One year later...

Norah really wished she could be anywhere but where she was going at that moment. The drive up north to the Quiotta clan's Gathering had been long and Rylan had insisted on driving his motorcycle rather than using the car. He complained that he never got to ride it - which was rubbish. He had plenty of opportunities to ride it, he just wanted Norah to go with him.

After becoming a werewolf, Norah's appreciation for motorcycles had taken a nosedive. The noise was like a drill to her ear drums and even after a year of assimilating, she still barely tolerated the noise. In her annoyance, Norah ditched him halfway at a rest stop and hitched a ride with Olivia.

"Drive now," she slammed the door shut.

Olivia put her foot down and they sped out of the stop before everyone else. "What's the rush?"

"I need to get away from that bike before the urge to destroy it overwhelms with me," she muttered.

"Still can't get used to the noise, huh?"

She winced. "It's slowly getting there."

Noise was still a big issue for Norah. Everything else had come naturally - even the shifting after her initial freaking out - but noise still had a way of overwhelming her. Her ability to control it fluctuated and only two weeks ago she had run out of the grocery store because the beeping of the scanner felt like it was going to make her head explode.

Trees rose on either side of the road, reminding Norah of her first drive into Bellvale. So many things had changed since then. For one - Bellvale had become her permanent home. She sold her old home, and purchased her Bellvale rental from Jack with the promise that she would give him any and all broken furniture so he could burn it. She had taken up a part time job at the Mill, doing  office jobs in between writing her novel which was finally finished. On the previous Wednesday, she had gotten the final draft back from her editor and all the query letters to publishers had been sent out. She had thought about self publishing but decided to take a crack at the traditional method first. She knew it was a long shot but Wendy and Madison had threatened physical harm to her if she didn't mail them out.

Madison had finally moved on from Parker and was a whole new person. Norah thought that Charlie had a lot to do with it but she never said anything. Everyone knew they were hooking up in secret - apart from Wendy - and Norah had made Madison promise to ring her the day Charlie finally told his sister.

Norah glanced at Olivia. Her hair was loose, falling in long ringlets around her face and she watched her fingers tap on the steering wheel. "You feeling okay?"

Olivia nodded and then shook her head. "Ask me again after we get there."

Tonight was the yearly Gathering. It was a sore subject now for the Montoyas. As time had passed, their grief had receded and a sense of peace and happiness had returned to them. Baby Jared had played a huge part in their healing process and Norah had become quite attached to the little boy. Sadly, mother and son had opted to stay home this year as Jared had come down with a small cold. Luke, who had become overprotective of his son, had thought about staying home too until Meegan kicked him out the front door.

"So, spill it."

Norah started. "What?"

Olivia glanced at her wryly. "Come on. It can't just be the motorcycle you're annoyed with. Something else is going on to have you this on edge."

Norah flushed, not wanting to admit what was really bugging her. "It's just the motorcycle."

"If you don't tell me, I'll force it out of Rylan -"

"He doesn't know."

"Come on," she whined. "Tell me! I need distracting."

Norah softened a little. "I'm just nervous."

"About what?"

"About...you know... having to change in front of everyone."

"Why? You do it all the time at home?"

"Yeah but you guys are family now. Getting naked in front of a bunch of strangers is a whole other kettle of fish."

Olivia laughed. "That's so cute! You're still shy!"

"Shut up!" Norah snapped, regretting her change of heart. "It's still weird for me, okay!"

"There's no judging here, Norah. You saw us last time."

"Yeah but I had my eyes closed that time."

"Oh Norah," Olivia laughed, "everything will be fine! You're worrying over nothing!"

She knew Olivia was right, but she needed to focus on that worry, or her mind would start drifting to other thoughts which were making her nervous.

About two months ago, Rylan had started hinted at their relationship taking the next level, which in werewolf terms would be bonding to each other. Or in human terms - marriage. Rylan was smarter than to voice it clearly. If he had, Norah would have freaked out as she always did and they would get into another fight. The thought had been implanted in her brain though and it continued to bud and grow until she could think of nothing else.

Did she want to take that next step? Was she ready? Were her and Rylan ready as a couple? Her mind was overrun with all these thoughts and as a result, things between her and Rylan lately had been tense. They fought meaningless fights and for two days last week they had barely spoken to each other. Norah knew it was all her fault, but all her little insecurities refused to go away. In the back of her mind, she kept thinking that Rylan only wanted to take the motorcycle so he wouldn't have to talk to her. Not that she would blame him. She had been a bitch to be around lately.

