Chapter 37: Epilogue

CLARA

The morning after the fight dawned cold but bright.

Sunshine filtered through the window across my face, and I rolled over to bury it in Elias’s side. He rumbled happily and wrapped his arms around me. My muscles rippled with the echo of last night’s pain, but I only felt like I’d worked out too hard at the gym.

“Are you awake?” His deep voice vibrated in his chest, still thick with sleep. I shook my head and snuggled in closer, causing him to laugh. “I think you’re lying to me, little luna.”

“Nope. I’m definitely still sleeping.”

He wrapped his powerful legs around mine and clicked his tongue.

“That’s unfortunate. Last night was our wedding night, technically, and we rather wasted it. I was hoping to remedy the situation.”

I felt my body immediately respond to the suggestion. But I played it cool, ignoring the sudden ache deep in my stomach.

“Ah, I see. Well, I suppose I could be awake for something like that. But I’d also rather be clean first.”

Yes, we’d taken a quick shower before bed, but I still felt phantom stickiness on my skin where I’d been covered in my father’s blood. It was probably all in my head, but I didn’t want to be thinking of my dead father while consummating my unusual marriage.

“That’s permission enough for me.” Elias scooped me into his arms and pulled us both out of bed in one smooth motion.

I laughed and squirmed all the way to the bathroom, but his strong arms held me tight.

“You’re not getting away from me, Moon-Chosen.”

He pressed his lips to mine, forceful and rough. I responded in kind, nipping his lip with a playful growl.

Without breaking the kiss, he leaned in and turned on the shower with one hand. The other kept me pressed against his warm, naked chest.

I could feel his heart pounding through his ribs, matching my own. Shifting my body, I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

“Why would you think I’d want to get away, Alpha?” I teased. “I already decided to keep you.”

My lips sought his hungrily, and his hands found the hem of the shirt that I was wearing.

He pulled it up and over my head, the only resistance being breaking the kiss long enough for the fabric to pass.

“That’s better,” he growled, wrapping both arms under my buttocks and lifting my breasts up toward his face.

He nuzzled the left one, lifting it slightly until his tongue could curl around my nipple. It immediately went hard, and he began to suck. Ripples of pleasure raced down my body and pooled in my pussy, causing it to ache.

I moaned and felt his chest muscles tighten against my stomach.

“Do you like that, Clara?” he asked, his tongue again making slow circles around my nipple.

I groaned again and nodded, my brain too fuzzy to form words.

Steam began filling up the bathroom, and Elias’s hands slipped into the waistband of my underwear.

“These need to go.”

Rather than just pulling them off, he ripped them down both sides and pulled the tattered fabric free. It was a good thing I wasn’t wearing my favorites…

I pulled my arms away from his neck and reached down, grabbing the waistband of his boxers.

“Yours need to go too.”

I pulled them as far down as I could reach, and they slid down his legs into a pile on the floor.

His member, now free of its fabric prison, brushed my buttocks with anticipation. He stepped into the shower, and the hot water struck my back first, sending shivers through my entire body as it absorbed the heat.

“I want some hot water too,” he growled, pressing my back against the tile wall so he stood in the stream. “That’s better.”

I giggled and bit his shoulder playfully.

“You’re going to crush me!”

I unwrapped my legs from his waist and allowed them to settle on either side of his cock, then gave it a little squeeze.

He moaned and sank his teeth into my collarbone. I let out a gasp of pain and surprise, but my wolf healing almost instantly sealed up the bite.

“Not quite that rough,” I panted. “My ex hurt me too much to enjoy pain play.”

Elias gently licked the freshly healed skin. “I’m sorry, Clara. Only nibbles from now on. I promise.”

“Good boy,” I whispered in his ear.

He let out a deep, wolfish howl, and I felt his member pulsing between my thighs.

I knew it had been a good idea to tuck that bit of info away for later.

I nibbled at his ear and his neck and slid down his slick body until my feet reached the floor.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, dirty man.”

He chuckled as I grabbed the bar of soap and began using it to explore his muscular form. I started with his shoulders, digging into the many knots I found there with my fingers and the bar.

Then I continued downward to his arms, his chest, and his back, enjoying how his body tensed and his cock bounced whenever I got close to it.

But I made him wait, washing every other surface first. I ran my hands up and down the insides of his thighs, watching his balls rise and fall in response. When I got to his feet, he whined.

“You missed a spot!”

“Oh yeah? Where might that be?”

I slowly ran my fingers up both of his legs, so lightly they barely brushed his skin. He whined louder and reached down, grabbing my hands and placing them around his cock.

“Ah, yes. How could I miss the dirtiest part? I’d better make sure to clean it very thoroughly.”

I began at the tip, my finger sliding in circles around and over the opening. Then I grabbed the shaft and softly rubbed it top to bottom, pulling the skin downward over the tip.

Elias moaned and pressed his hips into me.

“Harder,” he begged. “And faster.”

I loved when he crumbled like that. I gave him exactly what he asked for, tightening my grip and massaging him faster until his breathing came in short gasps.

When I felt his sack tighten, I knew he was close.

“No, you don’t,” I said, slowing my movements to a crawl. “I haven’t had my turn yet.”

“Do you really think I’d let myself finish before I had the fun of pleasuring you?”

