Page 119 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“Mate bond says you're hiding shit,” he whispered.

“Mate bond doesn't say things like that,” she insisted.

“Sure it does.”

Moon looked at him. “Want to know what it says right now?”

His grin appeared. “Absolutely.”

Moon stepped closer so she could whisper into his ear. “It says you're annoying.”

“That's just you,” he grumbled.

“Probably.” Mayhem wrapped his arm around her waist, and Moon leaned into him. She looked around the clubhouse—her clubhouse, her sisters, his brothers, and their family. The new clinic waited behind her, and a future she'd once been afraid to imagine waited in front of her. Moon had chosen this life and chosen Mayhem, and somehow she'd gotten everything she ever wanted.

Her wolf curled warmly inside her as Mayhem kissed her temple. “You okay?”

Moon looked up at him. “Yes.” And she meant it.

“What happens now?” he asked.

Across the room, Christmas shouted, “Chrome, I swear to God, if you follow me⁠—”

“You'll what?” he asked.

“I'll shoot you,” Chris shouted.

“You said that last time,” he reminded.

“I mean it this time,” she insisted.

Mayhem laughed, and Moon shook her head. “Apparently—” She looked toward Christmas, and then at the mountains she could still almost see in the fading edges of her vision. “We find out where she's going.”

Mayhem groaned. “I knew you were going to say that.”

Moon smiled. “You chose me, and my visions, remember?”

“Best bad decision I ever made.”

She kissed him. “Love you.”

“Love you too, baby.” Moon rested her head against his chest. His heartbeat beneath her ear—strong, steady, and all hers. It wasn’t because fate had demanded it, but because he'd given it to her, and she'd given him hers in return.

Outside, motorcycles rumbled to life, but inside, Dark Chaos and Silverfang argued, laughed, drank, planned, and lived. Moon closed her eyes, and this time, no vision came, but she didn't need one. Her future was standing right beside her, and whatever waited beyond today could wait. This moment was enough, Mayhem was enough, she was enough, and for the first time in Moonlight Vale's life, happily ever after didn't feel like something she'd been foolish to believe in. It felt like home.

The End

What’s releasing next from K.L.? Here’s a sneak peek! Be the first to get your hands on Christmas With Chrome (Dark Chaos Book 3), coming in December 2026!

Christmas

Christmas hated Christmas. The irony wasn't lost on her. It was December first, and someone had already hung a sprig of mistletoe over the entrance to the Dark Chaos clubhouse. Apparently, it was someone with a death wish. Chris stood beneath the offending greenery with her hands planted on her hips and contemplated ripping the entire thing down.

Behind her, someone snickered. “Don't say a word,” Chris said as she slowly turned and found that Red had immediately become fascinated with the garland she was winding around the railing.

“I didn't say anything,” Red said.

“You laughed,” Chris said.