The End of Us novel · Chapter 24 of 24
Chapter 24: The Bridge at Dawn
The iron bridge was white with frost at dawn, and both packs stood along it.
The Stroud wolves held the east end.
The Dunstan wolves held the west.
Ginny stood at the rail near the middle, in a coat that did not match her scrubs, holding the baby wrapped to his chin.
Keith waited in the center of the bridge in a clean flannel shirt, with his hands at his sides.
I walked out to meet him, in my plain grey dress and my father's ring.
Every eye on both banks followed me.
I stopped in front of him.
"You came," he said.
"You asked."
He swallowed.
"I had a speech," he said. "I forgot it."
"Good."
"Isla Sheridan." His voice carried down the whole length of the iron, rough and steady. "I stood on the far bank once, and I did nothing, and it cost you a father. I can't give that back."
Nobody on the bridge made a sound.
"I can stand on this side of the river for the rest of my life," he said. "I can be at your back when you want me there, and out of your way when you don't. You'll never ask me for anything I won't try to give. You'll never wait for me in a clinic."
My eyes stung.
"I'm asking you to be my mate," he said. "And you can say no. I'll be on your porch the next morning."
"Keith."
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
A ripple of laughter ran down both banks.
I took his hand and set it flat on my chest, over my heart.
"I said that once, in a kitchen," I said. "I said I was sick, and I was lying."
"I remember."
"I wasn't lying about where it hurt. I just hadn't learned what it was for."
I stepped in, and I put my palm over his heart.
The silver came up through my skin, bright and slow, and it spread under his shirt in a pale ring, and where it touched him I felt the bond take.
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