"Olivia, can I ask a random question that you aren't allowed to get all...emotional about?"

"Sure."

"What do you think about... bonding?" The car swerved and Norah shrieked. They came to a stop in the middle of the road. "What the hell, Olivia?"

She paid her no attention. She twisted in her seat and grabbed Norah's shoulder. "Has Rylan proposed to you?"

"What? No. I mean, he's hinted at it, but that was a couple of months ago -"

Her words were drowned out by Olivia's squeals of delight and she covered her ears. "I'm so excited!"

"You said you wouldn't get emotional," said Norah wearily.

"How can I not be? Mum and I have been discussing it for the last six months!"

"You guys talk about us?"

"Of course! You guys have been nuts about each other for so long, this next step was inevitable. I can't wait to tell her -"

"Don't!" she replied hastily. "There's a good chance it won't happen."

Olivia's face fell. "Why?"

Norah filled her in on their fights for the last two months and Olivia sighed. "It's natural to freak out, Norah. You just need to learn to control how far out you freak. You always go so overboard, it's no wonder Rylan hasn't asked you yet."

Norah groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I doubt he ever will ask me now."

"Wait, Norah - do you want him to ask you?"

"I don't know..." she looked up. "I think I might."

Olivia shrieked again and Norah jumped. "Stop that!"

A car horn sounded behind them - Cassie, Holden and the others had caught up. Rylan's motorcycle was close behind and Norah's cheeks flamed. She grabbed Olivia's arm. "You say nothing of what we have discussed! It's all completely confidential."

"But -"

"You know I'm suddenly remembering a warm summer night. It was mid July -"

"Okay! Not a word!" Olivia hurried, her eyes panicked.

Norah smiled, sitting back in her seat as they started moving again. She bet Olivia was regretting telling her about her one night stand with Gail's faery cousin, Ash who had visited during July. No one else in the family knew and Olivia wanted it kept that way. Apparently she had been quite drunk and Norah felt she had to have been. Gail's cousin had to be part troll or something and the wart on his chin - she shuddered.

They all arrived at the meeting place within the hour and they all pulled into a rest stop. Norah could hear the sound of music and voices in the forest ahead of her as she climbed out of  the car and she got ready to brace herself for the noise.

Fingers brushed against her own. "You okay?"

She looked up. Rylan's face was guarded but there was concern twinkling in his eyes. She knew he was pissed she had ditched him at the last rest stop and gave him a weak smile. "I'll be fine."

He walked ahead of her into the forest and her smile faded. Olivia linked her arm through Norah's. 'He is pissed,' she mouthed and Norah nodded. There was definitely no chance.

The Gathering was larger than it had been the year previously. The Quiotta's were a larger clan than the Montoya's and were closer to the Braxton's geographically, so more people had come. The bonfire was large and hot, the food abundant and delicious and the company warm and inviting.

Norah found a seat near the edge of the trees, too nervous to introduce herself to people she didn't know and took it all in. She would have stuck close to Rylan, but she didn't think he wanted to be around her at the moment.

It was strange, being on this side of the fence this time around. It felt different, but also, the same. Her phone beeped in her pocket and she read a new message from Alice. Alice and Ray had come up to see her several times throughout the year. They suspected something was different, but were happy to remain ignorant. Annie was relieved that Norah had found a place to settle and someone who cared for her. They had promised to come up the following weekend and Norah was anxious to see her friend again. If anyone knew her mind better than herself, it was Annie.

She already knew what Alice would say if she mentioned her predicament with Rylan. She would be all for it. Rylan had won Alice over within 30 minutes of first meeting. Their sense of humour was remarkably similar and Ray and Norah would often sit back and groan as they threw lame joke after joke at each other.

Hey, Norah. Can't wait for next weekend. I think you should tell Adam about your publishing queries, he will want to know! xx

Norah sighed. Alice was always pushing her to remain in touch with her brother. He was still incarcerated, but he had come to terms with it. He told Norah on her last visit that he felt it was the wakeup call he should have had five years ago. Norah was happy for him, and she emailed him once a month to keep in touch, but she had trouble speaking with him face to face. He still didn't know she was werewolf, and Norah had always had trouble keeping secrets from her big brother. He always knew when she was lying and he only had to give her one small reprimanding glance and she would spill everything.  

She had told him what she did with the diamonds. She thought he might be angry or upset, but he had been relieved. "They were cursed the moment we tried to steal them," he had said.

In a way, Norah felt he might have been right. While the diamonds had been in their possession, everything bad and horrible seemed to happen. And then once she had disposed of them, things became brighter.

