But he doesn’t push me away.
He pulls me close to himself and he kisses me deeply. Over and over, he kisses me, showing me what true forgiveness looks like, and my heart feels full.
“So this is our second chance, huh?” I whisper to him.
“Meredith, I’ll give you second chances and third chances and fourth chances. I’ll give you as many chances as you need as long as it means that we get to keep trying.”
He kisses me again, and suddenly, I realize that this really is it.
He really is my mate.
He is my forever someone.
And even though I know that the mating claim is usually made during sex, in a fierce moment of intimacy, I also know that Robert and I don’t exactly play by the rules. So when I lean forward to plant a kiss on his neck, I follow it up with a sharp bite. He growls, but he lets me mark him. I seal the wound with my tongue, closing it up. Then I step back to look at what I’ve done to him, and I see the scar.
He smiles at me and raises an eyebrow.
“Happy now, little wolf?”
“Yes.”
“How’s it look?”
“Good,” I blush.
I did that.
I made that mark.
I wanted something, and I went for it, and I made a mark on my mate so everyone in Claw Valley will know that he is loved by me.
Robert pulls me close and kisses me again.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“I was worried you’d be upset.”
“Because you broke into my house?” He laughs. “Nah, I’m not mad about that. Besides, sometimes it’s good to be a little wild.”
And somehow, I think that he’s right.
I know that my life with Robert isn’t going to be a cakewalk. There will be times when things feel hard and I’m going to need those third and fourth and fifth chances. I’m going to need his patience and his love, but I’ll give those things right back to him, too.
Because Robert is my mate.
He’s my one and only.
And the two of us?
We’re forever.
Epilogue
Meredith
One Month Later
I run, chasing my bear.