Several months later . . .

Domino’s heart skipped a beat when his mate came out with the last box. She was talking to an older woman with gray hair wrapped around pink curlers. He knew he shouldn’t be nervous, but he just couldn’t help himself. Today was a big day. Today was the day that they moved in together at Woodhaven, the pack’s estate.

Harper awkwardly hugged the older woman with one arm while she balanced the box against her hip and held it there with the other. One last smile toward her land lady, and then she turned to him. Her smile widened when she saw him watching her, and as she bounced down the couple steps from the entrance to the restaurant and her apartment, she waved.

Domino leaned over and opened the door for her, and she slid to the front seat, letting the box sit on her knees and rest against the dashboard while she clicked her seatbelt into place. He leaned over and planted a kiss on her as soon as she turned to him. The sweet taste of the latte he had brought her earlier still lingered on her lips, and the need for him to explore her mouth was suddenly more important than anything else. It was only her hand gently pushing on his chest that reminded him where they were. He grinned at her and pulled out into traffic.

“So, you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, knowing her answer but needing the reassurance of it all the same.

“Ugh, for the last time, yes! I’m ready! I want to live with you and your pack, not to mention Chewy.”

“I’m sure Chewy can’t wait to live with Daisy, either,” he responded.

Their dogs were just as in love as they were, which they found amusing to no end. Harper laughed and reached a hand over, running it up and down the back of his head. It felt amazing. So intimate yet casual, but something only she had ever done.

“All I have to say is that Chewy better respect Daisy’s boundaries, and that we better have the suite Valentina promised. I don’t want us to be making love in the shower that the rest of the pack uses.”

“Lola . . .” He trailed off, knowing she was trying to get under his skin but that there was a nervousness behind her words that he needed to assuage, just like she had done for him moments ago. “We have a suite. Most of the bedrooms in Woodhaven have their own bathroom attached. Ours even has a walk-in closet and sitting area. We will have all the privacy we need, I promise.”

They settled into an easy banter as the ride passed by, and it was only when he passed the main house and drove them down to the out buildings on the other side of the grounds that he could feel her looking at him. He glanced over, and the question was written all over her face, but he couldn’t answer it yet without ruining what he hoped was a good surprise.

When the car stopped, he turned to her and said, “Lola, I have a surprise for you. I honestly don’t know how you’ll feel about it, but the only way to find out is to show you, so let’s go.”

“Okay . . .” she said, clearly curious but also a little nervous. He could tell by the way she was nibbling at the inside of her lower lip.

“Close your eyes,” he said once they were both out of the car and he was standing in front of her.

She did as he asked, and he took her hand, gently leading her forward into the building.

“No peeking.”

“I’m not the one who ruins surprises.” She laughed, reminding him that he’d walked in on his own surprise birthday party being set up.

“Fair enough.” He sighed. “Stand just there and keep your eyes closed until I say so.”

“Yes, boss.” She fake-saluted in his general direction.

He heaved the rolling panels that made up the backside of the building off the ground and pushed them all the way up until the back wall was completely open, setting up the display just so, and he pulled out the check he had written earlier.

“Okay,” he said as he took a deep breath, “you can open your eyes now.”

He watched as Harper blinked in the light, taking in the sight he had presented in front of her. The wedding dress that had been in her closest was hanging over an empty metal drum, with a bottle of lighter fluid and a book of matches a few feet in front.

Her beautiful face was frozen, and he wasn’t sure if it was in shock or something worse.

“I thought you might want to do what you had mentioned a few weeks back. Burn your dress? You said you didn’t want to bring it with you, but you didn’t want to pass any bad luck onto another bride, so I thought maybe you would like to make a donation to a charity, instead?” He held the check out for her to see. “I made it out to Graceful Wishes Gowns, but we can change it, if you want. They sell used wedding dresses, and the profits go to a sex trafficking prevention charity.” He shrugged, unsure what more he could say, and knowing if he kept talking, it would end up becoming nonsense and awkward jokes.

“Nic, I . . . I guess I just don’t know what to say.”

“You totally don’t have to do it.” Shit. He’d made a huge mistake.

“It’s not that . . . It’s just so sweet,” she said, her voice cracking and her eyes filling with unshed tears.

He rushed to her. “Babe, none of this was supposed to make you cry. Let’s just forget it and go into the house. We can start unpacking, and I’ll bring it in later.”

She turned and looked up at him, the tears now flowing freely, and threw her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. There was nothing he could do except wrap his arms around her and hold her tight. Eventually, her tears stopped, and she pulled away slightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered in his ear before she stepped out of his embrace.

“It’s okay, babe, let’s go.” Domino turned back toward the car, expecting her to follow, but the next thing he heard was liquid being sprayed. He looked over his shoulder to see Harper dousing her old wedding dress with lighter fluid.

When she went to reach for the box of matches, he had to step in. “Let’s back up a bit before you light it, okay?” The last thing he wanted to do was inadvertently light his mate on fire.

She smiled at him gleefully as she said, “This is perfect!”

He chuckled as he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. “I’m very glad you think so.”

“I do.” She turned her head, and he bent to kiss her before she struck the match against the box. It took a few tries, but soon, the little piece of wood roared to life with fire, and she flicked it toward the white fabric.

As soon as the match hit, the whole thing went up. Red, orange, and yellow flames licked at the delicate fabric. It only took a couple minutes before all that was left was the metal of the hanger and the two by four he had hooked it on to, the latter of which was burning quite nicely.

“Thank you.” Harper whispered so quietly in front of him that he had to turn her around to make sure she was okay. “I mean it. This is the best present I’ve ever had.”

“It’s your dress. I just supplied a two by four, some lighter fluid, and a metal drum.”

“You gave me the courage to follow through with something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and you took away the guilt. The charity you picked out is perfect.” Harper pushed up onto her tiptoes and kissed him.

“I just want you to be happy.”

“You make me feel not only happy but loved, adored, and horny.” She giggled as she said the last.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, I think we should go investigate our suite.”

“Let me just put the fire out first.” Domino released her, quickly found the bucket of water he had set aside earlier, and doused the wood with it. Smoke billowed out and would have easily filled the out building if the door hadn’t been open. After he was sure the fire was completely extinguished, they made their way inside to the rooms that Valentina had assigned to them.

As they entered, Chewy and Daisy ran up to greet them, and Harper paused just inside the doorway. She turned to him then, her eyes shimmering once more.

“Thank you for coming into my life, Dominic Ward. I love you, and I can’t wait for us to explore this life we are creating together.”

“I love you, too, Lola.” He grinned before leaning down to kiss the daylights out of her.