Shade stopped emitting her gift, allowing me to transform back to my normal self, but it was too late to stop the tidal wave of emotion surging within me.
Get to Shade. Get to Shade. Get to Shade.
The thought thumped in my ears, echoing the frantic beating of my heart. When I reached her, I scooped her into my arms and wrapped her legs around my waist, nuzzling my face into her neck and inhaling as much of her scent as I could.
Goddess. Oxygen seems unnecessary compared to this.
I ran my tongue over the spot where she would bear my mark, causing her to squeal.
“Caelan!”
I gave a pleased growl, brushing my lips against her skin.What I wouldn’t give to have her alone right now, naked beneath meas I kissed my way along every inch of this delicious body.
“Interesting,” my father mumbled, his voice suddenly bringing me back to myself.
I turned, sheepishly letting her down as I glanced at my parents.
“I was right,” my mother replied, smiling victoriously. “She can affect Caelan this way because of their bond. She doesn’t have that effect on anyone else because they aren’t her mate.”
“So, I can only do this with Caelan?” Shade asked.
“It appears so,” my mother answered. “We’re often given what we need to complete our mates. It seems your gift, used in this way, was destined for him alone.”
“Unfortunately, that won’t stop Huxley from trying to figure out a way to steal it. We should consider planning the marking ceremony as soon as possible,” my father added. “The only way to ensure that he can’t have Shade is for her to wear Caelan’s mark.”
I glanced at her. My father had an excellent point, but I was nervous about making Shade feel pressured. I didn’t want her to feel like her choices were being taken away from her. That was what her father had done, and I didn’t want her to think I was anything like him.
She smiled, intertwining her fingers with mine. “Let’s do it.”
Loving Feelings
SHADE
A FEW DAYS LATER
When the pack spies reported back, they noted that everything at Thunder Moon seemed to be operating normally, even though they hadn’t seen my father or sister during any of their observations.
Caelan assured me that didn’t necessarily mean anything. They could be hiding in the pack house, finally having come to terms with the fact that he and I were mates, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Alpha Huxley’s appearance felt too ominous to be a coincidence, and his claim that my father had sent him gave me an unsettling feeling. I couldn’t imagine my father suddenly just deciding to give up like that.
But I did my best to let it go, focusing instead on luna training and preparations for our marking ceremony. The event would be held on the next full moon, and the pack buzzed with anticipation as they rushed to ensure everything was ready in time.
Though I felt a little overwhelmed, the truth was that I was ready to officially be Caelan’s mate.
I was ready to commit to him, to commit to us. We’d taken on Sunny, my father, and the entire Dark Moon Pack in defense of our love. I didn’t want anyone else to try and keep us apart.
“What are you doing, love?” Caelan questioned as he entered his room.
I’d started spending more time in it after our night together. My wolf felt restless when we were apart, and at least in here, I was surrounded by the scent of him.
I sighed, laying down the packet of information Luna Maty had given me during our session today.
“Just looking over some stuff your mother gave me. Did you know that the luna oversees all the educational resources for every pup in the pack?” I groaned. “From daycare to graduation.”
I rubbed my eyes, flopping back on the pillows as he sat on the corner of the mattress.
“How am I ever going to learn all this?” I muttered. “I’m a warrior, not a leader. I don’t know anything about running a pack.”
