Epilogue

EPILOGUE

A Month Later.

Bolt watched Regie place flowers by her grandfather's headstone. The old man's brain tumor had finally claimed him. After all the old bastard had done to her, Regie still honored his name by giving him a proper burial and visiting his grave. If he didn't know his mate's true and pure nature, he'd call it a publicity stunt for the public offering of her company. That had been put on hold once they announced the grandfather's illness.

Laney and Nora had supported Regie through it all, as had Payel. Bolt had asked Laney to teach him more about witches and their magical powers. If he insisted on leaning into his prejudice, he should at least know what he hated so much. And the more he learned, the more he understood what an asshole he'd been. He hated ignorance and prejudice, but those were the two things he most strongly projected onto his True Mate .

And now he lurked at a distance to catch a glimpse of the woman who'd stolen his heart.

Regie wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. The gesture hit him in the gut, and the shame he felt for making her feel bad about herself for even a moment burned deep in his chest.

She turned around and started walking toward her car. He stepped out from the shadows where he'd been waiting for her next to the vehicle, and she stopped for a beat. But then she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and kept walking.

His woman had grit and attitude.

She proved herself brave and stubborn, meeting each challenge head on.

She had more courage and dignity than he did.

He walked toward her, meeting her halfway.

She stopped and calmly watched him. Red rimmed her beautiful cobalt eyes, but they also shone with defiance.

"I'm sorry," he said.

She shrugged but didn't say anything. Not the reaction he'd hoped for.

"I should never have said your powers were evil. I'm an asshole."

She nodded .

"I should have supported you and helped you find resources to help you control them. Like Laney did."

She nodded again.

Okay, then. "Give me a chance to make it right, to show you that I can do better."

She tilted her head. "But I'm a witch. You hate witches."

"I don't hate them. I didn't trust most of them because a witch is the reason my twin brother and I are estranged."

She exhaled sharply. "I'm so sorry, but what does that have to do with me?"

"It doesn't have anything to do with you, and I'm sorry for acting like such an immature asshole. My issues with my brother are the reasons I did, but they absolutely do not excuse my behavior. I can only hope that you will forgive me."

She stared past his shoulder into the distance. "What changed your mind about my powers?"

"I changed my mind about witches when I met Laney."

Regie looked down, but not before he saw the pain flashing in her eyes. Dammit, he was fucking this up.

Again.

"But that isn't why I'm here, asking for another chance."

She turned toward him, still wearing her poker face. "Why are you here, then? "

"I'm in love with you."

She stilled, but didn't look up. "You told me pretty words before, but then you showed how you really felt."

His body ached with the need to get closer to her. To have her in his arms, but he forced himself to stay still. To give her space. "I really messed up. I was in shock and didn't know what to think. I have a lot of hang-ups about magic. Again, it's not an excuse, but it's a reason." He reached out his hand. "Please give me a second chance. Let me show you that you can trust me."

She still wouldn't look at him. "I don't need any more complications in my life right now. There is so much to figure out."

"Maybe we can figure it out together?" His heart ached with hope.

She drew a pattern on the ground with her shoe. "I don't know. So much has happened."

He took a step closer, and when she didn't back away, he took another.

She looked up at him.

He cradled her face between his palms. As soon as his skin touched hers, a zing tingled his fingers. "Do you still feel sparks?" His voice broke at the end, and he had to clear his throat.

Fresh tears welled in her eyes. She swallowed and dipped her head just once .

Hope swelled in his chest. "Do you trust them?"

"I want to," she whispered.

"That's a start," he said, claiming her lips with his.

A soft sigh escaped from her mouth, and he tilted her head so he could deepen the kiss. She leaned into him, sharing her body heat.

He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. For the first time in weeks, everything felt right.

Mine , his wolf growled.

Regie released his lips, a smile in her eyes. "I can hear your wolf."

Yeah, he needed to explain that part too. "So, there's this thing where a wolf shifter meets their true mate."

She smiled. "I know. Laney and Nora already explained it. They think my powers reached out toward you after we slept together because they responded to the mating. Nora also expressed sorrow over that I apparently mated with an asshole."

Wolf not asshole , the beast protested.

Regie smiled.

"Ulf can be an asshole," Bolt said while mentally telling his wolf to shut up. "So you already knew we were mated and yet you made me suffer." He made sure it sounded like teasing and not an accusation .

Her smile faded. "It wasn't my intention to hurt you. There was just so much going on… and you broke my heart." She whispered the last words.

"I swear I'll make it up to you," Bolt said. "How can I make it up to you?"

Regie leaned in, her mouth a breath away from his. "I can think of a few ways." She claimed his lips.

Mine , the wolf growled again.

Ours , Bolt corrected him, and the beast chuffed quietly.

Thank you for reading this book!