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He exhaled, long and slow, before turning to me.“Yeah.It’s just strange.Seeing it all come crashing down like this.I hated what she stood for, what she did, but she’s still my mother.And now she’s gone.”He looked at me, his eyes searching mine for understanding.“Does that make me weak?To feel this way?”

I shook my head, my heart aching for him.“No.It makes you human.You’re allowed to grieve the mother you deserved, even if she wasn’t the one you had.”

I squeezed his hand, my thumb brushing over his knuckles.“It’s over.She can’t hurt you anymore.”

“I know,” he said.“It’s just, I spent so much of my life running from her, from all of it.And now…”

“Now you’re free,” I finished for him.

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw the weight of everything he’d carried.The guilt, the fear, the anger.But then he smiled, slowly but genuinely.“Yeah.I am.”

The rest of the day was quiet, the two of us wrapped in our bubble, safe from the chaos outside.But that evening, Sterling surprised me with a reservation at Elysium.The maître d’ led us to a private table by the window, and as Sterling pulled out my chair, I caught the faintest smirk on the man’s face before he discreetly slipped away.

The meal was exquisite, each course a deliciously crafted piece of art.But it wasn’t the food or the shimmering city view that made the night unforgettable.It was the way Sterling looked at me, like I was the only thing in the room that mattered.

When the dessert plates were cleared, he stood, holding out his hand.“Dance with me.”

I raised an eyebrow.“Here?”

He grinned, pulling me to my feet.“Why not?”

The restaurant’s soft music swelled as he led me to the small dance floor.His arms wrapped around me.The violin’s melody wrapped around us, the scent of roses from the centerpiece mingling with his scent.His hand was warm against the small of my back, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear.I rested my head against his chest.

“I never thought I’d have this,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.“A life that’s mine.A future I can be proud of.You.”His lips brushed my temple.“I love you, Ariel.More than I ever thought possible.”

I tilted my head back to look at him, my throat tight.“I love you too,” I whispered.“Always.”

His hand cupped my cheek.“You didn’t just remind me of who I could be,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.“You showed me how to get there.Every step of the way, you were there, pushing me, believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

I smiled, my heart swelling.“You did the hard part, Sterling.I just held your hand.”

He shook his head, his gaze unwavering.“No.You gave me the courage to take the first step.”

He hesitated for a moment, his grip tightening slightly around me.“When I was a kid, I used to sneak onto the roof of our estate and pretend I could see the whole city,” he admitted.“I’d imagine a life where I wasn’t a Nightfang, where I could just be me.But I never thought it would actually happen.”He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze.“And then you came along.”

I smiled, tracing the line of his jaw with my fingertips.“And now you have it all.”

“No,” he corrected, pressing a kiss to my palm.“Now I have you.That’s everything.”

The music faded, but we stayed on the dance floor, wrapped in each other’s arms.I wasn’t just surviving anymore either.The girl who’d once been afraid to dream too big was gone.In her place was a woman who’d found her voice, her strength, and her place in the world.It was right here, in Sterling’s arms.Together, we weren’t just thriving.We were unstoppable.

Chapter 13

STERLING

The restaurant was alive with the hum of conversation and laughter.For the launch party of Ariel’s biography, we were hosting a party at Elysium.Champagne flowed freely and no expense was spared for the event.The 360-degree windows offered a breathtaking view of Huntington Harbor, and the ocean surrounding the shores of the city.

I stood near the bar with a glass of whiskey in my hand as I watched the crowd.It was a mix of business associates, former teammates, media personalities, and friends.Dean and Nina were across the room, deep in conversation with a group of investors.Dean caught my eye and raised his glass in a silent toast.I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips.

It was surreal, to see this room filled with people who had come to celebrate me.The book, a raw and unfiltered account of my life, had already climbed the bestseller lists, and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive.For the first time in my life, I felt like I was being seen for who I truly was instead of a cursed extension of my family.

Then her scent hit me.The reason any of this was possible.Even before she spoke, my skin prickled with recognition.My wolf purred in contentment that she was here.

“You look like you’re about to bolt,” a familiar voice teased, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turned to see Ariel standing behind me, her gray eyes sparkling with amusement.The sight of her almost made me drop my glass.Her emerald gown clung to every curve, and her hair was swept up in an elegant twist that begged to be pulled loose.She looked radiant, and for a moment, I was struck speechless that this gorgeous woman was my mate.

“Just taking it all in,” I admitted, setting my glass down.“I can’t believe the book’s finally out.”