Not just vampire. Not just werewolf.

“His tie only lasted until death.” Jane smiled. The most beautiful sight. “Yours lasted longer, and so did I.”

Good. Because if she hadn’t come back to him, Alerac would have followed her. He would have f**kin’ fought death. Done anything—for her.

“I love you,” he told her. He needed her to hear the words. Alerac needed to say them, even though love felt like far too tame of a description for the way he felt.

“I know, a rúnsearc,”Jane told him, eyes bright with emotion. “I know.”

A rúnsearc. Secret love. The love that had been in his heart from the moment he first saw her.

The love that would continue on in this world and beyond death.

He eased Jane to her feet. Her brother instantly grabbed her and held her tight.

Zoe wiped away tears. Alerac reached for the she-wolf, pulling her close.

“I-I’m not pack anymore,” Zoe mumbled, “I should-”

“You’re pack,” he told her flatly. “You’re family.” And that was all that anyone needed to know. He owed Zoe a debt he could never repay.

A debt that Ryan could never repay, but he’d sure enjoy watching the vampire try.

Then Jane was coming back to him. Smiling. Breaking his heart with her beauty. Filling him with a hope that he hadn’t dared to feel in far too long.

“I saw Lorcan’s memories,” Jane told him. “I knew death was the way to break the tie.”

“You actually died?” Zoe’s voice rose. “Then how did you come back?”

“Love,” Jane said softly. “Love, and a bit of werewolf blood. It’s damn powerful stuff.”

Was she talking about werewolf blood being powerful? Or love?

“It can break any curse or spell.” Jane rose onto her toes and brushed her lips over Alerac’s. “It can survive anything.”

She put her hand over his heart. The heart that beat for her, now and always.

Over her shoulder, Alerac saw Ryan cast a quick glance toward Zoe. There was so much emotion in the vamp’s eyes. Emotion that was familiar to Alerac.

No, Zoe wasn’t leaving the pack or the family that was being created.

A family with ties that had been forged in blood and death.

A family that now had a future.

“Take me home, wolf,” Jane ordered him as her fingers stroked over his chest. “I’m ready to have that ‘something different’ you promised me.”

He glanced toward the fire, but it was out now. Just smoke, drifting away.

Lorcan was gone. No more monsters to slay.

Well, at least not at that moment. Alerac was sure there would be more paranormal ass to kick eventually.

There always was.

But for now, he’d take his mate, the love that he could see in her eyes, and he’d enjoy the happiness that they had coming.

No more punishment.

No more death.

For them, it was time to be free. Time to live.

A werewolf and his vampire. Together.

Forever.