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Paisley

The Present

Day Before the Bonding Ceremony

Miles and I are snuggled up on the couch. I don't know how I got so lucky. He’s so good to me, treats me like I'm a treasure. My eyes sting as tears well up.

"Hey, what's this about?" Miles gently tilts my chin up. "Why are you crying? If this is about the bachelor party, I promise nothing will happen tonight. I want no one but you."

He smiles and leans in, pressing the sweetest kiss on my lips. "I won't go if it upsets you."

"No, it's not that, Miles." I blink, trying to breathe through the emotions that assail me. I love you beyond words. Sometimes, it feels almost too good to be true, like a fairytale. It's almost scary how much happiness you’ve brought into my life. "

"Aw, baby." He pulls me into his lap. "I love you. I’m so glad I finally found you.

You hung the moon and stars, my little mate.

" His voice husky and soft, the warmth and security of his words sinking deep into my chest, easing that little niggle of worry.

Marissa. I immediately push her from my thoughts.

Miles cradles my face between his hands, leans in, and brushes his lips across mine, taking my breath away with its aching tenderness.

Slow and sweet, he deepens the kiss, and it feels like time itself pauses to let us take pleasure in this moment.

We spend the rest of the afternoon entwined in each other, further solidifying our promises with our lovemaking.

My heart overflows; the past year with Miles has felt like a dream. He’s incredibly kind and thoughtful, always taking such good care of me. He’s a wonderful partner, and I feel truly blessed.

When we met a year ago, it was magical. Instantly drawn to each other, we’ve barely spent a day apart since.

A powerful bond snapped into place the moment we laid eyes on each other, only deepening with time.

It’s as if we’re one, with no clear boundary between where he begins and I end—just a seamless, otherworldly flow of energy and love coursing through us .

Since the pull between us was so magnetic, Miles and I immediately went before the Alpha, signed the paperwork to be married, and have lived together ever since.

Still, because of his past, I agreed to delay it for one year before following through with the bonding ceremony and exchanging claiming marks.

I wasn't fully convinced about waiting, as I felt it left the door open for her to return.

Miles swore it didn't, but I wasn’t so sure.

Ancestral lore passed down through the generations warned that removing a binding mark is dangerous, and he claimed he didn't want me bound to him until we were sure. I didn’t want to hesitate, but I acquiesced.

A part of me wonders if that is just an excuse. Sealing the bond with the mate mark would only make our relationship more resilient and keep it safe from Marissa. But was she the one I really had to worry about? Or was it Miles?

He shared his past with me. He’d been with his ex for ten years, and they’d known each other for many years before that. But from the very beginning, she never treated him well. He was always an afterthought that she left whenever she was bored.

Over time, I got the full picture from the pack.

I learned she’d disappear for months, off chasing one fling after another, whether at home or elsewhere in the Kingdom.

Then, she’d come back with soft eyes and tender apologies.

It was as if she had some power over Miles, and her very presence could erase the nights she’d disappeared and the truths no one spoke out loud.

She’d crook her finger, and he’d trot right back to her like a good little dog.

Well, wolf, technically. Not that it made him any less obedient.

Ironically, Miles wasn’t fooled or stupid; her games didn’t blind him.

He just settled for whatever crumbs she tossed him, daring to believe that maybe, just maybe, he’d be enough for her this time. Miles loved her unconditionally.

Miles deserves so much more than that. I’ll take him, baggage and all.

Over the past year, our relationship has been great.

I’ve settled into working with my students while also taking courses and making progress on my dissertation to earn a degree that’ll allow me to teach at the college level.

There’s potential for me to lead a few online sessions for Sparksburg University this fall.

I’ve always excelled in my studies, and graduated from high school at sixteen.

Thanks to my eidetic memory, I have vivid and accurate recall, especially when it comes to visual details.

Learning has always come naturally to me .

That said, I’ve never been great in social situations. But I’ve been training to become a Beta's mate, picking up on those societal niceties and little things I used to overlook. I’ve come a long way. At least now I can speak my mind without worrying about how I’m perceived in public.

