mother made me afraid to love. Afraid if I gave myself to someone, they would abuse that gift and destroy me in the process. She was my mother. She had to be right, you know? So, when she told me not to release my wolf, no one would want me, and I would always be in danger, I believed that. I lived my life, afraid.
“Then you came, and I realized I could be loved. You love me, and that’s the greatest gift I’ve ever known. So, it was hard, but I accepted that. But I still held myself back, kept myself away from giving all of me. You asked me to marry you, and it scared the shit out of me. Still does.”
“Baby—” Calyx murmured.
“Shut up, Calyx. I’m still talking, and while I can’t hold you in contempt, I can walk away.”
Calyx sighed again.
“But I don’t want to. I want this, what we have, to grow. And I want it forever, Calyx. Seeing Dimitri fall from the sky and watching Eric as he stood helpless, unable to do anything, I realized life is too short for me not to take all I can get and hold on. Hell, I could have died, and then, what? Miss the chance to enjoy everything I could have with the man I love? If only for one day. Five years. Twenty. I want every moment I can have, and I want that with you. I don’t want to live life, wondering, and wishing. I want to grab it and hold on with all I can. I want it all, including your name.”
Calyx took a deep breath. “Gods, Trey. I’d be happy to take yours. To take anything you’re willing to give.”
“Well, I’m not, Calyx. I want it all. I want you, a fresh start, to leave old ghosts behind. For me, marrying you, legalizing it according to human law, will make that happen, because I’m not just yours in the world of goblin and wolf, but yours for the entire world to see. That’s what I want. Will you, Calyx Akiyama, give that to me? Will you marry me tomorrow during the Autumn Feast?”
Calyx’s eyes were wet, but he laughed. “Well. Let me think. There’s so much to consider.”
Epilogue: New Beginnings
Haru stepped aside and presented his son to the man who had finally said yes. The day was beautiful, the moon bright in the sky and the spirits of his people celebratory. A perfect day for a wedding.
The elders began the festivities with prayers for the Autumn Feast. Mooncake was shared as stories were told. There were hugs and joy for all. The men of the sanctuary held their heads higher as their family praised them for defending the temple. There had been losses, and the survivors remembered each of the ones they lost, but they were together with much to be thankful for.
Before the meal, the time all had wished for arrived. Calyx and Trey knelt at the foot of the temple preparing to wed. After sharing a slice of mooncake, they stood and spoke their vows while Haru and his people looked on. His heart filled with joy as Calyx spoke the words he’d prayed to share with his mate for years now.
“I pledge to you my soul to keep for a lifetime to come. I bestow to you my name to shoulder as we make our path in this world.”
“My name, not yours.” Trey corrected.
Calyx’s laugh was warm as he bent to kiss his mate on the cheek wiping away the tear that had settled there with shaking fingers.
“Correction. Forgive me, my love. I take your name to keep, to shoulder as we make our path in this world.”
Trey nodded, his eyes bright with happiness.
The two had practiced the words that had been spoken for generations, but Haru knew his son wouldn’t hesitate to grant Trey this concession, to give Trey the power he needed in their mating, and to show the man he loved that he was willing to submit to him as well. The tradition was for the stronger to bestow their name to the lesser.
Well, Trey is not Calyx’s lesser. He is his equal, master of my son’s heart.
As if the moon was pleased, its iridescent light brightened, touching all the Autumn Feast participants. There were sighs and gasps as her blessings were given to all.
A Tengu goblin had found his mate—a gift rarely discovered. Haru had never had his own. Until now? He had to wonder as he looked at the man standing next to him.
Haru smiled when Trey spoke his vows, adjusted to suit the mating of two unique individuals with their own way to love.
“I am honored to keep your soul as you keep mine, to bestow unto you my name, to stand guard and protect you for our lifetime. May our flame never extinguish so we blaze like the sun together forever, sheltering those in our keeping.”
Haru startled when Kindling linked arms with him and smiled at him suggestively. He shook his head at the little imp, but when he tried to move, Kindling wouldn’t let him go. The man was a lot stronger than anyone gave him credit for. He had no idea what to do with the sly wolf attached to his side, who only burrowed himself in further.
“Forever,” Kindling murmured while Calyx and Trey finished their vows. He gripped Haru tighter when Calyx and Trey kissed, then drew his hand along Haru’s back as Calyx and Trey signed the documents pronouncing them as husbands.
Haru shivered when Kindling whispered, “Next Autumn Feast be ready, Haru Akiyama. Of course, I might not be able to wait that long.”
Perhaps Kindling would fit as Trey had already. Trey had accepted the responsibility of the sanctuary and its people, had promised to protect them alongside his mate.
Haru had been there when Calyx had challenged the sun, his sacrifice to the mating bond. His son flew proudly as he stretched out his wings, the sun’s glorious rays behind him, casting his mate in his shadow down below.
And Trey had stood watching, waiting until Calyx had circled enough times to satisfy his need to show his mate he held no fear, that no matter what they faced, he would keep Trey safe.
When Calyx had fallen exhausted to the ground, Trey had been there to kiss his brow, to enfold him within his waiting arms, the two of them smiling, Calyx’s expression grateful and Trey’s hopeful.
The newest addition to their family had not believed Calyx would change his world to give Trey what he required. He’d questioned their bond and what he wanted of it. He’d been fearful and hesitant.
Now, he appeared a different man who celebrated the union he and Calyx shared. He’d found his place and accepted his role as a giver of knowledge to the young of the sanctuary, educating them and finding the necessary resources to ensure their health both physically and mentally.
Trey had blossomed, and after the battle, he’d approach Haru and asked him for Calyx’s hand in marriage.
Too stunned to give the young man any grief, Haru had clasped the boy tightly to himself and kissed him on the forehead. His yes had been laden with emotion because he knew how very far Trey and Calyx had come. To finally have Calyx’s dream made real was a prayer answered for Haru as well.
And now, as the two stood before them all, pronounced not only as mates but as husbands, Haru glowed within, his happiness for them both making his wings unfurl as if he would take flight and challenge the sun himself.
Would Calyx have changed his vows, his whole world to have his mate?
Of that, Haru had no doubt.
Would he do whatever was necessary to ensure his mate knew he was loved?
Well, that was what mates did when they said yes.