Updated Nov 7, 2025 • ~9 min read
The first snow of November fell on the anniversary of the day they met.
Briar woke to find Magnus already awake, watching her with an expression that made her heart skip.
“Morning,” she murmured, snuggling closer to his warmth.
“Morning, sunshine.” He kissed her forehead. “One year ago today, I scented you at the farmer’s market and my entire world shifted.”
“One year ago today, a grumpy mountain man stared at me like I’d ruined his life, then fled before I could say hello.” Briar smiled. “Very romantic.”
“I was panicking.” Magnus stroked her hair. “My bear was screaming ‘MATE’ and I was convinced I’d destroy you like my father destroyed my mother. So I did the logical thing and ran away.”
“And then kept finding excuses to come back.”
“Kept finding excuses,” Magnus agreed. “Because even terrified, I couldn’t stay away from you.”
“Best thing you ever did.” Briar pushed up to kiss him. “Running and coming back.”
“Agreed.” Magnus’s expression shifted, becoming nervous in a way she rarely saw. “Get dressed. I want to show you something.”
“Now? It’s barely dawn.”
“Now. Trust me.”
Intrigued, Briar dressed in warm layers while Magnus packed a thermos of coffee and what looked like breakfast in a basket. They hiked through the snowy forest, Magnus leading her along a path she’d walked dozens of times.
Until he veered off onto a trail she didn’t recognize.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see.”
They emerged into a clearing, and Briar’s breath caught. It was the spot where Magnus had first found her during that initial storm—where he’d carried her back to his old cabin, starting everything. But now it had been transformed.
String lights hung in the trees, twinkling in the pre-dawn darkness. Candles in glass jars lined a path to the center of the clearing. And there, in a circle of light, Magnus had built a small fire pit with logs arranged for seating.
“Magnus.” Briar’s voice was barely a whisper. “What is this?”
“This is where it started.” Magnus took her hands. “Where I found you cold and scared, and made the choice to bring you into my life. The best choice I’ve ever made.”
“You did all this?”
“With some help from the pack.” He led her to the fire pit, settling her on a log before kneeling in front of her. “But the rest is just me.”
Briar’s heart was racing. She knew what was coming, had been expecting it for months, but it still made her breath catch.
“Briar Locke.” Magnus’s voice was steady despite the nerves she could feel through the bond. “A year ago, you walked into my life and destroyed every wall I’d built. You made me believe in happiness again. In connection. In the possibility that I could be loved despite being broken.”
“Magnus—”
“Let me finish.” His smile was soft. “You’ve taught me that love isn’t control. That protection doesn’t mean possession. That two people can be completely intertwined and still be free.” He pulled a small box from his pocket. “You’ve made me believe in forever. And I want to spend that forever with you.”
He opened the box to reveal a ring—simple but beautiful, a single diamond set in a band carved with delicate mountain peaks.
“Marry me,” Magnus said. “Be my wife. Let me spend the rest of my life proving that I’m worth the risk you took on me. Stay on this mountain with me forever.”
Briar was crying, couldn’t stop crying, couldn’t form words through the joy choking her throat.
“That’s not a no, right?” Magnus asked, suddenly anxious. “Because I can do it again, better—”
“Yes.” Briar threw her arms around him. “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.”
Magnus caught her as she practically tackled him, both of them laughing and crying as he slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly—of course it did. He’d probably been planning this for months.
“I love you,” Briar said against his lips. “So much. Forever sounds perfect.”
“Forever sounds like not enough time.” Magnus kissed her deeply. “But it’s a good start.”
They sat by the fire as dawn broke over the mountains, wrapped in blankets, drinking coffee, and planning a future that had once seemed impossible.
“Small wedding?” Briar asked.
“Pack only. Here on the mountain.” Magnus pulled her closer. “Unless you want something bigger?”
“Here is perfect. Just us and the people we love.” She admired her ring in the growing light. “When?”
“Whenever you want. Tomorrow. Next year. I’m patient.”
“Spring.” Briar decided. “When we can have the ceremony outside. When everything’s in bloom.”
“Spring it is.” Magnus kissed her temple. “I’ll build us an arbor. Something beautiful for you to walk through.”
“You’re going to build our wedding venue yourself?”
“Obviously. Can’t trust anyone else to make it perfect.” But he was smiling. “Besides, every piece of our life together, I want to build it with my own hands. Make it something solid and real.”
Briar felt fresh tears threaten. “How are you this perfect?”
“I’m not. I’m scarred and broken and I still have nightmares.” Magnus’s voice was honest. “But I’m yours. And that’s enough.”
“It’s more than enough.” Briar settled against his chest. “It’s everything.”
