She cried out, panting above him, her sweet presence close and loving and there with him.
Unable to hold himself back, Trevor let his own climax barrel through him, uncontrolled and wild, jetting hard and hot into Cassandra's sweet, receptive body as he cried out with her, calling her name in an urgent, blinding call.
"Cassandra!" he shouted, his entire body shaking with the force of his climax spurting hard into her.
Entire body aflame and on the very edge of hurtling into that sweet, shattering place where she would explode, Cassie could barely focus even as Trevor released into her, shaking from the force of it.
"Ah, yes," was all she could manage in response, her voice a half moan, half strangled gasp.
He rocked beneath her, arching up into her, his eyes still fixed on hers in an intensity that made her positive he could see right into his soul. She'd never seen his eyes were so soft, so open.
"With me," she gasped, holding him tightly with every muscle she had as she trembled and shook with him.
"I love you, Cassandra!" Trevor half howled, the rough deepness of his wolf's possessive growl lending undeniable truth to the words. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he plunged back into her. Saying the words without fear. Claiming her with his intense need.
Truly claiming her with his love.
Cassie couldn't stop her scream of joy as an orgasm burst through her. "I love you, too," she cried, her voice steady and sure even through the rip of passion stunning her into exquisite bliss.
Mate, mate, mate, her wolf chanted within her, adding a howl that rang through Cassie's voice.
She felt Trevor's seed pumping into her with a heat and fullness as he cried out her name, again and again, their hips matched into the same rhythm, their voices mingling in ecstasy, their hearts beating as one. Her head about exploded along with her body. She could tell Trevor felt the same as his long, hard body slammed into hers, with hers.
Together. Oh, god, finally. Together with her mate.
It felt like hours later that she finally spiraled back down to earth. Her limbs were so heavy, so full. She let herself drape across him completely, already so drowsy from the most earth-shattering climax she'd ever had, along with the most wild emotions of the past, oh, freaking twenty-four hours or so, that she was on the verge of falling asleep.
His heart pounded beneath hers. The cadence of it was strong, and sure, and true. Her own heart had about bled for him, but she knew she'd cracked it finally. His own big, dumb, alpha heart was a bit more open.
"One heartbeat at a time," she mumbled, trying to smother a yawn and totally failing.
He chuckled, and she felt a smile spread over her face at the sound. He sounded relaxed, and real.
"I have exhausted you, it seems." He lightly nipped at her ear, one hand rubbing slow, soft circles on the small of her back. "And what do you mean by that? One heartbeat at a time?"
His big chest rumbled under hers as he spoke, the sweat slicking between them. She nestled deeper onto his huge, delightfully relaxed body as she said back, another yawn threatening to punch through, "I don't know what that means. I think it means something like one day at a time. I've got your back, you big, badass alpha, you. And I know you've got mine. No matter what," she said, voice seeping into a murmur. Her eyes were shut, her body was so relaxed she thought she might just dissolve into him, and she was with her mate. It was all she wanted right now.
"Ah, my Cassandra." He nuzzled her hair. "I do believe that makes you my badass alpha wolf mate, then."
"Mm-hmmm," she murmured.
That was all she wanted. Everything else could wait.
Cassie didn't protest as Trevor rolled her over onto her side, spooning himself against her. He draped an arm and one leg over her, tucking him as close in to himself as he could. She pushed back into him, feeling so protected and still strangely protective that it almost hurt from how exactly, perfectly right it felt.
The crickets were singing again, a soft chorus at the edge of her consciousness. The slightest rustle of a breeze whispered over her skin, carrying the deep, comforting scents of the forest with it. Curled up with her shifter mate in the woods, like the feral animal she was. Oh, hell yeah.
She tried to snort at her own silly thoughts, but sleep tugged more firmly. Trevor, holding her tightly, murmured, "One heartbeat a time, love. That seems to be an appropriate way to handle this. Yes. That shall be how we do this."
Cassie fell asleep in his arms, smiling at his funny way of talking, but mostly at the note of wonder and what sounded like the beginnings of peace in his voice, her own heart beating solidly next to his.
One Month Later
Cassie stood near the riverbank, her white dress draping against her in graceful lines. A freaking gorgeous crown of flowers circled her head, matching the stunning little bouquet she held in her hands. The flowers were beautiful deep reds and yellows, dotted with small splashes of white here and there. Tamsin had seemed shy when she presented both garland and bouquet to Cassie that morning.
"It's not really traditional for a mating ceremony," she'd said, biting her lip. "But I thought you might like it because it's what humans sometimes do when they get married."
Cassie's heart once again just about overflowed with all the love she felt for this incredible pack that was now hers. And for this woman who was like a sister.
"It's perfect, Tam." Her voice had kind of wobbled, and she couldn't help but let a tear or two leak out. "Thank you."
Tamsin stood beside her now as the maid of honor, another concession to the mating-marriage blend of a ceremony. Looking at the huge audience grouped nearby, watching, Cassie caught her mother wiping away a few tears herself. Her parents had been totally shocked about everything, of course. Not to mention somewhat freaked out about their daughter now being a wolf. But all her mother had whispered to her when Cassie filled her in on all the details-well, okay, not the sex, no way was she sharing that with her mom-was a sort of confused but kindly, "I'm really glad they didn't eat you, dear. Maybe some things will be changing here on Wicked Mountain."
They sure would be. Now, Cassie's heart suddenly started to smack hard around her ribs when Trevor appeared at the edge of the woods near the river. He'd agreed to Tamsin wanting to slightly alter the usual mating ceremony for Cassie's sake. "Yes, she is a shifter now," Tamsin had said, calm and practical as always. "But she began as human. This is a good way to demonstrate that we are willing to embrace a change or twenty."
Cassie's big, bad wolf shifter mate had given a little snort at that, but he'd agreed.
Now, he prowled down the small glade toward her. The light bounced off his dark hair and seemed to light his eyes from within. She knew that was more from his release from the past, though. Oh, she still had work to do on the man. He hadn't exactly turned into a chatty Cathy overnight or anything like that.
Nope. He had actually told her if she ever shared with anyone else-well, aside from Tamsin, of course-just how vulnerable their alpha was, he would have to thrash her severely.
Not that she would ever betray her mate-like, ever-but the thought of being thrashed by him had kind of turned her on. That conversation had ended on a very interesting note.
Now, watching him come toward her, Cassie felt just the littlest flush race over her skin. Her mate. Her Trevor. Her gorgeous, strong, real, vulnerable, incredible wolf shifter mate. She saw nothing and no one else as Trevor came toward her, filling her vision with only his totally swoon-worthy self. When he drew close enough to touch her, he reached out a hand to hers. Clasping it so gently despite the tremendous strength in it, he cocked one eyebrow at her.
"You are certain of this, Cassandra?" His rumbling voice spilled over the riverside, reaching the ear of everyone there. "For after today, you will indeed be officially mated to me. And to the pack."
Cassie faced him squarely. Aware her own voice would ring out for everyone to hear, she spoke as firmly as she could. "That's all I want. For now, and forever."
A small sigh rippled through the crowd. Cassie sensed approval, love, happiness. Okay, maybe most of that was her, but still. Nothing could ruin this day.
Until a sudden commotion at the back of the crowd made both her and Trevor turn their heads, along with everyone else.
A wolf shifter Cassie had never seen before strode down the aisle, straight toward them. Huge, brawny, dark and deadly, he arrowed directly at them with intention clear in his eyes. Cassie gaped at him, then looked at Trevor.
Trevor, however, was looking at Tamsin, his brows raised.
And Tamsin, her expression impossible to figure out, was staring at the wolf approaching, who only had eyes for her.