~ Jess's POV ~

It's been four months since Zeke died and it's really not the same without him. Matt has finally emerged from the grief and is back to being his old self. He's fun and bouncy again.

We've visited Connor everyday and he too has finally moved on. But, Zeke will forever live on in our hearts.

Matt is sat in the garden, marking papers. I glance at him through the patio doors, the concentration on his handsome face makes me smile.

I'm sat inside, curled up on the sofa reading with a cup of coffee in my hand. Resting the book on my knee, I look at the pictures on the mantle above the fire.

On the far left, there is a picture of Zeke, smiling. Looking at the pictures sends a tug to my heart.

Next there is a picture of Connor and his family. Everyone of them smiling brightly.

On the far right, there is a beautiful picture of Matt and I kissing in the snow. Louise is a photographer and took all of these apart from the one she is in.

Next to that picture is one of just me. My hair falls around my shoulders and I look so happy. Mia took that photo soon after I met Matt.

The picture in the middle really gets my attention. Three beautiful wolves stand side by side in the snow. Their tails and heads held high. All of thrm seem to be smiling. Connor is in the middle. His black fur shining and blue eyes twinkling. To his right is my mate. Matt has a pitch black pelt and eyes brighter than Connor's. But, my eyes linger on the brown wolf, he looks so cheeky and full of life. Zeke, I miss him so much. A single tear rolls down my cheek and the patio door opens.

Matt. He sensed my emotions turning to sadness. "What's up, beautiful?" He asks concerned.

"I was looking at that photo of you three in your wolf form." A warm smile creeps on to my lips. "It's beautiful."

"That it is." Says Matt, placing his papers on the coffee table.

"Come on, let's go for a walk." He says taking my hand.

****

The wind makes my hair blow out behind me as I stand on top of this massive hill. Below me I can see the lake then the forest. As the sun sets, the lights of the town we call home shine brightly. I listen to the birds chirping, enjoying the feeling of peace that I never used to feel.

During the infrequent times that we were not constantly looking over our shoulders for Drake or his little sidekick, we were up on this hill having fun. All of us. Connor, Louise, Alex, Ellie, Zeke, Matt and I. It sort of became our place.

I smile to myself when I hear Matt coming up behind me. His strong, but reassuring hands snake around my waist and hold us together.

"What you thinking about?" He asks thoughtfully as we watch the town beneath us.

Letting out a sigh I answer Matt. "Just about all the amazing memories we have had up here."

"We have had some good ones." Agrees Matt. " Do you remember when Zeke ran straight in to a tree when we were playing football? " He starts to laugh gently.

"Of course I do. And the time he tried to make friends with that porcupine, but he got stabbed by the thing instead. " We both laugh.

"I told him to leave it alone. " Chuckles Matt. Even though I'm not looking at him, I know he's shaking his handsome head.

Matt let's go of me and I groan at the loss of contact. "What makes you think......." I turn around, but am stopped mid sentence when I see Matt.

On one knee, he is holding a beautiful diamond ring. Tears of happiness start to fill my eyes.

"I've been thinking, Jess. We have had so many memories on this hill, why not make this one of them? Let's face it, we are stuck together for the rest of our lives. So, Jessica May Smith, will you make me the happiest man alive and become my wife? " I start to cry out of happiness and a massive smile erupts on to my face.

"YES!" I squeal and hug him tighter than I ever have before.

Looking in to my eyes, Matt slips the diamond beauty on to the forefinger of my left hand, before pressing his full lips to my own with more passion than I ever deemed to be possible.

"I love you, my little Princess. " He whispers lovingly in my ear.

"And I love you too." I conclude, continuing the kiss with my hands behind his neck and his on my waist. There is no place in the world that I feel safer, than in Matt's arms.