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“Safe,” he rumbled, slurring around his fangs. “Don’t hurt pack. Safe.Mine.”

Uncle Roy snarled. But Ben and Sabine were there, and Grandmother, who limped up to fix him with a stare that made Oliver’s tail twitch.

Uncle Roy’s ears flattened against his head. He gave another weak growl, but Grandmother nipped his flattened ear, and the growl turned into a whine.

Luna’s breath hitched. She’d never seen him like this, Oliver remembered as he twisted to look at her.

For a second, Luna looked uncertain. Then her face split into a wondrous smile.

“Hi,” she whispered. Her hand sunk into Oliver’s fur, right at the back of his neck.

Oliver shuddered at the rightness of it filled him up. His wolf was back, Luna was back—he felt complete. Like a puzzle piece finally clicking into place.

Luna yanked her hand back. “Oh no, sorry!”

“No,” Oliver replied, still slurring through a mouth not made for speech. “’S good.”

He nosed at her wrist, licking the warm skin. Then he paused. There was no wedding ring on her finger. Not even an engagement ring.

He couldn’t think properly like this. He closed his eyes and reached down inside him, pulling the human back. When he opened his eyes, he was looking down at Luna, his clothes in tatters.

Oliver swallowed. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“I do.” Luna hesitated. Then she laid a hand over his chest, skin exposed by his ripped shirt. “Here. With you.”

Behind them, his family was nudging Uncle Roy further into the woods. Uncle Roy let out an irritated yip but let it happen.

“How long?” Oliver asked.

“Um,” Luna said, cheeks flushed. “As long as you let me?”

A howl echoed through the trees, loud and joyous. Another one joined it. All over town, the pack would know. The aunts would head back, kids in tow. Time to run.

Luna laughed, startled. “Do you want to go with them? It’s been a while.”

She started to drop her hand. He caught it, pressing it back to his chest. Her hand was cool, but it was warming up fast.

“Later,” he said. “I need to get changed. There’s a fair in town. Want to come with me?”

Luna grinned. “Love to.”

Two Years Later

Luna sprawled back on the bed, fingers drumming on the fine beading of her wedding dress.

“Almond,” she instructed.

Sabine leaned over and dropped a chocolate-covered almond into her open mouth. They’d started this when Luna’s nails were wet. They were desert dry now, but Sabine kept offering, and who was Luna to turn down hand-fed almonds?

“Thanks.” Luna crunched the almond, letting out a happy sigh. “God, Beth really cracked the jackpot with these. I want to eat nothing but Prickles chocolate almonds for the rest of my life.”

“I’m sure Beth can arrange something,” Sabine said.

The door creaked open. Luna’s dad poked his head in, clearing his throat.

“It’s time,” he said. “I’m supposed to, uh…”

He motioned stiffly with his elbow.