Page 19 of Echoes of Us
She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, or if every Shifter in that yard would stand by their Alpha’s side. But she knew one thing for certain...she had found her way back to where she was meant to be.
And this time, she wasn’t running.
CHAPTER 10
Talon tuned out the roar of the crowd as they drifted back into the party, letting the noise become background to the only thing that mattered. He kept Willow close, pressing her to him as if he could fuse them together with the heat of his body.
“Are you okay?” he murmured into the soft sweep of her hair, his voice low and raw with worry.
Willow tipped her chin up, smile bright against his chest. “Never better,” she breathed. “Did you plan this?”
Talon eased back just enough to look down at her. Moonlight caught the edge of his jaw; his eyes were steady as stone. “Not exactly like this,” he admitted. “But yes. I was going to ask you tonight.” He swallowed as he tried to shape the next words, the ones that felt too heavy for the moment. “Willow, I know I put you on the spot, but I wanted everyone to know where I stand when it comes to you. If you want to reconsider what you just agreed to, I… I understand. I know I’m asking a lot.”
She blinked, startled by the sudden caution in him, an offer of escape she knew he didn’t really mean. Willow tipped her head, searching his face. “You didn’t mean a word of that, did you?”
A half-grin eased across his mouth. “No,” he said, honest and amused. “I didn’t. There is no way in hell I’m letting you walk out of my life again.”
She laughed then, a wet, delighted sound, and reached up to smooth a hand over his cheek. “I love you, Talon. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. And you don’t have to marry me to make me yours. Being your mate is enough.”
Talon’s eyebrow arched in mock offense. “So I can have the ring back?” he teased.
Willow shoved her hand behind her, clearly guarding the glittering circle. “Absolutely not,” she said, shaking her head. She sighed and then softened. “Fine. What I should have said is...being your mate and wearing this ring—both—are more than enough.”
Talon threw his head back and laughed, the sound huge and full. It echoed into the clearing like a promise.
At that moment, Cory reappeared at Talon’s shoulder, dragging Barron by the arm. “What do you want me to do with this asshole?” he spat.
Talon’s laughter cut off. He stepped forward, eyes turning from happy to rage in a heartbeat. “Get his things and make sure he’s escorted out,” he ordered, voice steady but thick with fury. Then, grabbing Barron by the throat in a bruising grip that left no doubt of his strength, he leaned in close enough for only Barronto hear. “If I ever see you again, I’ll make you wish you’d stayed gone. Is that understood?”
Cory gave Barron a cold shake. “He asked you a fucking question,” he muttered in Barron’s ear as he shoved him along.
“Understood,” Barron choked out, his eyes refusing to meet Talon’s.
Cory hauled him toward the edge of the clearing without another word, and Talon watched him go, every muscle in his body tight as wire. The anger that had flared hot enough to burn deep in his soul steadied into something more dangerous: a hard promise. He didn’t want to be his father; he would never become that man. He would not kill a man over words. However, he would not tolerate someone who disrespected the woman he loved.
Willow slid her hand into his, fingers curling around his knuckles. “You okay?” she whispered.
He closed his eyes for a blink, letting the adrenaline ebb. “I’m fine,” he lied softly, then gave her a raw smile. “No. I’m not fine. But I am okay because you’re here.”
She leaned up and kissed him, slow and sure, and for a blessed moment the world narrowed to that shared breath. He’d given Barron a warning he wouldn’t forget. If the man came back, there would be consequences, swift and final. Talon’s anger had a line; he hoped Barron never crossed it again.
Around them, the party picked back up, laughter and music spilling into the trees. Willow rested her head against Talon’s chest and let the steady beat beneath her ear reassure her. Whatever came next, whether it was pack politics, old ghosts, or the murmurs of those who still clung to Arthur’s memory, they would face it together.
Talon tightened his hold just once, an unspoken vow: he would fight for her, protect her, and make sure no one ever dared speak to her the way Barron had.
Soft music drifted through the cooling night air, the gentle hum of conversation fading as Talon pulled Willow close. The world seemed to slow around them. Fireflies danced along the edge of the trees, and the faint glow of lanterns cast golden light across her hair. With her head resting on his chest and her hand resting lightly over his heart, Talon swayed with her, matching the rhythm of the song to the steady beat beneath her palm. For the first time in his life, he felt whole, utterly, and peacefully content.
A few pack members nearby glanced their way, offering quiet smiles and nods of approval. It wasn’t the validation that mattered. He didn’t need that, but seeing his Pack relaxed and happy filled him with pride. This was what leadership was supposed to look like: unity, peace, and a love worth protecting.
“I’d better call my grandfather,” Willow murmured, looking up at him with those deep, soulful eyes that always seemed to pull him in. “He’ll never forgive me if someone else tells him first.”
Talon’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile as he brushed a kiss against her forehead. “He already knows.”
Her brows lifted in surprise. “He does?”
“I asked his permission to marry you before you came outside before we left,” he said softly, his voice rich with emotion.
Willow gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears welled up. “You did?”
