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Perry

We didn't waitlong to make our union official. Two days after the race, Arthur and I were wed in a small ceremony held in the apple orchard behind the Luna estate, with only our immediate family in attendance. After the ceremony, I announced that Arthur and I were going to be having ababy.

That night,we snuck away from the house while all the rest of the family was partying. After everything that'd we'd gone through, we just needed some time alone together to let it all sink in. So we headed to the old race track. It just seemed to be the obvious place togo.

We were surprisedto find the track was being used by a group of young, wannabe racers, so we quietly made our way up to the announcer’s box to watch them. They zipped around the track, their bikes like flitting fireflies in the darkness. Arthur put his arm around me and hugged me close, our legs dangling off the roof of the building. I rested my hands in his, and he gently touched the wedding band that was around my finger. A stillness came over me then, like the moment of peace before drifting off to sleep. Today was the first day of our lives together. It was still hard for me to imagine. It didn't feel quite real, but we were together. Married and mated. Alpha andomega.

"I'm quitting wolf-cycle racing,"Arthur announced, suddenly. "That was my lastrace."

"But you love to race."

"I'll always lovethe sport. But I don't need to race anymore. Whatever happiness racing gave me is nothing compared to the happiness I feel when I'm with you. It's served its purpose. I'm done with it. And especially with our baby coming." He smiled. "I'm ready to moveon."

"We made a hell of a team,"Isaid.

He kissed me. "We still do."

The soundof the bikes on the track drifted up to us like calls from the past, one that had already begun to slip away. All the pain and the wounds of our time apart would heal now, and we would create new memories together as mates and asfamily.

"Perry Luna,"Arthur whispered to me. "I'll love youforever."