Françoise and Dany found everyone some clothes in the closets and dressers in the upstairs bedrooms while Lucien called Côtard and explained the situation. Ryenne found Gavin and clung to him wordlessly. Emma called Pascal to let him know they were okay. He arrived soon after in the car with his medical bag to bandage everyone up.

After tending to Gavin and Axel, Pascal cleaned Ryenne’s neck wound and covered it in gauze. “How do you feel?”

“Confused more than anything. I have a lot to learn.”

He nodded. “Let me know if you’d like the perspective of a human married to a shifter.”

She smiled her thanks. “I always thought being turned would be a fate worse than death.”

“And now?”

She sighed and stared at Lucien as he conversed quietly with Côtard, who had arrived soon after Pascal. “Now I’m glad to be alive.” She returned her gaze to Pascal. “But I did things as a wolf I wouldn’t have done as a human. I’m not sure how to live with it.”

Pascal patted her hand. “You don’t have to figure it out on your own. You have an entire family to help you through.”

Tears uncharacteristically jumped to Ryenne’s eyes. She looked around as her heart swelled. Was all this emotion a part of the change? No, she’d been feeling this way ever since she’d realized how strong her feelings for Lucien had become. “Do I?” she whispered.

Pascal glanced behind him at Lucien. “Go talk to him. You two are overdue.” Then he rose and went to Gavin, who was huddled under a blanket and drinking a glass of water.

Côtard walked away, too, taking a phone out of a pocket of his pants. Ryenne approached Lucien, who was pulling a shirt over his head.

He gestured toward Côtard with his chin. “He’s calling in the local cops to search the house for evidence against the Fangs. And to clean up this mess.”

She glanced around at the carnage on the basement floor. She hoped some of those cops had superhuman strength and speed like she now did. The thought brought a smile to her face. No more riding on Mathieu’s back and feeling like a kid. She couldn’t wait to try out her new speed.

Lucien took her hand. “Are you okay?”

She took a deep breath and decided not to answer the question. She didn’t have one, yet. “Thanks for stopping me from killing my best friend.”

He grinned. “Anytime.”

“Will I always feel that level of hunger and blood lust as a wolf?”

“No. You’ll get used to it and learn to control it. In fact, I think you already did. At the end of the battle, you were able to focus your aggression on the Fangs just when it mattered.”

She was relieved that she wouldn’t have to worry about hurting Gavin ever again.

Taking a deep breath, she stared into Lucien’s warm eyes. “I need to tell you something.”

“It’s okay.” He shook his head, shaggy brown hair flying in all directions. “I know how you feel. I’ve always known.”

She took his hands. “Always?”

“Even before you did.”

“But I need to say it and I need you to hear me.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“You may not have forgiven me for going to Lord Enterprises yesterday and getting Dany hurt and Gavin kidnapped, and I understand. You’re right to be mad at me. I wouldn’t even blame you for hating me.”

“Ryenne, I could never hate you. I was only mad because—”

“Lucien, please, let me get this out.”

He nodded and waited for her to continue.

“Lucien Malraux, I love you. I have loved you for a while now but couldn’t admit it to myself. I was scared and stupid and... did I say scared? So, I couldn’t say it before and I couldn’t say it when you were mad at me, but I can now. I love you.”

Lucien stared at her with a silly grin. “Can I talk yet?”

She shook her head. “Kiss me now,” she whispered.

Lucien’s lips brushed hers and she grabbed both sides of his head and returned the kiss, stronger and harder than he’d begun. God, she’d missed his lips. And his arms tight around her.

She broke away and caressed his stubbled cheeks. She never wanted to let go of him again.

“I know all that,” he said. “And I love you, too, which is why I was so mad yesterday. But you risked your own life for my family, yesterday and today, and I will always be grateful.”

“Ahem.” Dany, both arms wrapped around Guy, who wore clothing that didn’t fasten around his girth, stood smiling at them. “I get it. I really do. And I’m so happy you guys have made up, but we need to get out of here before the Saint-Germain-en-Laye police show up and question us. Better if they think the Fangs did all of this to themselves.”

“Right, of course.” Ryenne nodded and turned away from Lucien.

As they left the Grieux house, Ryenne took Dany’s arm and leaned in close. “Got a bit of a glimpse of your man after the battle. Nice.”

Dany laughed and gestured to Pascal and Emma already cuddled up together in the car. “I think tonight will be a good night for the Malraux siblings. Poor Maman, all alone.”

They turned to Françoise, standing off to the side with Côtard, her dainty hand in his. “I don’t know about that,” Ryenne said. “Looks like all kinds of secrets are out.”

“Maman and Côtard?” Lucien asked from behind Ryenne. “How did we not see that one coming?” He slid into the backseat of the car with Ryenne and snuggled against her.

“How will we all fit in here?” she asked.

He gestured out the window to where Dany and Guy ran toward the forest, shifting as they went. Martin melted into the woods, too, still in his human form.

Movement from the other side of the car caught her eye. Côtard ushered Axel and Gavin into the back of his unmarked police car.

“Wait, what’s going on?” she asked.

Françoise came to her side of the car. “Don’t worry. They need to give statements about being kidnapped. I’ll go with them.”

“No, it should be me,” Ryenne said, sliding closer to the door.

“Ryenne, you have helped us enough, and you must be so hungry and tired since the change,” Françoise said. “I promise I will take good care of your friend. He’s one of us now. I won’t let anything happen to him. And you and Lucien have some unfinished business.”

Ryenne turned to Lucien. His broad grin melted her heart, but Gavin was her best friend.

“Gavin?” she called out the car door. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No way, Ry. We’re fine. I’ll see you later.” Gavin started to close the car window then paused. “Have fun.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Ryenne groaned.

Lucien pulled her closer to him. “Tell me again about how you love me.”

“My pleasure.” She kissed him and clung to him during the entire drive back into Paris.