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Then. Now. Always.

Harry gawked around Havenhood Park, the entire grassy knoll and Starlight Gazebo lit up with hundreds of flickering flames, making it look like predawn instead of near midnight on the night of the witcher moon.

“This is a lot of candles,” she stated obviously. “And has to be breaching some sort of fire code or something.”

“If we were indoors, definitely.” Elodie beamed proudly. “Which is why we abandoned the idea of doing it at Angel Defense. Then Grace suggested here because… well… we’re not exactly sure how things will go and this is the most open spot in town.”

Harry snorted but understood. This was uncharted territory for them all. “This is perfect. Hopefully all of Fates Haven will remain safely tucked in their beds through this entire process. It’s a small miracle that this place is as empty as it is.”

“I may have had something to do with that.” Jax swaggered across the knoll, a coy smirk on his face. Gavin, Silas, and Maddox trailed behind, taking in the sights of all the candles.

“And how is that?” Harry asked, curious.

He wrapped her up in a hug that instantly soothed her rampaging jitters. They were definitely doing this public thing, and the knowledge sent a flutter of butterflies through her stomach.

She failed to fight off a grin, cocking up an eyebrow in a copy of his signature move. “What did you do? Because I can’t imagine the people of Fates Haven sitting tight in their rooms while something potentially big was about to go down.”

He shrugged, smirking. “I may have passed it around that tonight was the Ass Bite Moon, the once-in-five-hundred-years phenomenon when shifters are overcome with the urge to bite any ass that comes into their line of sight. And bites received on such a night are a real bitch to heal. Not really something someone wants to experience when the bite is on their ass.”

“I’ve never in my life heard of an Ass Bite Moon.”

“Neither did I until I thought it up.” His smirk widened into a full-blown grin. “And before you ask, no. None of the pack will breathe a word of it to anyone who doesn’t sprout a tail, or else they’ll be on shit-shovel duty for the next month.”

“My hero,” she said wryly.

“All right, everyone.” Nora clapped her hands, gaining everyone’s attention. “Let’s all get into our places, and by that, I mean anyone without a magical affinity needs to get off my lawn.” She chuckled. “I’ve always wanted to say that.… Now scoot.”

Elodie and Lenny gave Harry supportive hugs before following Maddox and the guys into the gazebo. Cassie went next, looking a bit more than nervous, and then Jax took Harry’s face in his hands and guided her attention to him.

“You got this.”

“I got this,” she repeated.

“You are the Fate Witch.”

“I am.”

“Now track down that dragon shifter so I can start calling you my little dragon hunter.” He hauled her into a hot, hard kiss and slapped her ass before joining the others.

And then there were two…

Grace nibbled her thumbnail, her gaze flicking to the magical infinity symbol that Nora had created with wildflowers.

“Have you changed your mind about wanting to try this?” Harry gently saved Grace’s nail from further harm and held her hand.

“No. I want to do this. I need to do this.”

Nora joined them, holding a silken length of fabric in her hand. “Are you two ready?”

“Are you sure we have to involve Grace in this?” Harry asked. “I don’t like her being so close in case things go wonky.”

“You’re trying to find someone with whom she shares DNA. Having her be part of the searching process will hopefully put a bit more oomph behind the spell.”

Harry squeezed the teen’s hand and then Nora wrapped the golden fabric around their wrists, linking them physically moments before Harry herself would link them magically. They stepped onto the flowery infinity symbol together, one in each loop, and then Nora, too, joined the others in the gazebo.

“Just hold on tight,” Harry instructed after a slow breath. “And don’t leave the circle unless I tell you to run and duck. Okay?”

Grace nodded, took a deep breath, and held Harry’s hand tightly. “Let’s do this.”

Closing her eyes, Harry tilted her free hand palm up toward the brightly lit moon, and called on her magic. She’d called on it countless times through her life, used to the warm, slow spread of magic through her veins.

But this felt different.

It felt like… more.

More magic. More strength. More everything.

She sucked in a quick breath as she attempted to draw the magic into a tight ball in the center of her magical core. She let it build, one second at a time, and invited more magic to join the party. Sweat dotted her forehead, and her heart beat like a drum in her chest.

“Harry…” Grace’s softly murmured voice squeezed through her concentration.

“It’s okay. I’m okay.” Once she hit a certain point, all her uncertainty shifted and she knew it was time.

She called on her descry magic and, still gripping Grace’s hand, released that magical ball concentrated in her center. Her face automatically tilted toward the sky as it released in a rush of bright, hot, pulsing golden waves.

Soft gasps sounded around them, but Harry concentrated, directing the magic to search. To find. To locate and call.

A massive golden cloud formed in the sky.

Grace sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes locked on the formation. “It looks like a dragon . It looks like my dragon.”

A slow smile spread on Harry’s lips.

It did… and it was gorgeous.

Cassie reached them first; and not long after, everyone swarmed, taking turns with hugs and keeping an eye on the sky. The magical sky-dragon slowly dissipated, melting into the dark backdrop of the star-laden heavens.

“Did it work?” Cassie asked first. “Do you know where Luke is?”

