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nJust a little note here to say thank you again to all of you wonderful readers. And to those of you who have so generously given this story a gift, I dedicate this very special, highly-anticipated chapter to you. :)

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nAugust's breath came faster, and she gripped his shoulders. He kissed below her ear before returning to the tender spot that made his teeth ache for her.

"I'm yours, August Moon. Forever, eternally yours. And you are mine,

" he whispered against her neck before allowing his lips to linger there in a soft kiss. He felt her breath hitch, and she tightened her legs around him again.

nJust like that, the hunger Graeme had tamed until now uncoiled in his abdomen. The soft kiss turned deeper as he latched onto her pale skin, sucking it fiercely before finally sinking his teeth in to taste the tenderness of her. August whimpered underneath him as he held her, soft but firm in his arms with his teeth in her skin. The fierceness of his protection for her swelled large around them, with her at its bright center. Graeme growled and clutched her closer, feeling something flowing and soft merge with his center and expand outward—out into the forest and even beyond that.

nAugust whimpered and shuddered against him, indenting his back as the pain pierced her neck before spreading a warm, comforting wave through her. Its strength and tenderness was everywhere, sinking deep—into the deepest parts that she hadn't felt until now. Her chest grew warm and relaxed, and suddenly the body of Graeme holding her seemed to merge and sink in with hers. She was aware of him—everywhere. The puttering of him against her skin. The way his body arched over and held her—she felt it as she felt herself—more so, even, for this extension of her was new and vibrant and so alive. It stole her breath.

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"Graeme..

" his name brought explosions of light behind her eyes as she said it—the most precious of names. She would treasure it, treasure him, always. She didn't know—had no idea—that this was what the marking would be. That it would expand and weave, explode and fill, bring him home to her in such a deliciously permanent way where every part of him came alive behind her eyes.

nGraeme groaned, unwilling to let go—making sure he gave her everything. He sucked on the tenderness in his mouth, taking her into him and tasting it, willing himself into her and feeling her flow into him in return. She was his. August was his, and he would give her everything. His arms wrapped tighter around her sides, and she was groaning with him—her hands in his hair, bringing to life every inch she touched, and she was touching everything, every part of him—flowing into him and filling the negative spaces, merging with his flesh and with his blood, building and building inside of him until he was sure she was finally home.

nGraeme pulled back finally, panting against her, and their eyes locked—twin expressions of surprise and awe and a love that neither had ever felt or been capable of imaging before. They recognized each other and themselves as entangled within the other who held them close, and they panted there quietly in awe, taking it in.

nFor once, August wasn't crying with emotion, but it was because she was so fully open to him, everything had been swept clean. His breaths were her own, his twin awe was her own, and she reveled in it—in him. In herself. In this new comfort between them. She felt safe and strong and seen in a way that she never had been before. He saw her being, he felt it, and she knew because she felt his, too.

nNothing could be more precious or more beautiful than this new universe of feeling that had expanded and opened up between them. Together, they orbited something beyond themselves that was only made possible by them each as individuals brought together now as a whole.

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"You're safe,

" Graeme whispered, bowing his head to hers.

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"And you're mine,

" August answered.

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"Can you read my thoughts, August Moon?

" Graeme pulled back with a small teasing smile on his lips.

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"No,

" she said,

"but I feel you. I feel you everywhere, Graeme.

"

nHis gaze held hers for another moment before he bent to lick the mark and soothe it with his tongue, and she shuddered again from the contact. He was coursing through her. He was inside her—in her bones, in her cells, in the very core of her being somehow, and yet here was his tongue leaving a tantalizing trail of exterior warmth that chilled in the fall air.

"Finally,

" she heard him say,

"you're home.

"

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"We should have done this from the beginning,

" she thought aloud and clutched the nape of his neck—the strength of him somehow softening under her.

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"You only awoke three days ago,

" Graeme chuckled.

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"Before… before everything. How have I been so long without you?

" She scanned his face, and then she caught sight of it—the second vision. It had returned, and there was a gentle glow to their surroundings. But this time, it wasn't overwhelming. It felt natural. She looked at the man holding her, the dazzling radiance surrounding him, and she was able to dim this new vision to where it all but disappeared before opening it again and letting the energy burn brightly to almost blind her with its brilliance.

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"What is it?

" he asked her, his eyes and voice so tender it trilled inside her.

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"The second vision. It's back,

" she smiled.

"And it feels… good. It feels normal.

"

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"Your pupils are back to being the same size,

" he realized suddenly. The smile on his face grew wider. He was pleased with these unexpected outcomes.

"Let's see your wrists,

" he added. August let go of him, lowering her hands to where they could both see the pale skin that no longer had bruises. Her mouth dropped open. She turned her hands over to reveal her nails that were perfectly in tact with no sign of damage.

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"How…

" she started, looking back up at him in shock.

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"Thank the Goddess,

" she heard him say, and he pulled her into his chest, tucking her under his chin and running his hand over her wet hair.

"I've never been so relieved or grateful,

" he said.

"Thank you. I feel like I can breathe again,

" and he sputtered a laugh. It was true. It was almost as if a new chamber had opened in his chest to allow deeper, fuller breaths. He felt every cell relax and hum with a new warmth—a new warmth that was August.

nAugust was speechless. Had his mark healed her?

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"Let's get you into dry clothes,

" he said and gently placed her down, grabbing a nearby towel to wrap around her.

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"Are you okay?

" she breathed.

"The bite, it didn't… harm you did it?

"

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"Of course not,

" he gave her a crooked smile.

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"Can you shift into your wolf for me?

"

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"I'm fine,

" he chuckled at her concern, rubbing her arms under the towel as her lips started to tremble from the fall air.

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"Please,

" she pleaded with an expression that sliced his heart. Obviously she was still worried that Marius losing his wolf had somehow been her fault alone.

nHe raised an eyebrow, a glint of mischief twinkling in his eye before pulling the wet shirt over his head. The action ruffled his hair, causing it to stick up adorably in various spots. August gulped having his perfect body revealed to her. A small trail of dark hair started around his belly button that led below his jeans, which he was now unbuttoning without lowering his eyes from hers.

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"You can't just… shift. You know, without undressing?

"

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"I like these jeans,

" he smiled. He removed each pant leg, one after the other, and then in an instant, as if he were merely shaking his human form free, his massive wolf was standing in front of her. She hadn't realized how tall he was like this—his eyes stared back higher in height than hers.

nAugust's worry vanished, replaced now with a radiant smile as she looked back at the magnificent creature in front of her whose long, dark fur was ruffling with the breeze. She moved slowly forward, running one hand through the fur on his face before nuzzling herself in his neck. He huffed and craned his head back toward her before sitting on his hind legs, letting her acquaint herself again with the wild that existed in him.

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"I'm so relieved,

" she said into his fur, petting him again as she held the towel around her with the other hand. And then just as quickly as he had turned wild, he shook himself back to his less furry form, and her head was against his bare chest.. She looked up to see the emotion in his eyes that met her, and she drank it in.

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