Our pack house layout is mostly identical to that of the other packs.

Our apartment is on the third floor, which includes the Alpha and Beta quarters, offices, and visitors' suites.

The second floor holds the singles quarters and a few small family suites.

The main floor is where we gather and is comprised of the living room, kitchen, and dining hall.

The basement houses the prison cells, security offices, and medical bay.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a licensed doctor right now, just a few medical assistants.

Wolves are generally healthy, but if someone requires serious care, we have a chopper ready to fly them to the nearest hospital in Sparksburg.

Suddenly, the sound of banging at the door breaks through our cloud of desire.

"Come on, Paisley, send Miles out! It's time for his bachelor party," one of his friends yells through the locked door. I blush furiously, the heat of embarrassment mingling with the raw passion still licking at my skin.

Miles kisses me gently, in an attempt to rein in our heat. "I'm sorry, little mate. I promise you'll have so much fun at your bachelorette party that you won't even miss me. Then I’ll see you tomorrow night, and we’ll be bonded forever." His smile reaches his eyes. I’ve never felt so cherished.

"Tomorrow night," I whisper. "I already miss you." My heart aches at the thought of spending the night apart, not curled against his massive body.

The relentless banging continues. "We know you're in there, Miles. You can't hide from us."

Miles kisses me one last time, sighing heavily before gently setting me off his lap. He slips on his boots and stands, giving me a soft smile. "I love you, little mate."

"I love you, Miles."

"All right! All right! I'm coming!" He yells at the door as another round of banging begins. Tromping over, he opens the door, and six males come crashing to the floor.

"Looks like you started without me,” he says with a laugh .

They scramble to their feet, grab Miles by his arms, and drag him out the door. He throws me one last smile and mouths, Tomorrow, love, just before the door clicks shut behind them.

My bachelorette celebration is far more sedate. Neither Miles nor I want a big event, but wolves are social beings and will use any excuse to party. Some of my girlfriends have decorated the main room, and we plan on having good food and an even better time together.

The theme for the evening is “spa night,” and the girls really went all out.

The room is bathed in the soft glow of candlelight from the numerous candles around it.

The scent of lavender drifts through the air.

Everyone has been given a cozy robe and matching slippers to wear with their pajamas.

Male licensed beauty experts pamper us with facials, mani-pedis, and massages.

As we move between the comfort stations set up around the room, a charcuterie spread featuring meats, cheeses, crackers, and fresh fruit is laid out.

Adjacent to that is a mocktail and wine-tasting bar, where sparkling drinks are served in elegant glasses.

Relaxing music plays in the background, while most of the single ladies flirt with the chiseled, shirtless male attendants.

I roll my eyes. I don’t know whose idea the hunky helpers were, but at least they’re not strippers.

It’s the perfect mix of relaxation and fun.

Miles

Bachelor Party

I'm sitting at a supernatural bar with my buddies, feeling no pain.

I really shouldn't have let them talk me into this.

No good ever comes from getting intoxicated.

Human liquor doesn't affect wolves; our metabolism is too fast, and it burns off too quickly.

But here they serve alcohol laced with special additives that are strong enough to get a wolf drunk. For a while, anyway.

We’re all gathered around the table, a drink in everyone’s hand.

The night’s going fine. They’re swapping stories about our old high jinks with females, but my mind drifts to Paisley and what she might be up to.

My wolf hums with pleasure at the thought of her.

He’s curled up in the corner of my mind, nearly passed out from the drinks I’ve indulged in.

I pull myself back to the present just in time to hear Roger bring up Marissa.

"...then Marissa walks in, and Mr. Cool here turns into a puddle and tucks his tail between his legs. "

A roar erupts around the table as Roger slaps it with his hand, howling loudly. The laughter is infectious.

"Never saw Miles back down so fast," he teases, wiping his eyes and trying to catch his breath.

A cloud of melancholy settles over me at the mention of Marissa. I remember the day he’s talking about. She always had that effect on me; I melted at the mere touch of her.