Page 68 of Whisker me Away
"I accept," he said without hesitation. "With gratitude."
After the ceremony concluded and the formal congratulations were exchanged, Kieran found himself walking through town with Emmett Hollowell, as they discussed what his new role might entail.
"You realize what this means, don't you?" Emmett asked as they passed the Hollow Mercantile, where Edgar was hanging fresh autumn decorations with obvious contentment. "You're not just accepting a job. You're accepting a future here."
"I know." Kieran paused to watch a group of children playing in the town square, their laughter echoing off buildings that showed no trace of the corruption that had threatened to destroy everything. "A few weeks ago, that would have terrified me. Now it feels like the most natural thing in the world."
"That's what finding your mate does to you," Emmett said with knowing amusement. "Changes everything you thought you knew about what you wanted from life."
"Did you ever think about it? Taking a more active role in council business?" Kieran asked, genuinely curious about how other shifters navigated the balance between independence and community responsibility.
"All the time. Especially after Katniss and I completed our bond." Emmett's expression grew thoughtful. "There's something about having a mate that makes you want to build things instead of just protecting them. Makes you think aboutlegacy, about the kind of world you're leaving for future generations."
"Future generations," Kieran repeated, the words settling in his chest with unexpected weight. "I never used to think that far ahead."
"And now?"
"Now I catch myself planning decades into the future and automatically assuming Freya will be part of all of it." The admission came easier than expected. "It's like my brain has rewired itself to think in terms of 'we' instead of 'I.'"
"Welcome to being properly mated," Emmett said with a grin. "It only gets worse from here."
They continued walking until they reached The Silver Fang Tavern, where Maeve was polishing glasses behind the bar with the kind of fierce satisfaction that suggested she'd heard about the council ceremony already.
"Well, well," she said as they entered. "Look who's officially one of us now. About time the council recognized what the rest of us have known for years."
"Which is?" Kieran settled onto his usual barstool, noting how the familiar routine felt even more comfortable now that he knew it was permanent.
"That you belong here, you stubborn cat." Maeve's smile was sharp with affection. "I always knew you'd find your place eventually. Just took you longer than most to stop fighting what was obvious to everyone else."
"I wasn't fighting anything," Kieran protested. "I was being practical about temporary arrangements."
"Right. Temporary." Maeve's laugh was rich with amusement. "Nothing says temporary like spending fifteen years building a life somewhere."
"Fifteen years of being ready to leave at any moment," he corrected. "There's a difference."
"Was a difference," she said, emphasizing the past tense. "Now you're planning to stick around permanently, help navigate politics, maybe even think about adding little tigers to the family tree someday."
The casual reference to children made something flutter in Kieran's chest. The idea didn't terrify him the way it would have just weeks ago. Instead, it felt like a possibility, like another piece of the future he was building with Freya.
"One step at a time," he said, but his voice lacked conviction.
"Uh-huh." Maeve's knowing grin suggested she could see right through his attempted deflection. "Just remember to invite me to the wedding."
"What wedding?"
"The one you're going to propose for as soon as you work up the courage to admit you want forever with that witch of yours."
Kieran nearly choked on his drink. "I'm not ready for marriage proposals."
"Aren't you?" Maeve leaned against the bar, her dark eyes holding the kind of perception that came from knowing someone for decades. "It looks like you're a man who's finally figured out what he wants from life. And what you want is a future with Freya that's as permanent as you can make it."
Before Kieran could formulate a response, the tavern door opened to admit Freya herself, glowing with happiness that made his heart skip beats. She spotted him immediately and crossed the room with the kind of unconscious grace that never failed to mesmerize him.
"There you are," she said, settling beside him with easy familiarity. "I've been looking everywhere for you. We need to talk about our future."
"Our future?" Kieran's voice came out slightly strangled, Maeve's words about proposals still echoing in his head.
"About staying in Hollow Oak permanently," Freya clarified, though something in her expression suggested she was thinking about more than just geographic location. "Building a real life here together instead of always being ready to leave at a moment's notice."
