“You’re a good man, you know that right,” Grayson said joining him in bed.

They’d left Quintus’ home a few hours ago and was at the mayor’s mansion. Before leaving Grayson had hugged Donald and Quintus thanking them for finding and taking care of Chance. He’d been so happy for his mate being alive he’d forgotten to interrogate them both on exactly when they became friends. And from the touches, he’d seen between the two men they were more than running buddies.

Grayson’s parents had canceled their annual party once they heard what had happened to Chance and was at his side only leaving moments after he’d fallen asleep beside his lover. Grayson couldn’t stop touching Chance. After all the crying and composing herself, his grandmother told them that the fight between Chance and Jafaris had ended with the feral wolf dying. Grayson was so sad for Jafaris but understood the love he had for Ermaline and losing her drove him into madness.

“How do you figure that?” Chance pulled him close and wrapped him in his arms.

“You held my grandmother while she cried, not many men would be able to look past that moment of vulnerability and see her humanity.”

“Well they are idiots,” Chance mumbled.

“Yes, they are.” Grayson reached up and caressed his bearded cheek. “I almost lost you.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“It’s not your fault, and sadly it’s not Jafaris’ either. Love and losing that love makes you do things you’ve never thought of doing. I was ready to have my grandmother change you without your permission, just to have you with me. I wasn’t thinking about the risk that you could also become feral. I just couldn’t lose you.”

“During my change, I kept thinking I needed to live for you. I needed to hear your heartbeat because you are mine. I can’t live without you too, Grayson. I want to consume your every being. I want to build our family and be the mayor this town needs.”

“So, you’re going to take the position?”

“Yeah. I’m still not sure why the town picked me, but I love living here.” He stopped and looked down at Grayson. “I never asked you but how do you feel about me becoming mayor?”

Grayson sat up and straddled his lover’s legs, resting his palms on his chest. “Promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“That when you become mayor, that you’ll never forget to be my Daddy.”

Chance smiled and cupped the back of his neck, his thumb slowly brushing against his cheeks. “Boy, I will be your Daddy forever,” he said making Grayson smile. “I love you, Grayson Vale.”

Wrapping an arm around Chance, he pressed their lips together. “I love you too, Chance Knight.”

He rested his head on his lover’s chest, closing his eyes, listening to his heart beating as he drifted off to sleep.

Christmas Morning

Chance smiled as he watched Grayson hand each of his family members a gift-wrapped box with their names on it. They’d thought about what to get each person, and the only thing he and Grayson could give them was the gift of family. Chance was finally going to take part in the Vale family Christmas day festivities, which was more lowkey than he’d expected. It was a mandatory pajamas day filled with gift opening, a large dinner, and every Christmas movie that was made.

It had only been a couple of days, but he was still adjusting to his new body. The annual multipack was the night before, and although Chance would have liked to be a part of it, he wasn’t ready for the whole kumbaya howling that happened all night.

Chance needed to get a handle on how to shift first along with the new powers he’d gained. It seemed as if he was seeing things with clear eyes literally and figuratively. He was able to see the magic surrounding everything he touched and never realized how intricate it was to their daily life. One thing he had to get used to was the increased strength he gained in a matter of days.

“I find it odd that we all got our gifts wrapped in the same boxes,” Monique said narrowing her eyes at him.

Chance chuckled, he loved watching the two banter with each other.

“For crying out loud, Mo, open the damn box, or I’m taking back my gift.”

Grayson went to reach for the box, but Monique clutched it to her chest. “Don’t you dare.”

Grayson sat on his lap, and he leaned down and kissed the side of his boy’s neck and groaned the second Grayson’s sweet scent engulfed him. His cock hardened, and Chance growled, licking the part on his boy’s neck that he’d claimed as his special spot.

“Oh, my goddess you’re pregnant!”

Chance was jarred from his pleasure when Grayson was pulled from his lap. He would have been angry if it was anyone else, but since it was Katarina and Rosemary, all he could do was smile at how happy they were.

“I won,” Monique yelled as she wiggled in her chair, kicking her feet.

“Calm down, love,” Cordell said to her.

“Are you ready to pay up, old man,” she said to her father, ignoring Cordell. “I won the bet.”

Chance looked at LaMarkus who didn’t seem to mine that he’d lost whatever bet he and Monique had made.

“Wait, what bet?” Grayson asked pulling away from his still excited grandmother and mother.

“The one dad and I made that you were pregnant. I kept telling him you were, and he kept saying you weren’t,” Monique explained. “I think you need to get your nose fixed, old man.”

“Is that why you asked me about kids a couple of weeks ago?” Grayson asked her.

“Yup, and I knew that you were, but dad was in denial.”

“What did you win?” Chance asked her.

“A full year of babysitting duties,” she cackled.

“Yeah, yeah, you won the bet,” LaMarkus said. “What I want to know is when are you going to marry my boy?”

“He stopped being your boy when he became mine weeks ago,” Chance said looking directly at LaMarkus.

The room when completely silent before the Sheriff burst out in laughter. “Fair enough, when are you going to marry my son?”

“New Year’s Eve, and we would like for you to marry us,” Chance said looking towards Rosemary.

“Will this be my last act as mayor?”

“Yes,” Chance answered and before he knew it, he was being pulled into a hug.

“Thank you,” Rosemary whispered in his ear. “And don’t worry I’ll stay alpha of the pack a while longer until you’re ready to take up the mantle.” She pulled away and changed the subject before Chance could say anything. But the words stayed played over in the back of his head and again he felt perfectly fine with the idea of becoming Vale’s pack alpha.

Yup, so many things to get used to and I welcome the challenge.

“I don’t want to wait until our wedding night,” Grayson said to his lover.

They were walking to the bedroom he used whenever he stayed at the mayor’s mansion. He and Chance had spent enough time with the family, and he needed to be alone with his lover. They stopped in front of his room door, and Chance pulled him into his arms.

“Are you sure?”

“I am, I want you to claim me again, this time as a shifter.” He cupped the back of Chance’s neck going to his toes. “And I hear sex between two shifters are hot as hell, especially when you claim your mate while orgasming.”

Chance growled, and Grayson found he liked the new side of his lover.

“Then what the hell are we waiting for, boy?”

He picked Grayson up in his arms bridal style, and walked into the bedroom, kicking the door closed. That night Chance made love to him and claimed him, making him completely his. Grayson’s heart was filled with joy knowing that their life was just beginning, and he couldn’t wait to see what the future held for them and their family.

“You’re wrong, you know,” Grayson said to him with his head resting on his lover’s chest listening to the beat of his heart.

“About what?”

“You said I was your heartbeat, but I think you’re mine.”

Chance raised his head, so they were looking at each other. “How about we be each other’s heartbeat? None can live without the other.”

Grayson smiled. “I like that.” He kissed his lover’s chest before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep being held in his lover’s arms, knowing his heart was safe forever.