“CristOF?”
“Yes, my love?”
“I want to see your home in the jungle. Could we go at the end of the week?” She looked up to see the surprise and pleasure in his expression. He leaned down and kissed her lingering to savor her. He liked to do that.
“We may have to wait a few weeks more.”
“Why?”
All he did was point to the shuttles on the field. She looked out at the children, who seemed nervous but excited. The foster families were being introduced now in person, but the children and families had already been shown pictures, written letters, and had opportunity to speak via video feed prior to their arrival.
A small group of people getting off a shuttle caught her attention. There were six people but they weren’t all children. Two adults were trying to usher four girls across the field. When they moved forward and got closer, she began to shake in disbelief as she recognized those six people—her family.
“Mom? Dad?”
“Yes, and your sisters.”
Incredulous she looked up at CristOF. “How?”
“I spoke to Prime Leader KadEN and pointed out that you’ve done a great deed for our people and that after the ordeal that you endured, you deserved to be reunited with your family.”
“You did this for me?”
“My love, I would do anything for you.”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. “I love you, I love you, I love!”
He chuckled. “If you keep this up, I will need to take you somewhere more private to let you show your gratitude—or maybe I’ll take you right here. But, I don’t think it would give your parents the best impression of me.”
Tera let him go, but her eyes promised him he would receive her gratitude later, when they were alone. “Come, I want you to meet my family. Well, soon to be your family. I hope you always wanted sisters, because you are inheriting five of them.”
“A family?” His expression was a mixture of shock and awe.
Squeezing his hand, she leaned into him and smiled. “A family that is going to absolutely love you.”
“I hope so.”
She pulled him after her as she practically ran through the field. She only let him go to throw herself into her parents’ arms. Her sisters surround her and gave her hugs. When she pulled away from her family she made the introductions.
“Mom and Dad, this is Warrior CristOF, my mate and future husband.”
Watching her family welcome CristOF to the family filled her with such joy she had never known before. At first he seemed overwhelmed by the attention from her curious sisters. Then, as all hunters do, he adjusted to his surroundings and found his way. He soon had her family eating out of the palm of his hand, just as he had won her over. That was her hunter, her tracker, and her warrior. That was the man she loved.
