Chapter 51

SHE WOLF

I watched one of my besties within the arms of four guys—big, intimidating, Unnaturals who killed as easily as they breathed—and I smiled.

Finally, the madness had ended, and we were free.

I didn’t know every single detail of what she’d been through, but she’d changed. The sweet, unassuming, chatty girl that had been my dorm mate had evolved. She hadn’t lost that part of herself—the spunky, mischievous bit of her still lived inside—but the pain she had endured made her strength shine.

Arms curled around my stomach, and my back pressed into Adrien’s front. I tipped my head back to peek at him.

He never took his eyes off me. I reveled in the wholehearted, genuine love he gave. We’d found each other within cruelty and learned to love despite not having it growing up. It was a kindred pain, but we fulfilled each other’s needs.

My other half, my mate, and now we were tied together in every way we could be.

“You okay, love?”

I smiled and practically hummed with happiness.

His chest vibrated with his next words. “You have a very, uh, interesting group of friends.”

His head tipped; he seemed to be listening for something. The grip on my waist stiffened. Everything put him on edge recently, but he also hadn’t gotten used to his heightened hearing.

He’d come to terms with his Unnatural side, and I was thankful for that because it’d been up in the air for a time. Some days were worse than the others, and he panicked to the point of teleporting around the house at random times, so he still needed to work on his Kitsune ability. But through his struggle, I would hold his hand.

“How about we get some privacy ourselves,” he murmured into my hair. I shivered at the gruff words whispered in my ears. A shiver crept down my spine, and I leaned against the hard line of his body.

“Oh my,” I murmured and wiggled against his bulge. Gripping his hand, I tugged him through the thicket of the bushes. I couldn’t stifle the grin. It almost hurt to smile so wide.

Adrien didn’t hesitate and within the span of a moment, the earth trembled, and I couldn’t stand as my stomach clenched.

Wait.

He’d returned us to our bedroom. I wobbled, and Adrien steadied me.

“But the wedding!” I gasped.

Adrien crowded me, and I dropped to the bed on my ass, bouncing on the mattress.

“I’ll have us back after you come on my mouth.” He growled and delved under my puffy dress. I laughed and tossed myself on my back.

Life had seemed impossible for so long, but I’d learned that sometimes all I needed to do was fight to survive the day and it would lead to better things.

I’d found hope with Adrien, and now we would live the rest of our lives—together.