Page 121 of The Cuddle Clause

My jaw dropped. “You… turned it down?”

He smiled shyly. “I did.”

He stepped closer and crouched in front of me, like he was proposing—but with less pressure and more desperate affection. “Lucien offered me something else. A new role. Pack Integration Officer. I’ll help younger wolves and estranged members transition into human life. Help them find jobs, apartments, therapists, whatever they need. Host meetings between packs, keep things calm. Keep magic quiet.”

I swallowed. “That sounds perfect for you.”

He nodded. “Lucien thought so too. Said I’m better at connecting people than commanding them. And I think I know how to save the pack’s magic, but I’ll tell you all about that later.”

I gave a choked laugh.

“And,” Roman added, “he gave us his blessing. He said he’s seen how we look at each other—and that we crushed that game show.”

That made me laugh, real and full. “We did crush it.”

“I’m serious, Maggie.” His voice turned softer, like it was just the two of us again. “I meant what I said. I want you. Not as a roommate. Not as a fake anything. Just as you and me.”

My throat tightened. I stared down at him, heart racing like it might burst free.

“I love you,” I whispered. “I think I’ve loved you this whole time, but I didn’t realize it until I thought I had lost you.”

Roman stood and reached out, brushing my sweaty hair off my forehead. “You’re not losing me. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. I want you, Maggie James… if you’ll have me.”

I didn’t say anything. I reached up and kissed him.

It wasn’t the nervous, testing kiss of two people trying something out. It was solid. Fierce. A thousand unspoken words wrapped in the press of our mouths.I love you. I choose you. I’m done running.

He wrapped his arms around me, grounding me even as the studio spun. He kissed me like I was everything.

Somewhere in the background, the entire class clapped. A couple of women actually cheered. Someone sniffled and muttered, “That’s better than The Bachelor.”

I laughed against his lips and pressed my forehead to his. “This can’t be real life.”

“It is,” Roman said. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

In his arms, in front of a crowd of sweaty strangers and a punching bag that had taken the brunt of my heartbreak, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Safe.

Not because he saved me. But because he saw me. Because he stayed.

And I would never let go.

Chapter 33

Roman

The air had that cool,clean bite that came after a long day and made me want to breathe a little deeper. The grass along the border was still damp under my boots. Somewhere beneath it all, the wards hummed—a low, steady vibration, like they were listening.

The tracker sat in my hand, its soft blue glow brushing over my knuckles. Numbers flickered across the display, a quiet pulse against my palm.

It wasn’t officially the gathering yet. Just me and Maggie, walking the perimeter in a silence that didn’t need to be filled. Every now and then, she’d say something just to mess with me—some jab about the “Kumbaya” name Lucien had slapped on tonight like this was a summer camp retreat instead of a last-ditch effort to save our magic.

I rolled my eyes. “If you say it too many times, I’ll make him print matching T-shirts.”

She grinned. “Do they come with marshmallows and a sing-along?”

My mouth twitched. “Absolutely not.”