Epilogue - Miley

Two Months Later

With the full moon high in the sky and the rest of the pack sharing in the usual bonfire celebrations, Miley and Kane ran through the woods, their wolves elated to stretch their legs.

It had been two months of pure unadulterated happiness on Miley's part. And she suspected it had been for Kane, too, though his work protecting the pack often took him away for long hours at a time.

The full moon, however, was one night they were certain to share together, and Miley enjoyed every second of it, frolicking through the trees, playing and teasing, nipping at Kane"s thick black tail before darting off in this direction or that.

It was a time of fun and laughter and love, one she wished would never end, even as they shifted at the base of an oak tree and settled down in each other"s arms to catch their breath.

Neither of them spoke. There was no need to. They were merely content in each other"s company, bathed in the silver light of the moon and breathing deeply of the air that had turned chilled as the sun went down.

Winter would arrive soon, and yet it was the first Miley was actually looking forward to. Usually, winter meant long, cold and dark nights stuck at her parents" home with nothing to do but try and avoid her ruthlessly abusive rather, but this winter would be different. This winter, she was a werewolf, and she didn't feel the cold at all as she once had.

Gazing down at her left hand, she admired the indent upon her skin where her golden wedding band and diamond ring ordinarily sat when she was in human form. Though she had left them at the manor for safe-keeping, she imagined them now, all bright and shining on her finger, and marveled at how good it felt.

Everything felt better now. Her body no longer ached with the battering of her father, and even her soul felt as if it were beginning to heal.

Just lying in Kane"s arms every night healed her a little bit more.

She scoffed happily at the feeling of being stuck in a dream.

"What is so funny?" Kane asked, finally breaking the silence. He reached up and entwined his left hand with hers. The indent on his own finger made Miley smile.

"Nothing," she whispered, unwilling to disturb the peace that surrounded them. "I just can't help but laugh at my own imagination. I mean, I love to read, but who in their right mind imagines themselves a werewolf married to a wolf man?"

Kane gripped her chin and pulled her face around to look at him.

"You think you"re dreaming, do you?" he growled low in his throat.

"How could I not be?" she asked, smirking back at him. "This is all just too perfect."

Kane cocked a brow at her. "What must I do to convince you this is all very, very real?"

The tone of his voice became a deep-throated challenge that made Miley quiver.

"Oh, I don"t know," she said teasingly, nuzzling the tip of her nose against his. "I"m certain you could come up with something."

Kane growled through gritted teeth and, using his body, forced her down onto the ground.

The leaf mulch was cool and damp against her back, but Kane was warm and inviting as he slipped on top of her.

"This"ll certainly do it," she whispered as he nipped at her neck.

He growled in her ear, "Turn over."

Then, before she could do so, he gripped her chin and kissed her hard.

Fuck! She bit back the urge to say it out loud and did as he asked.

Turning beneath him, she arched her back and pressed her buttocks back against him, inviting him inside her. But it wasn"t his cock that entered her.

Instead, his fingers danced against her sex, teasing and tormenting her until she pushed so hard against him, she thought she might push him over.

"Does this feel real enough for you?" he asked, slipping his middle finger deep inside her as he gripped the roots of her hair and pulled her head back to kiss her cheek.

She arched and arched her back, utterly at his mercy as he worked her expertly towards climax.

"Fuck! Kane! Stop!" she pleaded with him, but he ignored her, and she didn"t blame him because truly, she didn"t want him to. She knew that he knew her well. Over the last few months, they"d had sex enough times to know each other"s bodies blindfolded.

But this was intense, almost too intense. She tried to break free of him only for him to tug on her hair ever so gently, urging her back against his hand as he slipped a second finger inside her.

"Cum for me, baby," he whispered in her ear. "I need you to cum for me."

His need was all it took for her to climax. It sent such a shockwave through her that she tipped her head back and howled at the moon.

That was when his fingers slipped from her, and in the second"s pause it took her to begin to feel disappointment, his cock entered her. It was swift, precise and almost painful, her pussy squeezing so tightly around him that she thought she might actually break something.

He paused, stroking her buttocks, her hips, her back. "Is that what you need?"

"Yes, yes!" she gasped, her hands buried in leaf mulch, clenched into fists.

"Show me how much you need it, baby," he urged her, and Miley did just that. She rocked back and forth, taking every inch of his cock inside her.

Quivering with the pleasure of it, she lost herself to the sensation, everything else around her merely melting away.

She had no idea how, but every time they had sex, it always felt better than the last.

Yes, it had only been two months, but she was certain there should have at least been one less pleasurable event by now.

Still, there hadn"t been, and Miley was determined to enjoy every second while it lasted.

"Oh, please, Kane!" Miley groaned when she felt as if her knees and elbows might give way. "I need…I need you to—"

She didn"t have to finish the sentence. Kane grabbed hold of her hips and pulled her back to him. He thrust deep inside her.

