Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“Giddy up!”
Epilogue
Madison
Nine years later…
I take the last step out of the Monstrous Montana Mountain Trail and sigh happily. It took almost ten years for me to complete it, but I finally have.
Warmth is radiating throughout my body as I turn around and watch my shirtless mate walking up to me with a smile on his beautiful face. God, that smile never fails to make my knees weak. Even after a decade with Julian, I still feel as special, loved, and wanted as that first night with him.
“You did it,” he says, looking so proud as he walks up to me with his arms outstretched. I moan as they wrap around me and I get pulled into his muscular chest, into my happy place.
“Thank you for coming with me,” I smile as I steal a peek at his sculpted abs. “It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
“I’m the reason you quit the first time around,” he says as he kisses the top of my head. “I had to make it up to you.”
“You have nothing to make up to me. The life you’ve given me is better than anything I could have ever hoped for. I love you so much, Julian.”
His big arms tighten around me. “You’re my girl, Madison. I love you too.”
“Ugh, is this the end?” a whiny voice says, yanking us out of our heavenly daze.
“This is it,” I say with a smile as I watch our oldest, Andrew, walking up the path toward us. He’s dragging his feet and making a show of being exhausted.
His two siblings, Kelly and Matteo, are in their bear forms, shuffling along behind him. They both start to shake when they see that we’re at the end of the trail.
“Is it the end?” Kelly asks with a hopeful look on her face.
“We can watch our tablets now?” Matteo asks with wide eyes.
I laugh as I watch the three of them looking more excited now than they ever did during the past three weeks on the trail.
Julian slides his arm over my shoulders and pulls me into his ribs as he looks at his kids. “Next time we’ll leave you complaining cubs at home.”
“Oh, thank God!” Andrew whispers, looking up at the sky.
I can’t help but laugh. I feel so giddy.
Ten years ago, I had embarked on this trail hoping to jumpstart my life. It worked.
I found myself, I found courage, I found happiness, but most importantly, I found my mate.
And ten years later, I still have my Julian by my side. We have three cubs as well, and when we get home, I might get him to put another one inside me.
“Are you happy, love?” my mate asks.
Like I need to answer that. It’s written all over my smiling face.
“I am,” I say as I look up into his adoring brown eyes. “But I’d be even happier with a cheeseburger and some fries.”
“Yes!” my three kids shout at the same time, high-fiving each other and salivating at the thought of a restaurant.
Julian smiles as he slides his hand around mine. “Then let’s get you even happier.”
I’m grinning as we walk onto the road and head for the diner across the street, looking and smelling like we’ve been in the wilderness for three weeks.
Our kids race ahead and disappear into the diner. Julian stops us in the middle of the empty road and pulls me for a heart-stopping kiss.
“Fuck the cheeseburger,” I whisper when he pulls away with my head spinning wildly. “I’ll take another one of those.”
He grins and kisses me again.
The End!