Page 66 of Tiger Bitten

“You had me from day one, didn’t you?”

A slow smile stretched his lips. “I didn’t understand it at the time, but yes.”

“You were never my hunter, and I was never your Rabbit. You are going to be my Maker instead, aren’t you?”

God his smile was consuming. He dipped his head once. “It would be my absolute honor.”

She couldn’t even imagine the bond they would form when he woke up her panther. She couldn’t even imagine it. But she was ready. She was excited.

“Oh, I forgot,” Misty said from where she and Dame were pouring red plastic cups of champagne for a toast.

“There’s more?” Ren asked.

“Guess what two of the Half-Cats Turned Cats had?” Misty asked.

She had no idea, so Ren shrugged. “What?”

Misty turned toward her and handed her a cup of champagne, and her eyes were so soft as she said on a breath, “Kids.”

Oooooh. Oh. Ren’s face crumpled and she fell to the ground. Just…hit her knees. “Don’t,” she said mindlessly. “Don’t.”

Mars knelt down and pulled her against him, kissed her on her temple once, twice, three times. “Completely healthy, no losses. As long as they are both Cats, cubs are viable. Their cubs are grown, and healthy.”

Her shoulders shook with her silent sobbing.

Her Ambush was breaking her in the best way right now. In the best way.

She could have it all? She could have Mars, and Misty who had become her best friend? She could have Dame and Stellan at her back? She could have her place in the Ledger Ambush? She could have her animal? She could Change with the man she loved? She could meet her father? And then she could possibly have babies with the man she loved?

“I hate when she cries,” Stellan announced. “It makes me want to kill someone.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure they are happy tears, so no murder is necessary,” Misty explained as Ren melted into Mars’s arms.

“That’s a thing?” Stellan demanded. “Happy tears? How dumb.” He grabbed the bottle off the table and shoved it toward them. “Let’s get this stupid toast over with. I want to go home.”

Dame and Mars chuckled, Misty griped at Stellan but handed out the plastic cups, and Ren struggled to her feet and tried to keep her mascara from running onto her pretty bridesmaids dress.

Mars put his cup near Stellan’s half-full champagne bottle. “To the next nine months before we meet here again. To the amazing changes that we can make. To Misty, who is now an official Ledger, and to her and Dame’s big day. Welcome to the family, Misty. To Stellan for staying sober enough to not ruin this party.”

“Thank you for appreciating the effort,” Stellan muttered, and they all laughed. Even Stellan almost cracked a smile.

Mars looked down at Ren beside him and pulled her tightly against his side. “To my mate and the things we will accomplish together.”

Oh, the promise in his voice.

That man was a fixer. He was going to set everything that had been wrong in her life…right.

“To this Ambush,” Mars finished, lifting his glass a little higher.

And then they took sips to that toast knowing in nine months, for the annual Ambush reunion, they would all meet back here in Salt Lake City, and they would have a new set of stories and accomplishments to share with each other.

Life was good.

It was going to get even better with Mars by her side.

Ren was full of love, hope, and joy.

Mars had given her so much more than he even understood, and she was going to spend the rest of her life making sure he was happy too.

Everything that had been missing in her life was falling into place.

And in this moment, she knew.

She knew without the shadow of a doubt, she was meant to be here, with these people, with Mars. All of Ren’s mistakes and triumphs had led her here, and now she was excited about the future.

Now, she couldn’t wait to experience what happened next, with the man she loved, with the life she was meant to lead, and with the Ambush who had stolen her heart.