“I got something for you, too. It’s sort of a congratulations gift. Here.”
Lena blinked hard and dragged her attention to Vera. When they’d exchanged their presents, Lena opened the lid to her jar of moonshine, then inhaled deeply. “Perfect,” she murmured, right before she took a healthy swig and handed it to Vera for a turn.
With a laugh, Vera took a drink, too, and reveled in the burn that traveled down her throat and warmed her from the inside out.
“Your eyes are gold again,” Lena observed.
Vera shrugged self-consciously. “My fox is happy. So am I.”
Lena’s lip trembled as her gaze went to the side of the house again. “How long does it take?”
“I can’t say. It’s different for each shifter. Maybe half an hour?”
But she was wrong. At that moment, Jenner, all mussed dark hair and intense blue eyes, stumbled around the corner of the house, leaning heavily on the log wall. “Come here,” he said in a hoarse, desperate voice as Lena let off a soft gasp beside her.
She bolted for her mate, and they both barely stayed upright as Lena threw her arms around him.
Elyse was crying again, and Ian’s eyes were steady on Jenner, who held his mate tight to his side. Miki was bouncing between both couples, barking constantly, and Tobias—her Tobias—was looking at Vera as though he’d never seen anyone more beautiful.
Her stomach fluttered as he approached. Damn, he was stunning as he strode toward her on those powerful legs, her capable Alaskan man. They wouldn’t have to be apart ever again, and the weight of everything they’d been through finally slid off her shoulders. She’d done what she’d promised and given the Silvers freedom from hibernation. And in return, Tobias had given her stability and safety. He’d given her control over her animal. He’d given her freedom, too.
Hooking his finger under her chin, he lifted her gaze and shook his head like he couldn’t believe he’d gotten so lucky. “You’re everything,” he whispered, just before he lowered his lips to hers.
Tobias jerked just as cold snow blasted across her cheek. Turning slowly, he murmured, “Dick.”
Ian was grinning as he packed another snowball.
With a laugh, Tobias bent down and started gathering snow. From the corner of the house, Jenner lobbed a frozen white ball that landed by Ian’s feet.
“Man, that sucked.”
“My arms are numb!” Jenner slurred.
Vera snorted as she watched Elyse and Lena gather their own frosty weapons to launch. And as the clearing filled with the sound of laughing and Miki’s barking, Vera sat heavily on the porch stairs of the cabin, feeling like a million pounds had been lifted from her shoulders.
Settling the gift in her lap, Vera untied the twine and ripped into the brown paper covering. She gasped at what was inside. It was an oversize, black and white photo of her and Tobias. It was one Lena must have taken in town, the first time she’d met her. In it, Vera was mid-laugh, her eyes squeezed closed as Tobias kissed her cheek from behind, his arms wrapped tight around her middle. And under it was another. This one was in color. She and Tobias were grinning at the camera, cheek to cheek, looking utterly happy. Vera’s eyes were a strange gold color in the sunlight, and Tobias’s eyes were darker, probably from being so close to Ian at the time. How fitting. Their animals were right there with them, so evident in the picture.
Lena was watching her from beside Jenner with a smile on her lips and a hand pressed against her chest like she was trying to keep her heart inside.
Thank you, Vera mouthed, and Lena nodded.
Hugging the precious gifts, Vera watched her mate goof off with his brothers in the snow. He cast her a happy grin over his shoulder and held her gaze.
Everything changed in that moment. There was no more fear of raising cubs alone while the Silver brothers hibernated. There would be no more loneliness, no more waiting. No more tears, and no more fearing winter.
She laughed thickly as the others lay down in a loose circle and began making clumsy snow angels.
“Vera!” Elyse called. “Get over here!”
She set her precious pictures on the porch and jogged over to fill in the final gap beside Tobias.
Vera waved her arms and legs with the rest of them and reveled in the chorus of happy murmuring from her new family.
Tobias grabbed her hand in his and rested his cheek on the snow as he looked at her. He said so much with his clear, happy eyes. I love you. She could see it there.
From this day forward, there would be no more hating the snow.
No more hating the winter or the bitter cold.
From this moment on, they would face everything together.
With a happy sigh, she squeezed his hand and smiled knowingly. “I love you, too.”
Epilogue