He wrapped Ewen in one of the villa’s blankets despite his mate’s protests that it was warm enough without it, then guided him back out to the terrace where he’d set up cushions and pillows earlier in a nest facing west toward the sea. Lamont settled into the pillows and hugged Ewen to his chest, arranging the blanket around them both.
The sun hung above the horizon like a burning jewel, turning the sea into liquid fire. The few clouds scattered across the sky had gone crimson and violet, and behind them, Lamont knew the white buildings of Santorini would all be glowing rose-gold in the fading light. His chest ached, not with sadness, but with the understanding thatthiswas a perfect moment, one that would be etched into his memory for the rest of time.
“I’ve watched the sun set thousands of times,” Lamont said quietly, his chin resting on top of Ewen’s head. “I’ve watched it from deserts, mountains, and oceans, from huge cities and tiny villages. I’ve seen it set over places that don’t even exist anymore - the sun always manages to put on a show, even on the darkest days.”
Ewen said nothing, but his hand found Lamont’s where it rested against his stomach, their fingers threading together beneath the blanket.
“And with every single one of those sunsets, I felt alone,” Lamont continued. “It’s not like I could say anything. I had my pack, my brothers, but we were all scattered across the globe. I was often surrounded by people, but I couldn’t feel anything inside for any of them. They were friends, acquaintances, but none of them was someone I could confess my loneliness to.
“Don’t get me wrong” - he pressed a quick kiss to Ewen’s head - “I know how blessed I’ve been through my existence, and I’ve had a lot of fun in my life. I had my work, my research, my investigations. But I didn’t have this - someone to share the beauty of a sunset with, someone whose presence makes the colors brighter and the moment mean so much more beyond another day ending.”
The sun dipped lower, touching the edge of the sea, and the entire sky seemed to glow. Ewen’s fingers tightened around his, and through their bond, Lamont felt his mate’s throat close with emotion.
“I stopped looking at sunsets for a while,” Lamont admitted. “A few centuries ago, actually. They started to feel like a reminder of everything I didn’t have, of the collar box that would never open, of the mate I’d never find. It seemed easier to just focus on work,on history, on things that didn’t require hoping for something that might never come.”
“Lamont…”
“Let me finish, hon.” He breathed in the scent of his mate. “I’m telling you this because I want you to understand how special this is. This sunset. This moment. You.”
The sun slipped lower, half-vanished now beneath the horizon, and the entire world seemed to hold its breath in the space between day and night. The colors deepened, and grew richer, and the first stars began to appear in the darkening sky above.
“I was never truly alone in the true sense of the word. I came from a very close pack, and I never forgot that. My packmates would be here in an instant if I called, as I would be for them,” Lamont said softly. “And as I’ve told you before, my work, the purpose Lord Hades gave us, and the pack bonds I share…I thought it was enough. But in this moment, this point in time with you, I realized I’ve never truly lived. I’ve done a lot of things, but I’ve never just sat in a moment and thought, ‘yes, this is what living is all about.’ Until tonight. Until my first sunset with you.”
Ewen turned in his arms, shifting so they were face to face despite the awkwardness of the position, the blanket slipping off one shoulder. His blue eyes shone with tears that hadn’t quite fallen.
“The Fates knew what they were doing when they paired us with each other. I was the same,” Ewen whispered. “Before you. I thought being alone was just who I was, especially after my mom died. I was the journalist who kept everyone at arm’s length - my colleagues used to joke about it. I truly believed I didn’t need family or friends or anything except the next story. I told myself it was enough. That I was fine.” He reached up, his hands softlystroking down Lamont’s face. “But I wasn’t fine. I was just... waiting. I was waiting for you.”
The last sliver of sun vanished beneath the sea, and the sky erupted in a final blaze of color - crimson bleeding into purple bleeding into the deep blue of approaching night. The moment felt suspended, as if the universe itself was highlighting one particular sunset shared between two loving souls.
“I’m going to watch every sunset with you from now on,” Lamont promised, pulling Ewen closer until there was no space between them at all. “Every single one, for as long as we both shall live. And no matter how many we see, I am always going to remember this one - our first of many in Santorini - as the moment I truly understood what it means to be loved.”
Ewen kissed him then, his lips soft and sweet, lingering on Lamont’s as if just needing that connection. Their bond flowed with Ewen’s promise, which was a reflection of his own -every sunset, every sunrise, and every moment in between.
When they finally pulled apart, the sky had darkened to twilight, and the first evening stars were bright enough to cast faint reflections on the calm sea below. Ewen turned and settled back against Lamont’s chest, and they sat in comfortable silence, wrapped in the blanket and each other, watching the night claim the sky.
“What do you want to do tomorrow?” Ewen asked eventually, his voice drowsy and content.
Lamont thought about it. “Well, there’s that museum in Akrotiri I’ve been meaning to visit. I mean, it might not be your thing, but you have to admit being able to walk through streets that haven’t changed in three thousand years is an experience.”
“We haven’t even been here a day.” Ewen chuckled. “Ancient history it is, then. As long as we come back here for another sunset.”
“Deal.” Lamont pressed a kiss to the top of his mate’s head. “We could make that our routine - history and exploring during the day, sunsets in the evening. Maybe some beach time in between, if I can convince you to swim.”
“I can swim,” Ewen protested. “I was going to go swimming this afternoon until I got interrupted. When did I ever suggest I couldn’t swim?”
“I’ve never actually seen evidence of this.”
“I didn’t know you could swim either. Besides, we were busy with other things.” Ewen shifted, tilting his head back to look up at Lamont with a grin that was pure mischief. “But I’ll prove it tomorrow, how well I can swim. I’ll swim circles around you.”
“Really? Remember, I’ve had a long, long time to perfect my form.”
“A long time to perfect showing off.” Ewen was still laughing as he shifted back around again to look out to sea.
Eventually, the night grew cool enough that even the blanket wasn’t quite enough, and Lamont stood, lifting Ewen with him despite his mate’s sleepy protests. He carried him back inside to the bedroom where the curtains still billowed in the sea breeze, and they fell into bed together, tangled up in each other and soft linens.
“Lamont?” Ewen’s voice was barely a whisper in the darkness.
“Mm?”
