“I want to see the town properly. Not just as someone passing through.”
“You sure? We could stay in bed all day. I wouldn’t complain.”
She swats my chest, but she’s smiling. “I need to get out of this cabin before you completely ruin me.”
“Too late for that.” I catch her hand and press a kiss to her palm. “But alright. Let me show you around.”
We dress slowly, smiling and stealing glances at each other as the bond hums with warmth. She pulls on my flannel again since her clothes are still at Chase’s compound, which is something we’ll need to remedy. But the sight of her in my shirt does something primal to my chest. She catches the spike of possessiveness through the bond and rolls her eyes, but I see the pleased flush on her cheeks.
The afternoon sun is bright when we step outside, and Emma squints against it before her eyes adjust. I take her hand, threading our fingers together, and feel her pulse jump at the simple contact. The bond amplifies every touch, every glance, every brush of skin. It’s going to take some getting used to for both of us.
The clan territory spreads before us, and I watch her take it in with fresh eyes. Not as a visitor anymore, but as someone considering this place home. Music drifts from an open garage where someone’s working under a truck. Two women unload boxes outside the grocery store, arguing good-naturedly about inventory. The whir of power tools echoes from where new cabins are going up.
“Alpha.” Mason straightens from a motorcycle he’s been working on, giving me a salute, and Emma a genuine smile. “Good to see you both up and about.”
When he steps forward like he might hug Emma, I block him with one arm and a rumble that makes him laugh.
“Not ready to share yet, got it.” He holds his hands up. “Welcome to the clan, Emma. Officially.”
She squeezes my hand, and inside, I sense her amusement at my possessiveness mixed with warmth at being welcomed. But underneath that, a fierce, achingrelief.
Belonging. She’s never had this. And hearing it spoken aloud, so casually, like it’s obvious, like it’s no big deal, matters to her more than she’ll ever say.
We continue past the grocery store, the hardware shop. People nod as we pass, some curious, some knowing, all respectful.
“Everyone’s staring,” Emma murmurs.
“They’re staring at the mark.” I brush my thumb over the bite on her neck, feeling her shiver. “They know what it means.”
Possession. Devotion. A lifetime of happiness together.
“What does it mean? To them?”
Emma still hasn’t quite wrapped her head around how treasured fated mates are, and how my leadership role here in the clan now means that by extension, she is too. She still sees herself as separate, like an adopted pet the clan has taken to, not my equal in their eyes.
“That you’re untouchable. That anyone who threatens you will answer to me.” I pull her closer as we walk. “That their Alpha, and fate, has chosen, very wisely I might add, and the choice is final.”
She’s quiet for a moment, processing, turning the idea over, examining it from different angles. Not uncomfortable, just... adjusting.
We pass the demolished foundation of my father’s old house. Workers have already cleared most of the debris, carting away the remnants of his legacy piece by piece.
Emma pauses, watching a truck haul away another load of rubble.
“Your father’s house?”
“What’s left of it.” I don’t hide the satisfaction in my voice. “Nobody wanted it standing. Too many terrible memories.”
She nods slowly. “Good. Some things shouldn’t be preserved.”
I love her more in this moment than I knew was possible.
We continue walking past the main cluster of buildings and toward the edge of the Main Street where the land opens up. Mountain views stretch before us on one side, and trees stand sentinel on the other. Space. Privacy. Possibility.
“Where are we going?” Emma asks.
“I want to show you something.”
The cleared area spreads before us, and I stop, turning her to face the view. Wind catches her hair, sending strands across her face, and she tucks them behind her ear while taking it all in.
