Page 75 of Sawyer

My heart pounded, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

But then I looked at Casey—his bright eyes, his caring nature, the way he had stood by my side even after all the chaos—and I knew.

I knew this was the right thing to do.

Slowly, I lowered myself onto one knee. The dining hall around us seemed to fall silent, though it was probably just in my head.

Casey’s eyes widened in surprise, his hands coming up to cover his mouth.

"Casey," I began, my voice a little rougher than I intended. "From the moment we met, you changed my world. You’ve brought me so much joy, and every day I’m reminded how lucky I am to have you in my life. You’ve accepted me, all of me, even when I’ve been at my worst. And now, I can’t imagine a future without you."

I pulled the ring from my pocket, holding it up to him.

"Will you marry me?" I finally asked.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Casey’s eyes glazed with unshed tears, and his hands trembled slightly as he lowered them.

Then, a radiant smile spread across his face, and he nodded, tears spilling over as he whispered, "Yes, of course, yes."

I slipped the ring onto his finger, my heart swelling with love and relief. The entire hall erupted into cheers, and I barely registered it.

All I could see was Casey—my mate, my future.

He pulled me up from the floor, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close.

His body fit perfectly against mine, like he had always belonged there.

Our lips met in a soft, tender kiss, and I poured everything I had into that moment—love, gratitude, hope for the future.

When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against his, both of us breathing heavily, overwhelmed by the emotions of the moment.

"I love you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

"I love you too," Casey replied, his hands gripping the front of my shirt like he never wanted to let go.

Chapter 20

Casey

A Few Months Later

The announcement crackled over the speakers, calling for all contestants in the three-legged race to gather at the race area.

“C'mon, let's go,” Sawyer said, already pulling me forward.

“Wait!” I called out, trying to finish off the last bit of my ice cream.

I tossed the cone in the trash, wiping my hand on my jeans before letting Sawyer drag me along.

As we neared the race area, I couldn't help but take it all in.

The open field was buzzing with energy, with rows of spectators standing behind marked ropes.

Behind the starting line, participants were stretching, adjusting their race bibs, and fastening the thick bands around their legs.

There were more people participating than I expected. It looked like more than half the pack had shown up.

“Didn’t know this race was going to be this popular,” I said, looking around and strapping on my race number.