Page 100 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“No,” she admitted.

Mayhem's lips brushed her ear. “No what?” She pulled back, and his eyes met hers. Moon didn't care who was watching. She didn't care about the ruined church, or about prophecies. She had almost lost him.

“I don't hate you,” she admitted.

His smile softened. “I know.”

Moon touched his face. “I love you.” Mayhem stopped breathing. Behind them, someone made a choking sound—probably Chrome, but Moon didn't care.

Mayhem stared at her. “Say it again.”

“I love you.” His wolf flashed in his eyes, and Mayhem kissed her hard. Moon kissed him back, and the bond surged between them. The night root was gone, and the Hollow was destroyed. Her mother's killers were finished, and Moon finally understood what Selene had tried to teach her.

Love wasn't surrender. A mate wasn't a master. A bond wasn't a cage—not when the wolf standing beside you would rather die than take away your choice.

Mayhem pulled back, and his forehead rested against hers. “Was that what you meant by good later?”

Moon smiled. “Definitely.”

His grin was pure trouble. “Can we leave now?”

She laughed. “Soon.”

“How soon?” he asked.

“Mayhem,” she warned.

“Just checking,” he said.

Christmas walked past them. “Get a room.”

Mayhem looked at Moon. “Excellent suggestion.” Chris flipped him off, and Chrome followed her. Mayhem called after him, “Good luck!”

Chrome turned. “With what?” Mayhem pointed at Christmas, and Chris stopped and slowly turned. Mayhem immediately reconsidered what he was saying. “Actually, never mind.”

Chrome smiled. “I don't need luck.”

Christmas stared at him. “You're about to.” Moon laughed, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the sound didn't carry fear with it—only relief. She looked around Black Hollow. The wolves were helping each other remove pieces of shattered silver. Howler was organizing the freed Silverfang brothers they'd found in the cages. Tempest was already talking to the remaining wolves about what happened next.

There were no elders, no forced bonds, no collars, and no Hollow. The wolves all had a choice now. Moon looked toward the mountains; somewhere beyond them was Baltimore, where her clinic, clubhouse, and sisters were. Dark Chaos was her home.

Mayhem came beside her. “You ready?”

Moon took his hand. “Yes.”

He looked toward the settlement. “You good with leaving Black Hollow?”

Moon nodded her head. “Yes.” She looked at him. “And I’m good with everything that comes after it.”

Mayhem's expression softened, and his fingers threaded through hers. “Good.”

Moon's wolf curled contentedly inside her. Mate. This time, Moon didn't argue.

She smiled. Mine. And when Mayhem's wolf answered—Ours. Moon finally let herself believe it. They had survived the Hollow, and now, they got to go home.

Mayhem

Mayhem had been stabbed, shot, bitten, and thrown through a bar window once. Technically twice, but the second time hadn’t been his fault. He'd had bones broken, his wolf poisoned with silver, and he'd spent the last few days with something called night root crawling through his fucking veins. None of it had scared him as much as sitting on Moon's exam table while she stared through a microscope. She hadn't spoken in seven minutes, and he knew because he'd counted.