Page 46 of She is the Darke

He stood in a rush and took her with him, picked her right up and hugged her tight as the others were clapping. Rachel was whistling loudly. Her mom was crying. Her dad was grinning from ear to ear like he’d always known they would find this moment.

Tyler kissed her and set her down. He hugged her so tightly, and did he know? Did he realize? He was putting all of her pieces back together again.

The next few minutes were a blur as she was drawn into hug after hug, until she made it to Mr. Durock.

He didn’t hug her right away. Instead, he stood stoic with his hands clasped in front of him. “My son tells me you are the one he wants in the hospital with him when he wakes up next month.”

“I’ll be there for him, and also for you, sir,” she promised.

Mr. Durock’s eyes softened, and a faint smile touched his lips. “I’ve been wrong about you. I’ve been wrong about a lot of things for a long time.” And then he offered his hand for a shake. Only when she moved to shake it, he pulled her into a hug and told her, “Welcome to the family. You’ll wear the last name well.”

And the second round of tears flooded her.

The bartender from the hard apple-cider tent brought a tray of drinks and passed them out, probably at the request of her mother. And as Demi looked around at the families that would be bound together with her and Tyler’s oath, she looked up at him.

He really was a fixer.

“Are you happy?” he asked low, like he just needed to hear her say it.

“I couldn’t be any happier,” she uttered softly.

“Truth,” he whispered.

“You?” she asked, as their families chattered and drank together.

He leaned in and settled his lips against her ear as he admitted, “I am right where I was always supposed to be.”

This Halloween…

This Halloween…

This Halloween was sure going to be hard to beat.

But as she melted into the warmth of her person, her partner, her mate, her bond…Demi knew one thing for certain.

Every Halloween from here on would be a tribute to this life-changing day.

The day he claimed her.

The day he brought their feuding families together.

The day he put to rest any insecurities she could ever have.

From here on out, they were going to enjoy this life, and this season, together.

*BONUS BOOK*

ASHBROCK CURSE

(A HALLOWEEN SHORT STORY)

By T. S. JOYCE

Ashbrock Curse

Copyright © 2021 by T. S. Joyce

Copyright © 2021, T. S. Joyce