Page 31 of Darrin: The Wolves

“Good point.”

He chuckled. “You’re so pretty, Audrey.”

She laughed. “Wow. That’s a nice way of saying I’m a dork, huh?”

“Sometimes. I think we’re all dorks in one way or another.”

“Even you? The great and powerful alpha?”

“I’m a dork about sci-fi movies.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Oh yeah. Well, I love you anyway.”

“Thanks,” he said with a snort. “I love you too.”

They stood and walked to the register, where he put his phone on the reader and paid the bill, leaving a generous tip. “See you two later,” Ma, the owner, said.

“Thanks, have a good night,” Dare said.

He led Audrey out into the warm June night and opened the car door for her. “I have an idea.”

“A sexy one?”

“Eventually, yes, but how about we go to The Howl?”

“Really? You have the night off and you want to go to work?”

“Just for a bit. We can listen to the band, have a drink. Make out.”

“Oh, I like that idea.”

He drove across the bridge and parked at the house, and then walked with his mate into The Howl, greeting his brothers and their mates before making their way to the deck. It was packed, the band playing under the stars and string lights.

He subtly waved to the lead singer, who nodded at him, and then Dare led Audrey to the railing to listen to the music.

“I really love it here,” she said, looking out over the water.

“I do too.”

As the song ended, another one started, a ballad that he’d asked the band if they’d play for him.

“Let’s dance,” he said, taking her hand and walking backward toward the section open for dancing.

“Oh?” she asked, her eyes glittering with happiness. “I’d love to.”

He drew her into his arms and they danced slowly beneath the lights.

She rested her head on his chest, and they swayed to the music.

And when the last strains of the ballad he’d picked for her ended, the lead singer’s voice fading out, Audrey eased back and smiled at him.

He dropped to one knee and took the ring from his pocket.

Suddenly all the nerves burned away.

“You’re my whole heart, Audrey. Fate knew what it was doing when it brought us together. I want to spend the rest of my life not only as your mate, but as your husband. Because you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. You’re everything I was waiting for, and you’ve made me happier than I ever thought possible. Will you marry me?”

She inhaled quickly, and her eyes shimmered with tears.