Epilogue Tyler

It's time.

It's time.

It's time.

"Tyler, stop bouncing," Ethan barks at me, his voice cutting through the chaos of my jittery excitement.

"I can't!" I retort, a laugh almost escaping me. Honestly, he should be thankful I'm merely bouncing instead of turning this room into a hyperactive playground. I glance at Brody, who has his panic somewhat humorously managed with a paper bag.

Just when I think we're a circus act short of a performance, Natalie strides in like she owns the place. Mia and Eloise are right behind her, dressed like they stepped out of a fashion line inspired by Ava's wolf—all serene and powerful in neutral colors, with veils that make them mysteriously enchanting.

"You all need to settle down," Natalie says, her voice like a soothing melody. "Your nerves are practically leaking into the hallway."

Her words snap me back to reality, and I whirl around, unable to contain my eagerness. "Is she ready?"

Ethan, still caught in his web of doubts after all this time, pipes up, disbelief coloring his tone. "She came?"

Natalie's eye roll could probably be felt in the next room. "Of course she came."

"Who am I escorting?" Eloise peeks from behind her veil, her curiosity piqued. When her eyes land on me, she decides, "I'll take the bouncy one."

"That's me!" I almost launch myself at her, enthusiasm getting the better of me. "Sorry."

Ethan's quicker, snagging me by the neck with brotherly firmness. "You are last," he declares, a hint of amusement in his usual stoic demeanor.

I pout, watching him effortlessly link arms with Natalie and head out, leaving a trail of what I swear is invisible calm behind them.

"Excited?" Eloise's chuckle breaks through my moment of sulking.

"Yes," I drawl, spinning around to face her. "Wouldn't you be?" My excitement's contagious, or so I hope.

She sighs, a sound filled with longing and dreams. "I hope to be one day. Maybe with a vampire horde, or a witch, or—Oh, what's it like to be mated to a fae?" she wonders aloud, her imagination clearly painting vibrant pictures. "But of course, you wouldn't know that."

I chuckle, nudging her playfully. "Maybe you should just let fate surprise you."

She snorts, her skepticism as palpable as the tension in the room. "Oh, sure. I'll just wait for a bookshelf to fall on me then."

I can't help but laugh, fishing Bean out from my pocket. "Here. Maybe you need a little push from this matchmaking snake."

"Bean, you naughty girl!" Eloise laughs, letting the snake coil around her neck, where it seems to immediately belong. "Seems like you're fate in the form of a tiny serpent."

"Anything's possible," I tell her, my heart echoing the truth of those words.

Across the room, Mia pokes at Brody, who looks like he's one breath away from imploding. "This one's broken," she teases, though her eyes dance with unspoken concern.

"I'm not broken," Brody insists, pushing himself up with a defiant glare. "I'm nervous." He boldly slides her veil aside, seeking the truth in her eyes. "You stole medical records from me."

Mia's denial is quick, her voice a mixture of indignation and amusement. "I would never!" The air tells a different story, one tinged with her lies.

"You did."

"Nope."

Their banter could go on for ages, but Brody lets it slide, a new resolve taking hold. "Two minutes."

Mia's pride in Ava, and her willingness to do anything for her, shines through her next words. "Ava is important to me. I'd do anything for her. Remember that."

"Noted," Brody replies, the briefest smile flickering across his face as they make their way out, a shared anticipation in their steps.

"We're next," I declare, feeling a mix of exhilaration and nerves. "I might actually puke."

"I brought a bag just for that," Eloise quips, producing a puke bag from nowhere, her preparedness somehow comforting.

"I wasn't serious," I admit, though I pocket the bag anyway, because who knows?

"Ready?" Eloise asks, her smile reassuring as we head toward the doorway.

Fuck yes I am.

Eloise guides me out, and the night envelops us, a perfect blend of shadows and moonlight, whispering of magic and destiny. The clan has gathered, a sea of wolves under the moon, their eyes reflecting the light and their excitement. Only Mia, Eloise, and Natalie stand in human form, their bond with Ava granting them this privilege.

We approach the gazebo, the heart of our village, and there she is—Ava, in all her breathtaking glory, makes the world stand still. For a heartbeat, I freeze, but her smile, warm and welcoming, thaws me, and I'm drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

Ethan and Brody wait behind her, their commitment marked by the fresh bites on their necks, a bond forged from trust and love.

"Ava Martinez," Eloise announces, her voice carrying across the clearing, "I present to you, your fated mate, Tyler Reed of Clan Hughes."

As I step forward, every nerve in my body sings with anticipation. "You look…" Words fail me. She's beyond description. "Perfect."

Her touch is electric and grounding. "You look like mine," she whispers, her words a vow as she pulls me closer.

As I kneel before her, offering myself, the world fades away, leaving only the bond, the moon, and the unspoken promises between us. Her bite seals our fate—a connection deeper than words, filled with love, hope, and the thrill of what's to come.

I love you too.Her voice echoes in my heart, like a melody that binds us.

In that moment, we are complete. The circle is closed as the bond seals under the watchful eyes of the moon and our clan.

And then there were four.