Ice Moon (24 page)

Chapter Forty-One

Taryn

T
he Christmas tree lights flickered as I snuggled into Jared’s arms. Charlie was in the other room, trying out his new video game, while we nestled in the aftermath of Christmas morning. Wrapping paper, bows, gift bags, and boxes covered the floor.

Tank lay in the corner with a big red bow stuck on his head. He busied himself gnawing on the rawhide bone Santa had brought.

I peered up at Jared and smiled. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

“And it’s not over yet.”

I raised a brow. “No?”

He shook his head and kissed my forehead. “Charlie! It’s time!”

Charlie paused his game and raced in. He was still wearing his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sweats, and grinning like a Cheshire cat.

I looked between the two men in my life. “What’s going on?”

“You’ll see!” Charlie giggled and sat beside me on the couch. “You should start the fireplace, Mom.”

I’d finally told my son about my gift. After experiencing the hurt of secrets firsthand, I didn’t want Charlie to find out about mine from anyone else. He surprised me with his quick acceptance, and his understanding that it needed to stay within our family.

I should’ve told him sooner.

Focusing on the logs in the fireplace, I funneled heat, envisioned flames, and suddenly the wood ignited. Charlie cheered. On some level, I’m pretty sure he thought I was a superhero. I wasn’t complaining.

Jared got up, and I wrapped my arm around Charlie and kissed his hair. “So what’s the big secret?”

He rolled his eyes. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret, Mom.”

Jared reached his hand into the back of the Christmas tree and pulled out a tiny blue velvet box. “I thought about waiting until tonight when we meet up with the Pack for Christmas dinner, but after our Thanksgiving experience with the whole family, I figured it might be better with just us.”

He got down on one knee in front of me and my vision blurred with tears.

“Taryn, I love you so much more than I ever realized I could love another person. You and Charlie are my life. You’re my mate, and I hope you’ll also be my wife.”

He opened the box to reveal a white gold band with a sparkling blue diamond in the center. I couldn’t speak.

Charlie nudged me with his shoulder. “Jared searched everywhere for a blue diamond. He says it matches your eyes.”

I wanted to memorize this moment, to freeze it in my mind and cherish it forever. Finally I managed to nod. “Yes. I’d love to be your wife.”

He grinned and snatched me off the couch and into his arms. I laughed as he kissed me, and Charlie bounced on the sofa cushions chanting. “I got a Dad.”

Jared slid the ring onto my finger and rested his forehead against mine. “Merry Christmas, Beautiful.”

Charlie jumped from the couch, tackling us, and Jared wrapped us both in his strong arms. Right there, in the middle of the crunched up wrapping paper, in our pajamas, on Christmas morning, I got the only thing I had ever wanted.

My family.

The End

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Acknowledgments

Thanks so much for reading! Without you, I couldn’t write the Wolf Pack.

It takes a village to send a book out into the world. Big thanks to Liz Pelletier for helping me polish it up, and thanks to Heidi and the rest of the Entangled Select crew for all their work. You rock!

I also need to send out a big thank you to Rhianna Walker for getting the word out about the book and the entire Moon Series. And speaking of spreading the word, here’s a big shout out to my amazing Night Angel Legion! You guys are the best readers a writer could hope for!

I also need to thank my fabulous beta readers Denise Fluhr, Heather Cox, and Elizabeth Neal! You all inspire me to write faster, and your input helps keep me on track.

Thank you to my fabulous agent, Laurie McLean! Your love for the Wolf Pack makes me feel like a superhero.

And to my family, thank you for your love, support, and patience when I keep reading passages to you and babbling about fictional people.

Last but never least, thanks to my husband, Ken. I’m so lucky to have you in my life. Your love and your belief in me keep me going.

About the Author

Lisa Kessler
is an Amazon Best Selling and award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at
http://Lisa-Kessler.com
She loves hearing from readers - [email protected]

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