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They brought me home.

To the cabin where the floor creaks in the kitchen and the porch railing leans ever so slightly to the left.

The truck stops, engine idling for a second before Boone cuts it. I glance toward the house. Mae is already on the porch. Sheriff Collins is behind her. I almost laugh at the idea of him playing nanny while we were gone. But he was the perfect choice to watch over our little girl.

She stands just to the left of the door, one hand on the post, her socked feet planted with quiet determination. She watches me, her little face unreadable in a way I’ve only ever seen in adults.

I swing my legs out and step down, boots sinking into the damp earth. There’s a pause and then Mae runs toward me as fast as she can.

Her arms wrap around my waist so hard I stagger backward, laughing through the tears already burning behind my eyes.

“You said you wouldn’t leave.”

The words hit me directly in the chest. I sink to my knees. My hands find her back and I just hold her. I never want to forget what this feels like—this small, fierce person choosing me with her whole heart.

“I know, baby. I know.” My voice breaks on the edges. “I’m so sorry. I was scared, but I swear to you—I’m not going anywhere again.”

Jonah crouches beside us. One of his hands rests gently on Mae’s back.

“And if she tries,” he says, his gaze meeting mine with a softness, “we’ll hunt her to the ends of the earth, right?”

My heart stutters for a moment. But it doesn’t sound like Davit or my parents. It doesn’t feel like control. He’s not warning me to behave. He’s making a promise to always choose me.

Mae giggles into my shoulder.

The sound cracks something open in me. I laugh too and lean my head against hers. Jonah’s eyes crease at the corners, and he smiles in a way that makes it feel like everything will be okay.

And for once, I believe it.

My arms tighten around Mae. I want to stay in this moment forever, just breathing in the scent of her hair and the warmth of Jonah’s hand resting steady against her back.

I lift my head and look at Jonah. “I love you,” I say. The words are barely above a whisper, but they feel enormous in my mouth.

I watch as this big brute of a man softens. Every hard line in his expression slips into something gentle. He pulls me and Mae into his arms without hesitation. His mouth presses to my temple.

I close my eyes for a moment and let myself feel all of it.

When I open my eyes again, Boone is standing near the steps. His arms are crossed, and he’s still wary in a way I think he’ll always be, but there’s something else there now.

Finn steps up behind him with a big smile on his face.

I wipe my face with one hand, brushing away the tears. I reach toward them and the words just fall out of my mouth.

“I love you,” I say. “All of you.”

“I want to stay,” I say. “I want to try to make this work. I know it’s not…normal. I know it doesn’t make sense.”

Finn grins with all that open-hearted joy he never tries to hide.

“We’re already sharing a daughter,” he says, his voice thick. “Why not a wife too?”

I blink and then stare at him, stunned.

“A wife?” I repeat, breath catching.

He shrugs, smiling like it’s obvious. “Yeah. A wife. When you’re ready, I’ll ask you again.”

I laugh again, this time loud enough to echo off the trees. Jonah leans his head against mine and says nothing. Boone shakes his head, but he doesn’t look away.