“I couldn’t latch on to a location.” Harry pulled her friend into a tight hug at the sight of her disappointed look. “But if he’s looking even the slightest bit, he’ll be able to latch on to ours. I know it’s not exactly what we ho—”

“Thank you so much, Harry.” Grace flung herself into her arms, squeezing her into the tightest hug she’d ever given her. “I know it worked. He’ll find us. I don’t know how I know, but I do.”

With a hopeful smile, Harry patted the teen and held her until Grace pulled away and leaped into her mother’s arms. Everyone talked excitedly, divvying up the task of packing up Elodie’s hundreds of candles while Harry stayed back, watching her friends and family.

Jax’s arms slipped around her waist from behind, his mouth coasting over her ear. “You did it, and you looked fucking amazing.”

“He’s in the fae realm. Luke.” She turned in Jax’s arms and sighed. “I don’t know where, but I could tell that he’s not here , and if the portals are closed…”

He studied her carefully. “You’re afraid he won’t be able to cross over.”

“According to Tomlyn, inter-realm travel abilities are the exception, not the norm. If Luke isn’t one of those exceptions, he could theoretically hear and see the Call but not be able to do anything about it.”

Jax cupped her cheek. “If Luke is even half as resourceful as his daughter, he’ll find a way.”

Harry hoped so. She couldn’t withstand disappointing anyone else she cared about… especially Grace.

Hearing laughter in the background, she glanced at everyone she called family and couldn’t help but smile. Without help from Remus, she didn’t know how the hell she was supposed to go about getting the magic of Fates Haven back on track, but one thing she did know was that she wouldn’t rest until she did.

A N HOUR AGO , Jax had thought this was a good idea. Now, faced with the actual implementation of this genius plan, he questioned his judgment. Did that mean he wouldn’t go through with it?

Nope.

He wasn’t leaving until he got what he came for, and that meant he needed to figure this out. It had been so damn easy when all he’d had to do was climb a damn tree.

He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, limbering up before he called on his mountain lion. The bastard rushed to the surface, eager to stretch his legs, and Jax let him, pulling the shift to the surface. In a few blinks, he stood on four paws, his night vision spot-on and locked on its target about twelve feet above.

Cougar Jax dropped to the ground, tension coiling in his bottom half as it prepped to pounce… and then he leaped, clearing the distance easily.

His paws slipped on the awning’s tin tile before he found traction and bumped his head against the bedroom window. He did it a second time, and then did he same with his paw, sans claws.

A light flicked on in the room and then Harry stared at him from the other side, her mouth agape as she opened the window for him to enter. He hopped into her room and shifted back, sheepish smirk in place.

“Were you sleeping?” he asked coyly.

“Honestly? No. I’ve been trying for about two hours now with no luck. Too much going through my head. You?” Her gaze dropped to his naked form, lips twitching. “Never mind. Unless you sleepwalk naked and while in cougar form, I guess you weren’t sleeping either.”

“I was too busy planning your kidnapping to go to sleep.” He guided her into his arms and she melted instantly. Fuck, he loved how her body responded to his. “Escape with me.”

She giggled as he ran a series of kisses over her jaw and down her neck. “I seriously can’t believe you stripped naked to shift and sneak into my room. We aren’t sixteen anymore, Jax. You could’ve used the front door.”

“And lose some of the excitement? Nah. Plus, I was afraid I’d get a lecture from the current sixteen-year-old in the house. Someone told me she’s a dragon. I definitely don’t want to fuck with her. Now, about that escape…” He nipped her bottom lip. “Let’s go on an adventure.”

Her eyes heated. “Fine. But I am not jumping off the roof.”

“Catlike agility. No jumping needed.” He swept her legs up into his arms and easily climbed through the open window.

“Oh my god. Oh my god.” Harry buried her face in his neck with a squeal, not able to watch as he dropped them effortlessly to the ground.

He hustled them to his truck. Before getting behind the wheel, he slipped back into his jeans and boots, forgoing his shirt altogether.

“Escape time.” Jax hauled her right next to him as he drove down the Pierce House drive and headed toward Mystic Lake.

“And where are we escaping to?” Harry snuggled close.

“It wouldn’t be a kidnapping if I told you,” he teased back.

Less than a few minutes later, and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise. They both knew the way toward Mystic Lake better than the backs of their hands. In the winter, it was quite the ordeal to navigate the back roads, but this time of year the route was damn near scenic, not a single cloud in the sky.

Harry played with his fingers as they held hands on the quiet drive, but it wasn’t an awkward quiet. It was a comforting silence, and while neither of them talked, he could almost hear the million and one thoughts whirring through her head.

She needed this getaway as much as he did, and he was ten types of thrilled he could be the one to give it to her.

He made the last turn and backed up the truck, pointing its bed toward the lake. She followed him out of the cab and watched as he jumped into the back, where he pulled out a bevy of pillows and blankets from the storage box. Once everything was in its place, he gave the setup a critical eye and turned to see her amusement.

“What? I wanted to make sure we were comfortable.” Heat crept into his cheeks.

“Did you steal every pillow and blanket from every house in Fates Haven? Because it sure looks like you did.”

