Page 57 of Claimed By the Wolf
“Nox.”
“That was quite an afternoon.”
He snorts. “You took my mate and stormed my property.”
I stiffen, alarm rushing through me.
“Is that how you remember it?” Nox sounds tired.
“No. And I don’t want my pack remembering it that way either,” Emeric grumbles.
Nox and I frown at each other.
“I’m not sure I understand,” Nox says slowly.
“You know how rumors get started, Nox. We need to agree on what we tell our pack members. And we need to let them know this was a peaceful resolution. We can meet once a month and discuss any issues, so we don’t let this get out of control again.”
My jaw slacks at the new proposition. This is going much better than I thought it would.
“You’re proposing diplomatic relations?” Nox muses. “That could work. Let’s set up a meeting and sign the treaty. I’m sick of this bullshit already.”
Emeric lets out an audible sigh in relief. “And we’ll finally survey those disputed border areas and establish permanent markers both packs can agree on. No more boundary disputes.”
“Yes. It’s about damn time,” Nox agrees. “Twenty years of fighting over unmarked territory is long enough.”
“I’ll call you in the morning to set all of this up,” the Willow Grove Alpha says.
They disconnect without saying goodbye, and I gape at Nox in awe. “You don’t think it’s a trap, do you?”
He stares at me. “Do you?” he asks warily. “You’ve spent more time with the guy than I have.”
I consider the question carefully. “No. Emeric is cold, but he’s not evil. I’m just over-protective of you.”
I half-crawl toward him and cup his face in my hands. “You’re my Alpha after all.”
He beams and kisses me tenderly. “I’ll never let anything happen to you,” he vows. “Now let’s get home before your brother loses his mind.”
EPILOGUE
BRYNN
Six Months Later
The bonfire’s sparks fire high into the sky, kissing the star-spangled Texan night. Leaning back against Nox, I take in the dancing embers and laugh.
“What are you smiling about?” he asks, caressing my newly cut shoulder-length tresses, his fingers trailing over the curve of my bare shoulders.
“I have a lot to smile about,” I say, meeting his eyes upside down. “Don’t I?”
“I certainly hope so,” he growls. “Or I’ll have some ass-kicking to do otherwise.”
I laugh again and snuggle closer to him as our pack grows louder among the full moon party. Across the flames, I catch sight of Brax with his new girlfriend, my interest piqued as I study her closely.
I take a moment to take in my surroundings, and I am so grateful that I can now live in peace with Nox—my Alpha and my fated mate.
The territory lines were firmly established with new boundary markers that both packs agreed on, officially ending twenty years of disputes. There have even been a couple of barbecue get-togethers between the packs, proving the old animosity has dissipated.
“Have you spoken to Emeric lately?” I sit up slightly and sweep my hair off my face to look at Nox.