In and out, in and out he went, driving her wild with the intoxicating sensation of his cock moving deliciously slowly inside of her. She felt every inch of him, every ripple of his rock-hard cock as he entered her, exited and slammed right back in.

He drove her mad with frustration, teasing and tormenting her until she felt as if she couldn"t take anymore.

Then, finally, when she was about to beg him all over again, he leaned forward and slipped his hand down between her thighs.

"Oh, God!" she gasped, and when he wrapped his free arm around her chest to pull her back to him, she knelt obediently and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on for dear life.

His one hand played with her breasts, squeezing them and twisting the nipples ever so gently while his other expertly worked her clit, his cock doing the rest of the work to make her cum over and over.

The essence of her climaxing over and over dripped down her thighs, and she panted for breath until her throat was so dry she could no longer even scream.

How. is. this. even. possible. Even her mind was breathless. She was heady with desire and pleasure, her wolf writhing inside of her like a bitch in heat. And all she wanted now was for him to give his final gift.

Struggling for breath, shaking so badly she thought she might fall if he let her go, she reached down and behind her, barely able to grip hold of his balls without straining her shoulder.

"Please, Kane, I need you to cum for me," she whispered, turning her face to meet his.

His hand left her breasts and instead cupped around her throat, pinning her to him so he could kiss her again and again.

His body grew more and more tense, quivering against her, and she knew what was coming. She squeezed his balls gently until she heard him grunt, "Fuck!"

Then she released him, and at the very same moment his throbbing cock released a fountain of warm, sticky ecstasy inside her.

***

The sun was just returning to Nightstar when Kane and Miley finally made their way from the woods back to the manor.

Still fizzing with the pleasure of their playtime and their lovemaking—over and over again—Miley"s smile beamed from ear to ear.

When Kane helped her to tie her simple sheath dress around the back of her neck and kissed the side of her throat affectionately, she quivered and turned in his arms.

Standing just within the shadow of the trees, she pressed her palms against his chest and kissed him.

"I could do that all over again," she whispered against his lips, and when her eyes fluttered open she could see the agreement on his handsome face.

Gripping her by the buttocks, he pulled her close. Even through the material of her dress, his touch was intoxicating.

"As could I, but I don"t think it would be a good idea right now," he said, his gaze darkening.

Miley cocked her head. He had never turned her down before, not once.

"Why?" she asked, her throat constricting.

Kane inclined his head toward the manor. "Listen," he said softly. "It appears you have a guest."

Miley, having grown used to her new wolf senses, reached out with her hearing and listened in the direction of the manor.

Her stomach twisted when she heard the all too familiar voice that said, "Please, allow me in. I must see my daughter. Please, I beg you."

Miley growled low in her throat and pulled reluctantly away from Kane. "What the hell is she doing here?"

She hadn"t seen her mother since the wedding six weeks earlier. Or her father, for that matter. And truth be told, she hadn"t missed either of them.

She would have been glad never to see either of them ever again.

Kane shook his head and said, "You should go and find out."

Miley cringed. Listening again, she made absolutely certain that her father was not with her.

"I"m sorry, Mrs. Peters, but Miley isn"t here right now," Bonnie said, and Miley almost felt sorry for the alpha"s wife. She could easily imagine the distaste on her mother"s face.

"When will she be back?" her mother responded, and she continued to listen, growing more and more certain that her mother was alone.

"She and Kane went out," Bonnie said.

"So early?"

Miley"s stomach twisted. So late, she thought, imagining all the horrid things her parents might call her if they knew what she had been up to all night in the woods. Her father would likely have a heart attack if he knew. Hell, if he knew what she had become, he would likely die on the spot. Then again, she thought that could be said for about ninety percent of the human population.

And though a part of her would have liked to have tested it, especially on her father, she had vowed to protect herself and the rest of the pack from being discovered alongside her vows to Kane. She wasn"t about to go breaking them, now or ever.

"She is a grown woman, Mrs. Peters," Bonnie said, and Miley could imagine the hot as hell, dominant, badass alpha"s wife staring at her mother long enough to put the fear of God into her. Jack"s wolf had certainly hit the lottery when his fated mate had been picked for him. There was no alpha"s mate like her, though Kane assured her she was the only one for him, and that was all that really mattered to Miley.

Besides, Bonnie had become somewhat of a close friend of late. They were almost sisters now. Being packmates, it only felt right.

And it felt even more so as she heard the aggressive tone in Bonnie"s voice, "Besides, I"m not certain she would wish to see you."

Guilt bit Miley"s stomach. Her feet itched to move.

As if he sensed it, Kane gave her a small nudge in her back. "Go on. Go to her before Bonnie does some real damage."

Miley paused just long enough to give him a peck on the cheek.

Then she was off, racing barefoot over the lawn and around the side of the house.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she found her mother standing at the bottom of the porch steps. At the top, Bonnie stood, her arms crossed, glowering down at the human woman with open hatred.

Sensing it wouldn"t be long before one of them started a real argument, Miley called, "It"s okay, Bonnie. I"ll see her."

