Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Keith spread his arms wide, raised his face to the sky, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. He drew in the beauty of Mother Nature and then released it into his land and into his pack, immediately feeling the infectious mist of Rupert Jackson’s poisonous spirit dissipating. He could see the future laid out in front of him. Green Field would be whole and healthy. Joined with Purple Sky, the packs would prosper. And his mate would be beside him, their lives and paths intertwined and filled with joy.
Content, he opened his eyes and found Brian gazing at him, his expression awash in awe and affection. “I love you so very much, Alpha Keith Iredell.”
“I love you too, my mate.”
Epilogue
“Good morning.” Brian gazed at the beautiful man in his bed and, like it did every time he looked at Keith, his heart exploded. “How’d you sleep?”
“Mmm,” Keith mumbled as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. The blanket pooled at his waist and exposed his chest. He was all sharp edges and lean muscles. So gorgeous he took Brian’s breath away. “Like the dead, apparently, because you’re up before me.”
Brian was what he’d consider a normal sleeper. Eight hours every night. If he’d had a particularly physically taxing day, maybe a little longer, and if he was extraordinarily busy, maybe a little shorter, but always around eight hours. Healthy. Normal. And probably about twice as long as Keith slept. A year into their relationship, he still didn’t understand it.
“I made myself get up early today,” he confessed.
“Why?” Keith reached his arm out. “You’re too far away. I can’t touch you. And why are you dressed? Take off those clothes and c’mere.”
He shook his head. “I made you breakfast. If I get any closer to you, it’ll get cold.”
“So we’ll reheat it.” Keith curled his fingers toward himself, beckoning Brian over. “I’m hungry for you not food.”
Brian shook his head even as his feet took a step toward the bed and his arms stripped off his shirt. “You don’t eat enough.”
“I always eat with you.” Keith pressed his palms to the bed and leaned back, causing the blanket to shift and expose his V-lines.
Fuck he was hot. Another step toward the bed and this time he pushed his sweatpants down and stepped out of them. “Only because I make you.” They were together all the time, and when Brian sat for a meal, he still insisted that Keith join him.
“No underwear. Nice.” Keith grinned at him, his eyes sparkling. “Come a little closer and I can get a protein shot to start the day.”
Brian barked out a laugh. “Gross.”
“Is it?” He arched his eyebrows.
He gave up the pointless resistance, climbed onto the bed, and straddled his mate. “No. But I want you to eat real food.”
“After,” Keith murmured as he leaned forward. He brushed their lips together and then trailed kisses across Brian’s jaw as he curled one hand around the side of Brian’s neck and the other against his nape.
To the surprise of nobody, Rupert Jackson had been hoarding money and assets. They’d liquidated everything and used the funds to buy the river and build a bridge. The two packs now lived in harmony, with shifters moving back and forth for work and social gatherings. A healthy pack meant happy shifters and happy shifters meant matings and expanding families. Their packs were booming, babies were being born every week, and they were building to make sure they could sustain that growth.
“Do you have work to do in Green Field today or can we meet with some folks in Purple Sky? The plans for the joint packs schools are done, and I need to talk to the construction crew lead about when we’ll break ground.” The new schools would be built on either side of the river with the lower grades in Purple Sky and the upper ones in Green Field. Shifters from both packs would attend and learn together.
Keith looked at him fondly, his eyes sparkling. “You do realize that I can go to Green Field on my own, right? You don’t need to go with me everywhere all the time.”
“But then who’ll be there to protect you?” Brian joked. “What kind of Alpha would I be if I didn’t shield my mate from danger?”
“Good point.” Keith nodded, his expression serious but his eyes still gleaming with mirth. “I could get very hurt chatting with people and going on runs through the land.”
A year into their relationship, Keith was still a tornado of chaotic energy. His sarcastic humor and hands-off leadership style hid his intense energy and sharp mind. He was raw and volatile, but he was also brilliant and caring. And he was by far the most powerful wolf Brian had ever seen. That power was the only reason the Green Field pack had survived. Keith’s connection to Mother Nature was palpable and he’d used it to flush the stifling air of sickness from that pack and rid it of the shadow cast by Rupert Jackson. Keith continued to commune with her on that land to strengthen the connection that had been withered by years of neglect.