They watched the sun fully rise, painting the snow golden, and Briar thought about the journey that had brought them here. The fear and the healing and the brave choices. The storms that had trapped them together and the love that had kept them together.
“My book’s doing well,” she said eventually. “Publisher wants to talk about a second one.”
“What would it be about?”
“This. Us. Building a life after trauma.” Briar played with her ring. “About how love isn’t the end of healing—it’s the beginning of a different kind of work.”
“I like that.” Magnus stroked her hair. “Though you’re going to make me cry again when I read it.”
“You cry at everything I write.”
“Because you’re talented and emotionally devastating.” He kissed her head. “It’s not my fault you’re good at your job.”
“Pete asked again about the woodworking class,” Briar said. “Are you going to do it?”
“Yeah. Starting in January.” Magnus sounded nervous but excited. “Figure it’s time to share what I know. Be part of the community in a real way.”
“I’m proud of you.” Briar meant it. Watching Magnus slowly emerge from his isolation, build connections, trust people again—it was beautiful. “Your crew would be proud too.”
“I think so.” Magnus’s voice was soft. “I visited the memorial last week. Told them about you, about us, about the life I’m building. It felt… peaceful. Like I finally have their blessing to be happy.”
“You always had it,” Briar said gently. “You just needed to give yourself permission.”
“Yeah.” Magnus pulled her closer. “But having you here helps. Makes me believe I deserve it.”
They packed up eventually, hiking back to the cabin hand in hand, both giddy with the promise of forever. As soon as they got reception, Briar’s phone exploded with messages—Magnus had told the pack to be ready, and they’d been waiting for her yes.
Calla: FINALLY! I’ve been keeping this secret for months!
Rosie: I’m crying! This is perfect! Can I help plan?
Pete: About damn time. Congratulations, you two.
Derek: Welcome to the club. Marriage to a stubborn shifter is an adventure.
Briar’s mom—who she’d slowly reconnected with over the past months—sent a string of heart emojis and a promise to fly out for the wedding.
“Everyone’s very excited,” Briar said, scrolling through congratulations.
“Everyone except my mother, who doesn’t know yet.” Magnus grabbed his phone. “She’s going to kill me for not calling her first.”
He was right—his mother screamed so loud Briar could hear it through the phone. Then there was crying, demands to see pictures of the ring, and insistence that she was coming up next month to help plan regardless of what they wanted.
“She’s going to take over,” Magnus said after hanging up.
“Let her. She deserves to be excited.” Briar pulled him down for a kiss. “Besides, I kind of love how much she loves us.”
“Me too,” Magnus admitted. “Never thought I’d have this. A family. People who are excited about my happiness.”
“Get used to it.” Briar smiled. “Because you’re stuck with all of us now. Me, the pack, your mother’s aggressive wedding planning—all of it.”
“Best thing I’ve ever been stuck with.”
That evening, they hosted an impromptu celebration at the cabin. The pack showed up with food and champagne, and Briar found herself passed from hug to hug, everyone wanting to see the ring and hear the proposal story.
“Tell it again,” Rosie demanded. “The whole thing. Don’t leave anything out.”
So Magnus did, his voice warm and slightly embarrassed as he described his careful planning and immediate panic when Briar had taken too long to answer.
“I thought she was going to say no,” he admitted. “For about three seconds, I was convinced I’d misread everything and she was going to let me down gently.”
“I was crying too hard to form words!” Briar protested. “Of course it was yes.”
“Should’ve been obvious,” Calla said. “Anyone with eyes could see how gone you both are for each other.”
“Sickeningly so,” Derek added, but he was smiling. “It’s actually adorable.”
“We’re not adorable,” Magnus grumbled.
“You built her a writing room with custom bookshelves,” Pete pointed out. “That’s adorable.”
“And she learned carpentry to help build your cabin,” Rosie added. “Also adorable.”
“Fine. We’re adorable.” Magnus pulled Briar closer. “I can live with that.”
Later, after everyone had left and they were cleaning up, Briar caught Magnus staring at her with that soft expression that still made her heart skip.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing. Just—” He set down the dish he was holding and pulled her into his arms. “You’re mine. You said yes. You’re going to be my wife.”
“I am.” Briar wrapped her arms around his neck. “Forever and always, mountain man.”
“Forever and always,” Magnus echoed, and kissed her like she was the most precious thing in his world.
Because she was.
And he was hers.
Two broken people who’d found each other and decided to be brave enough to build something beautiful.
It wasn’t always easy. There were still hard days, still moments of fear and doubt.
But they had forever to figure it out.
And that was more than enough.
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