Bonnie didn"t look at all surprised, and Miley guessed she had heard her coming. Her mother, however, whipped around, her eyes were wide with shock.

She looked tired, more tired than Miley had ever seen her, but oddly, there appeared to be less bruising on her face. In fact, it didn't look as if she was wearing any makeup.

It had been a very, very long time since Miley had seen that.

"Are you sure?" Bonnie asked. "I have no objection to taking out the trash."

Miley"s mother glared at the alpha"s wife over her shoulder, and Miley hurried forward before a proper fight could break out.

"Thanks, Bonnie, but I"ve got this," Miley assured her, closing the distance between herself and her mother.

"Are you really going to let her talk about your mother that way?" her mother demanded, glowering at Bonnie. "Who does she think she is, anyway?"

Bonnie grunted but said nothing, rolling her eyes as she stalked back into the manor to leave them alone.

"Mama, Bonnie is a friend," Miley said, crossing her arms over her chest to protect herself from whatever venom her mother had come to spill. "She's just protective."

Speaking of protective, Miley could sense Kane not far behind her, hiding in the shadow of the house so as not to be seen.

She knew that if her mother so much as tried to touch one hair on her head, he would reveal himself in a flash.

It was more than a little comforting to know that he was there.

"I…umm…I came to tell you that I"m…I"m sorry."

A lump formed in Miley"s throat. Her mother glanced down, playing with her fingernails as if embarrassed or maybe even nervous.

"Excuse me?" Miley asked, stepping back, her hands falling to her sides.

Then, her mother looked at her and said again, "I'm sorry," and she knew she hadn"t been hearing things.

She was about to ask what for when her mother continued, "I never should have let that God awful man lay on finger on you. I should have left years ago. Hell, I never should have married him."

Miley"s stomach twisted and she fought the urge to move away when her mother stepped forward and cupped her face in her hands. "The only good thing to come from him was you."

"Mama, what exactly are you saying? Why are you here?" Miley asked, her heart aching.

"I came to say goodbye, my little Miley bug," her mother said, and Miley"s chest tightened. Her mother hadn"t called her that since she was a little girl.

"Mama, what are you going to do?" Miley demanded, suddenly terrified.

With tears in her eyes, her mother smiled and gripped Miley"s hands. "Don"t worry, bug, I'm doing what I should have done years ago. Now I know you"re safe, now I know he can never hurt you again, I"m leaving him."

Astonishment overwhelmed Miley and tears streaked down her face.

"Are you serious? Where will you go?"

Her mother smirked then and squeezed her cheeky gently. "Don"t you worry about me, bug."

"But—but where—"

Her mother wiped a tear from Miley"s face and said, "Your Grandmama Peters called me. She said she had a feeling her son was up to no good. She offered for me to go take up that big ole guestroom of hers."

Miley"s heart soared thinking of her grandma. She had called her several times in the last few months. The old woman had even attended the wedding. But it was astonishing to think her father"s mother would have her own mother to stay, even if she was leaving her son.

"She said she got even lonelier after you left," her mother continued. "Said she"s getting on and could use some help around the farm."

Overwhelmed with joy, Miley rushed forward and hugged her mother. "You better say hi to grumpy old Moses for me."

"I"ll do that," her mother promised, squeezing her back. "You make sure that man of yours never beats you, you hear me? If he does, you know where to come find us."

"He would never!" Miley gasped. Kane might have looked like a rough and tumble kind of guy, and yes, he could be rough in the bedroom, but she was certain he would never lay a hand on her that she didn"t expressly ask for.

As if he sensed the moment was right, Kane revealed himself from the shadow of the house and came to join them. Pulling Miley from her mother"s embrace, he wrapped his arm around her waist and looked to her mother. "You have my word, nobody will ever lay a hand on your precious daughter ever again."

Her mother cried then and held out her arms. "May I?"

Miley was surprised when Kane actually gave her mother a hug. It was an odd yet happy sensation to feel as she watched the two of them. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined this.

She most definitely wasn't dreaming.

"Do you need a ride out of town?" Kane asked, and Miley couldn"t help but laugh.

"I"m not sure I can see Mama on the back of Quinn, baby," she chuckled.

Kane glowered at her playfully and said, "I"d take the truck. Maybe we could all go say hey to Granny?"

Miley was surprised when her mother tapped him affectionately on the cheek. "Maybe another time, boyo. I think this is something I need to do on my own."

Tears pricked Miley's eyes all over again as her mother gave her one final hug and said, "Goodbye."

"See you later," Miley corrected her. "I still have a couple things I need to come and teach that grumpy old dog."

Miley continued to fight back tears as she watched her mother go. Never had she imagined she would be quite so happy or upset to hear the news of her leaving her father.

Kane gripped her by the hip and pulled her close as they waved her mother down the hill.

Bumping his hip against hers, he pecked her cheek and whispered in her ear, "No dream could ever feel this good."

And she knew he was right. Swinging into his arms, she kissed him with unbridled joy and let the tears fall.

*****

THE END