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“I know many of you have questions. Many of you are wondering who the woman beside me is. Some of you might already know. Some…have only heard stories.” He pauses, looking at me. “Contrary to what the rumors have been saying, she is not to blame for me taking Julian’s life. My nephew was a loose cannon from the get-go, and when he threatened what was mine, I did what I had to do for the pack, for my woman, and for my daughter.”

The murmurs that bounce around are loud. I try my best not to pay attention to them and focus on Alaric.

“Allow me to reintroduce the woman standing beside me because she is not just my Mate or the love of my life. She is not just the mother of my child, either. She is Irene Mira, the Moonlight Alpha’s long-lost daughter and your Luna.”

There’s a beat of silence. Then murmurs and gasps spread like wildfire.

Elder Tenno nods solemnly.

Elder Matthew nods in understanding.

A few wolves bow. Then, slowly and almost majestically, the crowd falls to their knees in respect, an action that both catchesme off guard and sends me covering my mouth with my hand in shock.

As if that shock isn’t quite enough, Alaric turns to me, his eyes burning with the same heat I feel every time he touches me, kisses me, or makes love to me.

“And now, allow me to do something I’ve been meaning to do since this night started.”

Alaric puts Lina down, and our daughter jumps up in excitement, like she knows something I don’t..

He reaches into his jacket, his eyes still glued to mine.

He drops to one knee.

Gasps echo all the more.

And me? I stop breathing.

“I don’t want this union to be about politics. No one is taking what belongs to you because it’s all yours, Lila. I don’t want it to be about duty or legacy either. I want it to be about us, baby. About the night you stumbled into that bar and wrecked me with one kiss. About the woman who stood her ground even when the universe was hellbent on stacking everything against her. About the mother who fought tooth and nail for her daughter. I want forever with you, Lila Irene Winter.”

He opens the box.

Inside, is a ring crafted from black moonstone and etched with twin wolves, one howling, the other standing guard.

My hands tremble before he even pops the question.

Tears burn my eyelids and I let them fall because I would have never guessed we’d get this far.

“Will you marry me?”

I blink. Once. Twice. Not too sure I heard him right.

“Say yes, Mommy!” Lina tugs at my dress.

“Say yes to our Alpha!” Ethan shouts from the crowd before everyone joins him in an echo of the call.

My knees buckle as I drop to him.

I cup his face, hot tears streaking down my cheeks as Lina claps excitedly beside us.

“Yes,” I whisper. “A thousand times, yes.”

The pack erupts in cheers. Howls echo across the estate.

I don’t give Alaric the chance to put the ring on my finger because I lunge into his arms, locking his lips with mine.

And in that moment, I know I’m home.

One month later