He stole the bar of soap and treated me to the same game as I’d played with him. His hands lingered on my rock-hard nipples and inner thighs, but only ever stroked the edges of my opening without ever dipping inside.

I ached for his fingers to enter me, but instead he removed the showerhead from its hook and rinsed me off, then himself.

“We can’t mess up that perfect little pussy of yours with soap. It’s not good for you.”

He turned off the shower and handed me a towel, but I could barely concentrate on getting dry.

Everything in me screamed to jump on Elias and feel him moving inside of me. Noticing my distraction, he took the towel, finished drying me, and scooped me up.

He carried me to the bedroom and lightly tossed me on the bed, immediately climbing up to kneel over me on his hands and knees.

“Are you ready, my luna?” he asked.

All I could do was nod as I stared at his chest.

Did I mention I was a chest girl?

“Keep your eyes on me, baby.”

His hand slid down my side, across my thigh, and gently pulled my legs apart. I could feel my heart beating in my pussy as he ran his fingers along the rim, only slightly slipping inside. Each time they did, he smiled as I pressed into his hand and moaned.

“That’s right. That’s my girl. But don’t close those pretty eyes. Let me stare into them as I pleasure you.”

I did as he asked, staring deep into his lightly glowing eyes as his fingers finally stroked my aching clit. I bit my lip and panted as he slowly circled it, the pressure so light it made my body scream for more.

“H-harder,” I panted, desperation making my chest feel tight.

But damn him, he just kept lightly circling until I was ready to grab his hand and make him. Just like he had done with me…okay, I probably deserved this. And it definitely felt good.

It felt even better when he pressed the center of my clit with his thumb and made slow circles while beginning to loosen me with his first two fingers.

“Ah, you’re already nice and wet. That’s good. I can hardly wait to get inside of you.”

“Then don’t,” I begged. “I’m ready!”

Elias backed up so he was standing next to the bed, his pulsing cock a perfect three inches above the mattress.

“Come here, then.” He grabbed my ankles and pulled me to the edge, then rested my ankles on his shoulders. “Ease yourself on, baby.”

I pulled myself toward him, a shiver of pleasure rolling through my body as he slowly slid inside of me. I tensed and relaxed my pelvic muscles, enjoying how his body responded to the changes in pressure.

Once he’d entered all the way to his pelvis, he gently rocked on his heels, each tiny movement causing my body to shake with pleasure.

Little by little, he increased the range of motion, only to withdraw—so the tip of his cock caressed my clit—before diving back in as deep as he could reach.

We moaned in blissful unison, riding back and forth on each other until I couldn’t take it anymore.

My muscles tensed and my orgasm ripped through me, pulling a scream from my throat.

“That’s right, baby, feel those waves. Squeeze me harder.”

His speed intensified as my waves of euphoria continued, until he let out a sound akin to a roar. I felt his load burst into me on my final, strongest wave.

My muscles went slack, and I panted to regain my breath. Elias was also panting, his legs quivering as he used his forearms to steady himself against the bed.

“Damn. You’re even better with your full strength. I’m already looking forward to next time.”

I rolled my eyes and patted the bed next to me. “We have the rest of our lives together. Why don’t you focus on the now, instead of speeding into the future?”

“I’ve spent a long time looking forward to the future. But for you, I’d slow the clock to a standstill.” He climbed into the bed and pulled me into his arms, pressing his lips tenderly to mine. “As long as you keep making me cum, at least.”

I furrowed my eyebrows in mock annoyance and softly smacked his face. “You’re such a brat. But you’re ~my~ brat, so I guess it’s okay.”

***

Well, this is the part where most people would expect to hear that Elias and I got after making an heir, and now I’m pregnant. But that’s not how this story ends, so those who hate that kind of thing can sigh their sighs of relief.

Instead, I’ve spent the last few months learning how to be a good luna.

Elias has been a huge help to me, and the pack is thriving. The first few weeks were a bit awkward as the two groups learned how to get along, but once they realized Elias and I weren’t going to be oppressive leaders, the old Graveridge members settled right in.

I moved in with Elias, and I’ve never felt more comfortable anywhere. He’s really loosened up since the war ended, even laughing with other pack members around once in a while. It’s a work in progress.

We’re planning a human wedding in a few more months just to keep up appearances. As far as we’re concerned, we’re already married. But we want to make sure ~everyone~ knows it.

Once the murders had stopped, the town started to relax. The police never did find any evidence to link Elias or anyone else to the cases, and I didn’t go out of my way to help them.

I saw on the news the other day that the police are calling it a cold case already.

Hopefully in the future, it’ll be remembered as nothing more than a really strange few months to add to the town lore.

Especially if I have anything to do with it. Elias has more than enough money to sustain us, but I still work for the paper just so I can keep the pack safe.

I’ve gotten ~really~ good at coming up with cover stories. And with the pack war over? The only real cover we need is for dumb teenagers making bets on who can shift the closest to town.

And that’s it. Now you know the story of how I found out I was a werewolf and met the love of my life. You certainly think it’s a work of fiction, but that’s fine. I would have thought the same thing if I didn’t live it myself.

Clara Moon-Chosen, luna of the Forest Echo Pack.

End of Book.