“You won’t be complaining when you feel like your ass is sitting on a cloud, baby. Now get it up here and tell me I’m right.” He grabbed her hands and hauled her up for a quick kiss before sitting and bringing her between the vee of his legs, her back facing his chest.

She emitted a soft sigh and looked out over the crystal lake, the moon’s bright reflection a gorgeous mirror across the glassy surface. Combined with the abundant stars and the army of fireflies skimming over the water like mobile stars themselves, the view was almost ethereal.

“I will never get used to this kind of beauty.” Harry settled against him, her head drifting to his shoulder as she dropped her arms to rest on his around her waist. “If anyone ever doubts the presence of magic in this world, all they have to do is see this view and they’ll be firm believers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more magically beautiful.”

“I have.” He brushed his mouth over her ear. “I’m holding her right now.”

She snortled, craning her neck to look at him. “You really need to work on your pickup lines, Jaxon Atwood. Any person with a shred of common sense would see that line coming from a mile away.”

“Pickup lines are for those trying to rope themselves a Mate.” He paused, sucking in a slow breath. “I already have mine.”

Harry froze except for the heavy rise and fall of her chest.

Shit. He hadn’t expected to just hurl it out there with all the finesse of a linebacker, but he couldn’t take it back. He didn’t want to take it back. Harlow Pierce was his Mate in every sense of the word. His one love. His world. There was no use pretending otherwise.

“Harry…” Jax trailed one hand over her shoulder to sweep her hair back from her face. “Did you hear what I said?”

“Yes.” He could barely hear her, even with his shifter hearing… but he could sure as hell hear the fast gallop of her heartbeat.

“And?” He held his breath, his own heart pounding against his chest.

Harry moved slowly from his arms as she turned around, now kneeling between his legs. Her gorgeous purple eyes twinkled in the moonlight as she studied him.

He mentally kicked himself for not being more suave about this. He should’ve tossed out a few feelers to test the metaphorical waters instead of just throwing them both in the deep end like a frat boy doing a cannonball.

“Jax, I—”

“Wait.” He cupped her cheek, placing his thumb over her lush lips. “Let me get everything out before I fucking implode.”

She removed his hand and held it, her fingers squeezing his. “Okay. I’m listening.”

Jax racked his brain in an attempt to find something that didn’t sound clichéd, since everything he’d practiced in the truck on the way to Pierce House abruptly disappeared from his memory vault.

“There’s probably a million and one more romantic ways to go about this, but fuck it all if I can think of them right now,” he said honestly.

Harry gently stroked his hand with her thumb. “I don’t need romantic, Jax. I just need the truth.”

“Truth, huh? Okay.” He took a deep breath and nearly puked. “I’ve loved one person in my entire life, Harlow Pierce. I’ve been in love with that person, even before I really knew what that entire concept meant. From the moment I first laid eyes on you over that purple crayon, I knew you were mine. And when I thought I lost you…”

Tears welled in Harry’s eyes. “Jax, I am so, so sorry for leaving the way I did. Those words seem so inadequate, but they’re the truth, and there isn’t a second that goes by that I don’t wish I could rewind time and do it differently. I should’ve stayed. I should have fought for us.”

Jax fought through his own rush of emotions, the brutal honesty surging forward. “I actually think that maybe things played out the exact way in which they were meant to.”

Harry’s mouth opened, a tinge of hurt on her face that he quickly wanted to extinguish.

“As much as I would’ve cherished having thirteen additional years with you, that time apart has made one thing crystal fucking clear to me.” His gaze locked on hers, he purged everything . “I don’t need some fucking Blue Willow Wisp to tell me what I already know straight to my soul. You’re mine . You’re my Mate . My world. My heart. My… everything . And every surly, broody inch of me is yours . It always has been, and it always will be. From now and for eternity.”

Heat spread high on his cheeks as he studied her contemplative expression, his stomach a ball of nerves. Maybe he’d said too much, laid it on a little too thick, but damn it… it was true.

All of it.

“You don’t have to—”

She shushed him with a palm to his cheek. “My turn now, Alpha Atwood.”

His lips twitched. “You have my undivided attention, my little Fate Witch.”

“First of all, it was a blue crayon.” Harry grinned coyly. “I remember it distinctly because I wanted to color my rabbit’s dress blue, but you hogged it for what felt like a million years.”

“Well then, I stand corrected.” Grinning, he chuckled nervously.

“But you were right about a few other things.”

“What things would those be?” He ran his hand down her arm, unable to keep from touching some part of her.

She leaned close. “I am yours, forever and always. Just as much as you’re mine. You’re mine to argue with. To climb out of bedroom windows with. You’re mine to have secret rendezvous by the lake with. And you’re mine to love with every inch of heart, body, and soul. I would love nothing more than to be your Mate. I love you, Jaxon Atwood. Then. Now. And always.”

With a low, erupting growl, he hauled her onto his lap and crushed his mouth to hers in a needy attempt to feel every single piece of her, to leave an imprint on her as permanent and all-consuming as the one she’d left on him years ago.

Harlow Pierce might be Fates Haven’s new Fate Witch, but she was something else, too.

His Fated… with or without that damn Blue Willow Wisp telling him so.