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Slowly.

Sweetly.

Blissfully.

When we were done, I cuddled up against him. His arms were around me, holding me close.

“I think I’m in love with you, Beck,” I whispered, voicing the words that had been running through my mind.

It was too soon.

Everything had happened too fast.

But I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

“I’m in love with you too, Si. And I always will be. Aeternum.”

Aeternum was the word to ignite a mate bond.

It meant forever, and sealed two souls just as long.

I didn’t have to reply.

I knew I could’ve stayed quiet.

Beck would’ve waited as long as I needed him to, despite our conversation about sealing the bond soon.

But I didn’t want to wait.

I wanted him to know that I cared about him just as much as he cared about me.

“Aeternum,” I murmured back.

For a moment, time stood still.

Tingles ran down my spine and through my body.

I felt as something within me changed, falling into place when our bond sealed our souls as one.

We were far from perfect, but we were together.

We were committed.

And I couldn’t wait to see what our future would hold.

epilogue

BAUTHER

Our three-year-old ran around the house with Tori and Vex while Sienna bit into a croissant. She was leaning up against me, using her rounded belly as a table to hold the sugar cookie she was going to have for dessert.

“I can’t wait to be as far along as you so I have a built-in table,” Love complained, her hand resting on her own small baby bump. “All I have right now is gas.”

“Gas is way better than the tiny punk kicking you in the ribs. I’d take gas over a table any day,” Sienna said.

Both her pregnancies had gone smoothly, which was a damn miracle. I would’ve felt like shit if she’d struggled after I accidentally knocked her up.

“Dad!” our toddler yelled, sprinting toward me. He was a handful—one I was grateful for every fucking day.