When the world finally stills, my hand fumbles in the furs, searching for a pillow —instead, I pull out a strip of black satin.
A black blindfold.
We returned with nothing this trek, so this must be from the last season.
“Is this?—?”
“It’s the only thing I had,” he admits, his voice softer than I’ve ever heard before. “It still smelled like you.”
The breath leaves me in a rush. He missed me. For a year, he slept with my blindfold, holding onto me, onto hope like I held on to him too.
I slip my fingers into his white hair, tucking strands of it behind his ear. “I’m so sorry I didn’t choose you. I was worried about my brother. It’s unreasonable to make these life-altering decisions at eighteen. Plus, I’d just killed a wolf with an ancient bone, I just…I wasn’t ready.”
“I know.” He places a kiss to my nose. “I had ten seasons to prepare for you. I figured I could give you one. I’m glad you chose me thisseason.”
“Every season.”
He smiles. “I’ve waited so long for you, Ember.”
“Sorry for all the trouble.”
“You can make it up to me, but it’ll take you a while …”
It’s my turn to laugh. “We’ve got all the time in the world.” I pull his lips to mine and kiss him. The kiss grows long, deep, full of promise. His cock stirs inside me again, hardening, and a shiver of anticipation races down my spine.
Gods, a girl could get used to this.
He tucks me into his side, his warmth and scent enveloping me. Despite the cave’s cold and foreignness, here with my mate, I finally feel like I’mhomeagain.
The End
EPILOGUE
Ember
The furs are warm beneath me, the cave washed in amber light as the early sun rises above the frozen sea beyond the ice wall. The world feels hushed, suspended between night and day.
“Ugh,” I groan, rolling to my side and tugging a pillow over my face.
A familiar weight settles behind me. Thorn’s voice rumbles against my shoulder. “Come on, love, it’s almost time to leave.”
I groan again. “Go without me.”
His hand slips over my waist, warm and possessive, pausing where my body has begun to change. My belly is small but undeniable now. His touch lingers there, reverent.
“I could, but I won’t,” he murmurs, placing a kiss against my neck. Then his hand dives between my legs. “I’ll wake you up, but then we must head out for the trials, or we’ll miss the feast.”
“Mmm,” I mumble as he slips a finger inside me.
This will be my first Mating Trials as an Alpha’s mate, and I happen to be three months pregnant. I’m exhausted all the time, and not looking forward to the long, cold journey. But I can’t let Thorn go alone, not again. Not ever again.
Thorn sinks lower between the furs, and my legs, and soon I’m wide awake and moaning his name.
The Aurora caves hum with movement when we emerge. Wolves embracing and murmured goodbyes echoing through the ice halls. The scent of fur, fire, and anticipation fills the air.
Roman bounds up with arms full of books. Tala and Bane are not far behind him. Tala’s swollen belly is bigger than mine, and Bane keeps her tucked carefully under his arm. I’m surprised he allowed her out of their cave to say goodbye. He’s become quite the overprotective mate.
The priests might have been onto something about the prosperous and fruitful unions of the 100th season. Although we waited a year to mate, I consider us one of those unions formed during the 100th season.
