Page 14 of Awakened By Her Guardian

“This wasn’t really home for me until you came into my life. I feel the same way.”

They kissed again, then braced for the cold and walked outside.

Was there anywhere on earth colder than the North Pole? If there was, she sure didn’t want to visit there. She shivered despite her layers of warm clothes and fur-lined parka as she made her way to one of the barracks where elves and their families lived. She was on the other side of the main building, on a walkway regularly shoveled clear of blowing snow. As she drew closer to the single-story building, she pulled her slumber magic around herself and focused on the apartments and those sleeping inside.

One by one, she saw their dreams appear and moved slowly down the walkway, adding sweet dreams to their subconscious.

A playful puppy for a young boy. A picnic with her favorite stuffed teddy bear for a young girl. A big fish caught by an older male.

Although there weren’t as many people to help during her shift as when she’d been in more populated areas, the work was still fulfilling, and she enjoyed it immensely.

Especially when she was able to see her sexy mate as he patrolled the perimeter.

When their shift ended, they met at the door and walked in together, hand in hand, cheeks pink from the cold and bodies tuned to each other. After dropping off their gear in the office, they headed to the cafeteria for a meal.

“Technically it would be our dinner,” Gabriel said, “although it’s closer to morning here.”

“When the sun doesn’t come up for six months out of the year, I’m sure it’s disorienting, plus being on the overnight shift. Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asked.

“I absolutely don’t.”

“As long as we get to fall asleep together, I don’t care if it’s day or night,” she said.

When they got back to the apartment, she discovered that Gabriel had asked his cousins to help set up a date after their shift. The community space looked like a movie theater, with a big screen and projector on one wall, TV trays with dome-covered plates, a basket with bags of popcorn and snacks, and a small cooler of drinks.

“Oh! How fun!” Ana said.

“The guys really came through for us,” Gabriel said. “You said you wanted to see the new dinosaur movie, and I bought it on a streaming service.”

She hugged him and kissed him. “You’re so sweet!”

“There’s a little theater near the pack’s territory with great popcorn. I’ll take you there after Christmas.”

She grinned. They changed into comfortable clothes and settled on the couch to eat pot roast and mashed potatoes with fresh rolls from the cafeteria, snack on popcorn and candy, and watch dinosaurs try to take over the world.

“You never cease to surprise me,” she said, snuggling against him under the covers after the movie was over and they’d tumbled into bed to drive each other wild.

“In what way?” he asked.

“You always know how to make me feel special. We can’t leave town to go on dates, so you bring the dates to us. I love that.”

“I want you to know how special you are to me,” he said. “I want to tell you every day how much I care about you, and show you too.”

“I can feel it,” she said, pressing her hand to his chest. “Because we’re mates, I can tell you care for me. I care about you too.”

She saw his wolf’s eyes flash in the darkness and smiled.

Sexy male.

All hers.

With a last kiss and a couple of yawns, they said goodnight, and she drifted off to sleep thinking about how lucky she was that her mate was such a good male.

But there, in the recesses of her mind, a shadow lurked.

“Hello, Ana.”

His voice felt like sticky syrup on her skin and made her shudder.