For the longest time, Mabel would watch her parents and envy them. The way they held each other, the clear love they had for one another, She’d wanted that herself, only now, she had it within her grasp.

Her mate was in her arms. Where she’d been willing to put their past in front of their happiness, he’d fought for it.

“Mabel, honey, does this mean you and Lucas have reunited?”

“They’re going to be returned to the island the moment you’re well,” Duke said. “I don’t think it was right in case things had taken a turn for the worse.”

“I feel fit and healthy,” her father said.

She smiled. “There is only so much a girl can watch when her parents smooch.”

Her father held out his hand, and she let Lucas go so she could grasp his hand. Taking it, she leaned in close.

“Go back to the island and give your mate a real chance. Don’t be stubborn. Learn to forgive.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll go back when you’re better.”

“I am better. I’m getting stronger with every second. I’m not human. I’m part wolf. Go and learn to be happy.”

She chuckled and nodded. “Okay, fine. I’ll try.”

“I really appreciate everyone here and all, but I don’t suppose everyone would leave so I can spend some time with my mate?”

Chuckles rang out in the bedroom, and Mabel turned her head back to Lucas with a groan. “I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to look at them the same way again.”

“They’re in love. You should be happy.”

He stroked her hair back and she laughed. “Of course, I am.” She sighed.

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he said.

Lucas took her hand, and after his father confirmed the arrangements to send them back to the island, they took a walk through town.

Now that she didn’t have the stress of her father hanging over her head, she noticed how so many people watched them.

“I feel like we should put on a show. Maybe dance and sing,” she said. “They might stop looking.”

“Nah, they’d document it.”

“Don’t they have anything better to look at?”

“In all of our pack history, a mated couple has never requested a reconciliation. We’re the first.”

“Oh,” she said. She hadn’t known that. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m not. We didn’t exactly have the easiest start, did we?”

“No. I guess we didn’t, but will this hurt you as an Alpha?” she asked. “You’re going to take over from your father one day.”

“Yes, I only hope when the time is right, I’m just as good as him. In the past three years, I’ve come to see there is a lot more to running a pack than being strong.”