My Mate's Touch

A Bonus Chapter

To those who are still here, to let you all know that I am, too. Thank you for giving this very novice story a chance, and for helping it soar to over a million reads. I hope you enjoy this extra chapter, perhaps as a Christmas gift. - D

—

The head alpha of Shadowclaw would never tire of seeing that golden band on his finger. And neither would he tire of Luca wearing the same band, with gems of gray crested in the center. The rings glimmered in the sunlight like twin stars as Felix and his mate strode through the pack with their hands clasped, fingers intertwined.

Mate. The word tasted familiar and yet so foreign on Felix's tongue. He still struggled to grasp it, how his fated partner had jumped headfirst into his role as head luna with such high shoulders and political grace. After only three years since their union and Luca's coronation, the head luna had already signed on a formal declaration to adopt Timbers Cross as a part of Shadowclaw territory. A bold move, one that made Shadowclaw the first human-lycan pack in history. The period of adjustment was swifter than anticipated, and the Shadowclaw pack had become a beacon of unity.

Felix's hand was yanked back, and he turned to see that his mate had stopped. Luca moved back a couple of paces, crouching in the grass and coming back up with a daisy between his fingers. He tucked the flower behind Felix's ear, and the gesture was so delicate that Felix thought his heart would cease its rhythm.

"It matches your hair," Luca said, a smile gracing his lips.

The head alpha couldn't help the scoff that escaped him. "Not quite, my love. You know I'm platinum."

"I suppose you are," Luca quipped, bringing a hand to Felix's jaw as they resumed their stroll. "You and your stubble."

A frown. "You said I would look good with a beard last week."

"You know you can't trust my judgment when I'm drunk, Felix. I think I told Aspen that she should shave her head during our wedding reception."

"With how drunk she was that night, I'm surprised she didn't go through with it." Felix feigned injury as Luca elbowed his side, both of them erupting into a fit of laughter. "Fair enough. It'll be gone by tonight. It is getting a bit itchy."

Luca's brown hair had grown out, too, though Felix wouldn't mention it. He had come to like how the ends developed a slight curl, how he could latch his fingers around them as they slept. They continued through the pack grounds, the cobblestones uneven beneath their feet.

Felix lifted a low-hanging branch, creating an arch for he and Luca to walk under. "Xander, Aspen, Elias... Are you sure those are the only people you want to attend your coronation anniversary dinner tonight?"

"You can come too, I guess." It was Felix's turn to playfully elbow his mate. "I couldn't be more sure. You all, you're my family."

"Alright."

And that was what they had set out to do, per Luca's request. He found it unnecessary to send wax-sealed letters to the people he saw almost everyday. And for how close they had become to him, inviting them personally to his anniversary dinner to celebrate his third year as head luna was the absolute least he could do.

After taking the scenic route, Felix and Luca found themselves approaching the training grounds. Wolves clawed at each other in mock battle, their jaws opened wide and fur gleaming in the sunlight. Those in their human forms were fighting with swinging fists and kicks. And some even drew bowstrings—a new adaptation to Shadowclaw warrior culture, considering that archery was a traditionally human practice. A hunter's practice, but perhaps they could fight fire with fire.