She saw Rylan standing with a group of men, laughing about some drunken incident one of the men had experienced. She tried to focus on their group and what they were saying but there was too much going on and she got lost again. Holden had promised her that the issue would resolve itself, but she was beginning to doubt his word. Tears of frustration stung her eyes and she rubbed them quickly. With all the events of the last two months, she was beginning to wonder if maybe she had missed a diamond when she chucked them in the ocean.

She heard people walking over to her and Rylan sat beside her. Aaron and Logan joined him and they all continued their conversation. Norah tried to smile and join in though her head was beginning to ache. She was beginning to look forward to the run, at least then she would have the peace and quiet of the forest. Reaching out, she took Rylan's hand. His fingers entwined with her own and she smiled into her knees. He may have been angry, but she knew deep down he still loved her. She just had to stop pushing him or she knew she would lose him.

The speeches were made as midnight arrived and a moment's silence was had for those that had been lost the year before. Norah saw Luke across the clearing, his face grave and Holden stood beside him, a hand on his shoulder. Luke's recovery had been slower than the other's but he was proving to be a true leader that they all relied on.

Butterflies began swarming her belly as the moment arrived. Everyone started getting undressed and Norah moved slowly, trying to hide behind Rylan. She saw a knowing grin on his face and slapped his arm with embarrassment.

"You ready?" he murmured.

She looked up into his eyes, the moon above him - and she realised she was ready for more than this. "I'm ready."

She crouched down, her body relaxing as the shift began. She heard the other's all around her shifting and she focused on herself. Bones and muscle cracked and tore apart. Her nails elongated and ash grey fur grew from the pores of her skin. There was a flash of pain - one that she had become accustomed to - and then it was over. The first time she shifted she felt like it had taken forever. Now it felt like just a small pinch.

Her tail swished anxiously as they waited for the signal. Rylan nuzzled her neck and she nipped playfully at him. A howl tore through the clearing and as one, they all surged forward. Norah kept pace with Rylan and they stuck close to the back of the pack, weaving their way through the maze of trees.

Norah loved to run. She had always enjoyed jogging as a human, but running as wolf was something else. The freedom and feeling as you raced through the forest - it was almost magical. Slowly, they started drifting apart, small groups forming as they all headed their own way for a little while. Rylan had told her this would happen and she followed him as he nudged her to the left. Nobody else joined them and they explored the forest together, playing and rolling around on the damp earth. The night was peaceful and Norah was happy for the silence.

She sat for a moment, watching Rylan stretch against an large oak and wondered what would happen if he decided not to ask her. The thought of not having moments like this with Rylan made her brave, and she shifted back to human form.

Rylan glanced at her before shifting back as well. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," she stammered. "I just, want to say something and I need to say it now before I chicken out."

"That means you've only got five seconds -"

"Shut it!" She started pacing, trying to find the right words. "You know I'm a huge pain in the ass - don't say anything yet," she held up her hand as he opened his mouth. "Let me finish. I worry incessantly about things that don't matter, I push you away when I begin to freak out over those stupid things and yet, you never leave -"

"Just realising that now are you?" He grinned.

She looked at him exasperatedly. "I know I don't deserve you and I'm sorry for all the little fights we've had these last two months -"

"Norah -"

"- and I promise I'm going to try and stop worrying so much," she hurried, knowing he was going to make her stop, "and my first step towards that is to ask if you will -"

Rylan kissed her silent. When they moved apart, his fingers traced her jaw line. "I don't want you to ask," he said.

Her heart stuttered.

"I want to be the one that does the asking."

"Oh," she said breathlessly.

"Norah," he murmured, "you are everything you said you were. And I remember telling you that is one of the million reasons I love you. It's not one of my favourite reasons, but it's in there." She smiled and he kissed her nose. "Norah Jacobs - you complete my soul. You're the Leia to my Han, the Buttercup to my Wesley, the -"

"I get it!" she laughed, trying not to cry.

He grinned. "Will you bond with me? Marry me? Become my partner for now and forever?"

"Yes," her face hurt from smiling. "I will."

Rylan kissed her madly, spinning her around until they were both too dizzy to do anything but lay on the forest floor and revel in their joint happiness. Norah felt Rylan's mouth move over her heart, to the spot where he would bite her, binding them together until the end of time and instead of feeling worried, she was excited to start this next chapter of her life, knowing it would be the best one yet.

Feeling all emotional lol, I'll come back later and post a final thank you to all you amazing readers and let you know what's happening next with my writing. I hope you enjoyed Norah's story!