Page 85 of Shifting Fate

Behind me, someone cleared their throat. “Try again.” Arias’s arms encircled my waist, hugging me to his chest. He pressed a kiss to the side of my neck. “Open your eyes, Dal. You’ve got me and my mom. Rhine and his brothers. You’ve got Merrick and Espen, Gage and Ezra. Bastien, Rory, Ayla… We’re pack. We might not be blood, but damn it, we count. We’re family.”

His hug was a fierce one, one that brought tears to my eyes.

“You’re right,” I whispered. “You are, and I’m so damn thankful I have you guys.”

I turned so that I was facing my mate. I cupped his cheeks in both my hands and kissed him, then rested my forehead against his. “I love you, Arias LaRue.”

His smile made my heart skip a beat, because I did. I loved him so much, it wasn’t even funny. He was mine and I was his, and we were in this—together.

He sealed his lips to mine in a sweet kiss. “And I love you.” Then, without missing a beat, he turned to Claude and offered a hand. “Welcome to the family.”

Claude chuckled. “Honored to be a part of it.”