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CHAPTER TEN

Victoria

T he parking lot is a mess of blood, shattered glass, and shredded leather.

But somehow, it feels peaceful.

The boys dragged the dead bodies into the woods to get them out of view for the time being. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but we’ll probably spend the night burying them deep in the mountains. Not really looking forward to that.

Magnus is sitting on the curb with his shirt torn and dried blood crusted along his jaw. His grizzly bear is gone, but it’s still close, hovering beneath the surface. I can still feel the weight of him in the air all restless and bruised and still longing for a mate who hasn’t arrived.

I’m glad to see him back and his timing couldn’t be beat. I hope he finds what he’s looking for soon.

He hasn’t said much since the wolves left. Neither have we.

Adrian crouches beside him, one hand on Magnus’ shoulder, the other holding a can of beer he got inside the shop.

“You still hit like a goddamn Mack truck,” Adrian says with a grin.

Magnus lets out a grunt that’s half laugh, half growl. “Still causing chaos wherever you go?”

My mate nods with a grin. “Some things never change.”

Seeing them together again brings me back to when I was a little kid, watching them from a distance. But I’m not a kid anymore, so I go over and join them.

“It’s good to see you, Magnus,” I say and I mean it.

He spots the mark on my neck and then looks at the mark I left on Adrian’s neck.

My body goes tight, not knowing what to expect.

But Magnus just smiles and shakes his head. “What did I tell you all those years ago?”

“That you’d kill me if I ever dated your sister,” Adrian says without hesitation.

Magnus looks at me for a long moment and then turns to his oldest friend with his head shaking. “You never did fucking listen very well.”

“I’d love to have your blessing,” I say as I walk over to my oldest brother. I take his hand that’s covered in dirt and squeeze it. “It would mean a lot.”

“You have it,” he says, trying hard to smile despite all he’s been through. “I’m happy for you, Victoria. For both of you.”

I wrap my arms around him and breathe in his familiar scent. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I know she’ll be here soon.”

His body tightens for a second and then he hugs me back, tighter than he’s ever hugged me before.

I have tears in my eyes when I finally pull away and walk over to Adrian, feeling his warm protective arm wrap around my waist. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world as he pulls me closer.

“I’m glad you’re home, bro,” Adrian says. “I’ll clear out my stuff from your workstation.”

My stomach drops. I didn’t even think of that…

“I don’t know how my bear is going to be,” Magnus says. “You better stick around for a while. We’ll get you your own chair. The shop is busy enough, right, Victoria?”

“Definitely!” I say, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

Adrian looks down at me with love bursting out of those gorgeous blue eyes. “I’d be honored to stay.”

My heart swells.

I’m going to be with Adrian forever.

With my crush, with my best friend, with my fated mate.

We each crack a beer before we have to get back to work digging in the mountains. It’s going to be a rough night, but right now, in this moment, it’s all perfect.

The future is spreading out before us—wide open and full of promise.

I lean my head on Adrian’s shoulder and close my eyes.

He’s here.

We’re together.

And this time, nothing’s going to tear us apart.