“Just after four a.m.,” Lucius said.
“Let’s go to the private living area.I don’t want to be in the paddock in the dark with what happened.”
“Good idea,” Lucius said with a nod.
They walked out of the wolves’ area and into the lions’.According to Lucius, most of their people, along with the other shifters, were up in the park, patrolling and helping in any way that they could.
His son left them alone and hurried topside to join the rest of the security team.Caesar turned to Sera.
He remembered very clearly what had happened in the paddock.
They’d chased after a rabbit and Sera had knocked him out of harm’s way after she saw a trap that he hadn’t seen.And she’d caused herself to head right toward a trap that he’d thankfully seen before it was too late.
He had no regrets about saving her, because she was his soulmate and he was in love with her.He’d do anything to keep her safe.He’d take a thousand barbed wire, poison-laced spring coil traps to protect her.
He pressed his hand lightly to her face and brushed his lips over hers.“I love you, Sera.I wanted to tell you after the hunt, but then everything went to hell.You’re the most important person in my life.I feel like I wasn’t really breathing until we met.Like I was living half a life, existing only partially.But now I feel truly alive, and I’ve never been so happy.You’re everything to me, and I promise to do anything and everything in my power to make you the happiest female on the planet.”
She let out a little laugh and tears cascaded down her cheeks.“You’re doing a really good job so far.”She went onto her toes and kissed him.“I love you too.I also wanted to tell you after the hunt, so we are definitely two of a kind.You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m so happy to be here with you.”She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at him.
He kissed her, pouring all the emotion he felt in his heart into the kiss, pulling her close and reveling in how good it felt to be in love with her, to hold her and know that she was his.
He was one damn lucky lion.
With a final kiss, he stepped back and said, “I’ll shift back as soon as I’m able to.Do you want to shift too?”
“I’m good.”
He nodded and stripped the pants off, then let himself go into his shift.It took a little longer than usual, the pain in his leg hampering the shift as he was healed fully.Once he was on four paws, his tail swishing, he stretched, his claws digging into the carpeting.Sera walked with him as he moved around the large space to burn off some of the energy of his shift, and then he stretched out at the front door of their home.
She sat on a chair she brought outside, talking quietly to him about what had happened while he’d been unconscious.
“I knew you’d make it through,” she said with a quiet voice, stroking her fingers through his mane as she leaned over to touch him.“But I was still terrified.”
The door to the private living area opened and Lucius walked in, holding a tray.Caesar’s nose twitched as he picked up the scent of raw meat.He sat up with a hum, his gaze tracking his son.
“Here you go, Dad,” he said, setting the tray in front of Caesar, with two thick, raw steaks on it.“Can I get you anything, Sera?”
“I’m all right for now, thanks.”
Lucius nodded and walked away, and Caesar tore into the meat, not realizing how starving he was.When he finished the steaks and licked the tray clean, Sera put it in the kitchen and they walked around the area again.He could feel that enough time had passed in his shift that he could return to human without any issue, so he murmured at her and nodded toward the house.
“Lead the way,” she said.
She opened the door to the house and he padded inside, going right to the bedroom.He returned to his human form and stood quietly for a moment, making sure that no lingering pain remained, and he breathed out a sigh of relief when he felt fully healed, including his leg, which showed none of the torn and bloody skin that Sera had told him about.
“You look as good as new,” Sera said.
He wrapped an arm around her.“I feel that way too, but I need a shower.Join me.”
In the large bathroom, he turned on the water and tested it, and once it was hot enough, he stepped under the spray and held the curtain open so she could join him.He watched as she slowly pulled her clothes off and saw how exhausted she was.She’d told him she’d slept fitfully, waking frequently while he was unconscious; she clearly needed to rest.
She joined him in the shower and they stared at each other as the curtain closed them in, water splashing and steam rising around them.No kisses.No wandering hands.Just the quiet sound of the water and their beasts purring in gratitude that neither of them had been lost last night.
When her tears came a few quiet moments later, she buried her face in his chest and sobbed while he held her tightly.
“I thought I’d lost you,” she cried.“I tried to be strong, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the worst-case scenario and how I didn’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
He held her a little tighter, his lion letting out a chuff.“You’re allowed to be scared, Sera.You’re strong enough for ten lifetimes.”
