“Naya James.”

“Full name.”

“That’s it. I don’t have a middle name.”

He sighed quickly and made an audible humming sound with it. “Very well. Sign here to show you’re entering this pack of your own free will. At least until you see fit to leave. If any shifter commits a crime against you, then your new pack has full rights to hunt him down on your behalf,” he recited as if he’d said the words a million times.

I signed my name and handed the book back to him. He pivoted on his seat and gave the book to Austin.

“By signing your name in that book, you agree to watch over this young Shifter as a member of your pack. You swear to look after her well-being and protect her with your life.”

Austin scribbled his name and handed it back.

Turner squinted at the page. “Uh-huh. Looks good. That’s official. You’re now a member of the Weston pack. Now, on to the second half of our show.”

A fever touched my cheeks. I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, but I knew how these things went. A member of the Council stood witness and gathered signatures. We didn’t make an elaborate production out of such things, but now I understood what Lexi must have been feeling in wanting to make her mating ceremony more special. It was a beautiful moment I’d never forget. The way the room smelled heavy with bacon and maple syrup, Denver in a faded shirt with a tie printed on the front, Maizy standing with her hands clasped together and watching with wide blue eyes, and the feel of Wheeler’s hand massaging the back of my neck reassuringly. I’d never forget this moment, because it wasn’t just about me finding love, but finding a family. And having everyone here touched me deeply.

I tried not to cry, but when the grizzly old man licked his finger and turned a few pages in the book, I wiped away a tear and leaned against Wheeler, holding the hand he had draped over my right shoulder.

“Here we are,” the Councilman said. “One of these days I need to bookmark this section, but my mate got a new fuddy-duddy book she wants me to use with a bunch of tabs on the side. She thinks I can’t find things.” He leaned in and gave me a funny look.

Izzy giggled from her spot across the table, Jericho standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders.

Suddenly my throat was dry. I kept swallowing and finally took a deep breath to shake away the nervous butterflies.

“You’re not going to puke on me, are you?” he asked with a snort. “Okay, maybe I ought to hurry this along before you get cold feet.”

I didn’t just grip Wheeler’s hand—I clung to it as if it were the last life preserver on a sinking ship.

“I stand witness to the mating of Naya James and Wheeler Cole. Wheeler, do you promise to protect this woman, give her your loyalty, hunt for her, and share your bounty?”