Page 96 of Wishing for a Werewolf
“I’m sorry that goat-time doesn’t work like human-time, but it wasnota million years. It was only yesterday evening.”
More bleats, and Babybelle snuggles closer, tucking her head under Autumn’s chin.
My fire lets out a jaw-creaking yawn. “Oh, sorry.” Then she grins at me. “Someonekept me up all night.”
“I certainly did.” I smile back.
My knot didn’t release her until an hour ago. We spent the entire night taking short naps in between bouts of loving. I woke her this morning with my head buried between her freckled thighs, licking her until she screamed my name one final time.
A smile tugs at my lips as I rub my chest, feeling the warmth of our mate bond hum between us, now fullyformed. I’ve never felt so content—had no idea such a feeling was even possible. When I made my heart wish for a fated mate, my hope felt nebulous and unformed, a vague yearning brought about because of stories I heard.
Nothing could have prepared me for the reality of loving Autumn, of being bound to her for this life and beyond. Hearing her laugh, seeing her smile or get angry or determined—I love them all. I love how she feels everything so acutely, filling the world with color and life and an immediacy that makes me cherish every second.
I wrap an arm around her and press a kiss to her sunshine hair. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She leans into me, and we stand in a bubble of peaceful happiness, even the mini-goat quiet for once.
Then more high voices call from outside. “Uncle Rune!” “Uncle Rune!”
The twins! I throw open the door and dart outside, dew-covered leaves crunching under my bare feet, cool morning air flowing over my face.
On the other side of the fence, Astrid and Agnar stand at the edge of the forest, their mother a few paces behind them. All three of them are in their werewolf forms.
Then magic shivers through the air, and they shift into fae, with the distinctive pointed ears and fangs that mark them as something not quite human. My niece and nephew have the look of our family, with tan skin, deep-brown hair, and golden eyes. Astrid’s a bit taller, and Agnar’s a bit stockier, but both are fine children.
“You shifted!” I yell and vault the fence to scoop themup in my arms.
Riselda wraps the three of us in a hug. “Thank you, my brother. None of this would have been possible without you.” Her words are choked with emotion, and I know exactly how she feels.
A similar joy fills me, burning away the last of my worries. The pups can shift into all three of their forms. It’s more than a personal goal obtained. It also means there’s no longer any reason to worry about the next generation of cu sith. They’ll grow up as our people were always meant to, comfortable in every shifted form.
When Riselda lets go, I spin toward the cottage, a child perched on each hip. “They did it!”
Autumn watches us from the doorway, her smile radiant. “I’m so proud of you two!”
“As am I,” I say, squeezing them to me.
Little fingers play with my hair, and they both grin. “We deserve treats!” “All the treats!”
Riselda laughs. “I tried to give them cereal for breakfast, but they wanted pastries from Cake My Day.”
“My car’s still in town, so we don’t have a quick way to get there,” Autumn says. “But we can make pancakes.”
“With chocolate chips?” Astrid asks.
“Sure. Chocolate chip pancakes are totally a thing.”
“Yay, pancakes!” Agnar says. Then he leans close to whisper to me, “What are pancakes?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
There are still so many things I can’t teach them, because I lack the necessary knowledge. But I don’t need to worry about it any longer, because I have the best help anyonecould ask for.
My fire has already shown me so many amazing things about Earth and living as a man, and I know she’ll teach me a million more. With her by my side, I can do anything, because I’m no longer alone. We’ll tackle what comes next the same way we’ve done everything so far. Together.
“Let’s go find out,” I say to the twins as Autumn beckons us into the cottage.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
