Epilogue - Savannah

EPILOGUE - SAVANNAH

I gazed at the pond while sipping my morning coffee with Daxton. It was Sunday, and the only day of the week when our work schedules lined up for us to have a morning coffee together.

Sunday mornings were now my favorite.

I glanced at the ripples in the pond, thinking. Two weeks had flown by since I'd moved in with him, and every day felt like a dream. I couldn't help but think about how seamlessly I'd adjusted to this new life with him and the others. There was such a sense of belonging I felt here. It was unlike anything I'd never experienced before.

"What are you thinking about over there?" Daxton asked, smoothing a hand along my thigh.

I loved the feel of his hands on me. His touch was magical. It calmed me in a way that nothing else could.

"About how crazy it is that two weeks have already passed since I moved in," I said, glancing up at him.

He was so handsome first thing in the morning. I loved the way his hair was tousled from sleep, and that the faint creases from his pillow still marked the side of his face.

"Time flies when you're in good company," he said, squeezing my knee gently.

"That's true." I said, leaning closer to him. I took a tentative sip of my coffee. "I was nervous at first, you know? About moving in and all the changes. Now, it just feels right, like I was always meant to be here."

"You were," he reassured, dipping his head to place a kiss at my temple. "I felt the same way, though. Part of me worried you'd find it all too much. But watching you these past couple of weeks, seeing how you've woven your way into everyone's hearts, not just mine—it's been incredible."

Warmth filled me. "I've never been happier," I admitted, resting my head on his shoulder. "Your world, our home, it's all still new to me, but it feels like I've found where I'm supposed to be."

He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer. "I'm glad, because you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Savannah. I mean that."

I loved it when he said my name. There was something so sexy about the way it rolled off his tongue. I lifted my head from his shoulder and kissed him. It was meant to be a sweet kiss, but it soon turned into something more when his tongue skimmed against the seam of my lips. I opened my mouth, allowing him entrance, and he stroked his tongue seductively against mine.

My cell chimed with a new text. I pulled away, knowing it was most likely the real estate agent Alex and I had hired to sell the rental house.

"It's done," I said, glancing at the text.

"Everything went through with the sale?"

"Yup! They just signed the papers."

Relief washed over me.

When I moved out of the rental and into Daxton's camper, I'd told Alex I thought it would be best if he either bought out my share of the property or we sold it. He agreed selling was probably for the best—which I knew was because he was short on cash, again—and we'd put the house on the market later that day.

Now, it was sold.

Which meant, any tie to Alex was now severed. Honestly, I was okay with that. Alex was my past, and Daxton was my future.

I was happy.

A frog croaked close by, and I startled at the noise.

"Just a frog," Daxton said with a chuckle.

I glanced at the edge of the pond, spotting it sitting there, staring at us. "Right."

"You okay?"

I nodded, and then flashed him a smile. "Yeah."

I took another sip from my coffee, my gaze drifting back to the pond.

"I've already patrolled this morning. There's no Lucius in sight," he said, wrapping his arm around me again. "Even if there was, I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

"I know."

It was something I knew instinctively. Also, it had been a little over two weeks without any sign of Lucius. While Kiera was adamant he hadn't moved on yet, I secretly hoped she was wrong because one encounter with him was all I ever cared to have.

Daxton cupped my chin, turning my face to his. "You're safe. I promise." He kissed my forehead. "Now, what are we doing today? You mentioned you had an idea?"

"Right," I said, perking up. "I have a new Sunday morning tradition for us."

"Which is?"

"A Sunday morning jog." I grinned. "I mean, technically, it's how we met."

He chuckled. "Am I jogging with you, or is my panther?"

"You. Sorry, but I think it would look strange jogging with a panther."

"In this town," he said with a grin. "You might be surprised."

"Interesting. I'm going to have to ask you to elaborate on that." I took another sip of my coffee, my eyes never wavering from his.

While I knew about Daxton and the Ashen Tribe, no one had mentioned anyone else being part of the shifter world to me.

"There are more creatures of the supernatural world in this small town than you'd think. You already know about me and the others being panther shifters, but did you know the owner of Last Drop is a vampire or that his wife is a black cat shifter? Or that the owners of Shaw Cabins are bear shifters?"

My eyes widened. "I had no idea."

While I finished my coffee, he continued revealing secrets some Crescent Creek residents were keeping. Afterward, we headed inside to change into running shoes before beginning our new Sunday morning tradition. It was nice jogging beside him. While running on a treadmill was great, it still didn't come close to running in nature.

"This was the spot, remember?" I asked a few minutes later, bumping him lightly as we neared the spot where he'd saved me from the rabid dog. "You were a lot furrier then though."

Daxton laughed, the sound warm and rich as it filled my ears. "Yeah, and you were a lot more surprised to see a panther in your path," he shot back, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

It was surreal jogging with him now, knowing all that I did. Even so, I loved this man with all my heart.

"You changed my life that day," I said, my voice soft with emotion. I stopped jogging and stared at him once we reached the exact spot where he'd saved me. "I never would have guessed how important that moment was. Not just because you saved me, but because it led me to you. That was the morning I decided to join the fitness center."

Daxton glanced at me, a handsome crooked grin twisting his lips. "Really?"

"Yeah. I decided when I got home that running probably wasn't safe anymore. Not unless I had a panther to guard me and keep me safe. Since I didn't think I had one of those on call, I decided to join the gym."

"I'm glad," he said. "You changed my life, too. I never imagined I'd find my fated mate."

"I love you," I whispered, locking eyes with him.

"I love you, too." He grabbed my hand and then dropped to one knee.

My heart raced, anticipation tingling through me as I sensed what was about to happen. The moment Daxton reached into his shorts pocket and pulled out a ring, my breath hitched.

"Savannah Breeden," Daxton began, his voice steady and his eyes filled with warmth. "From the instant my panther and I laid eyes on you, we knew you were the one. Even if it took me a little longer to figure it out than him, we still knew," he said, flashing me a crooked grin and I chuckled. "You've brought light into my life in ways I never imagined. Every moment with you feels like a gift. We may have only known each other for a brief time, but in that time, you've become my heart, my soul, my everything. Will you marry me?"

Tears welled up in my eyes. No man had ever spoken to me so sweetly. But the tears weren't just from his sweet words—they were happy tears.

I loved this man with every fiber of my being.

My mind raced with thoughts of our future, the adventures we would share, and the life we would build together. I wanted it all and I wanted it with him.

"Yes," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Yes, a thousand times, yes!"

Being with Daxton, being a part of his world, had changed me in ways I was only beginning to understand. But one thing was clear: next to him was exactly where I was meant to be, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held for us.

Daxton's smile in response to my answer was everything—bright, hopeful, and filled with the same dreams that danced in my head. He slid a beautiful ring on my finger that was simple, yet elegant.

It was perfect.

He rose and drew me into his arms, sealing our moment with a tender kiss. My heart overflowed with love for this man and this moment. It marked the beginning of our beautiful journey together, and I knew it was the first of many moments to come.