, sunshine.

And we did.

We took off through the woods, paws beating the frost, fur slicing through the wind. I’d never felt more alive. The forest bent around us, the trees parting like they knew we belonged there. I could smell every drop of dew, every root, every living thing.

I howled, and it tore from me like joy.

Rocky howled back.

The End for Now

---