I woke to the feeling of being watched.
Not in a scary way. In a warm way. Kael's eyes on me, soft in the morning light.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself."
"How long have you been watching me?"
"Hours." He smiled. "Couldn't sleep. Didn't want to wake you."
"You should have woken me."
"No." He traced my face. "You needed rest. You've been pushing so hard lately. Training. Helping Lia. Pack duties."
"I'm fine."
"I know. But you're also exhausted." He kissed me. "Let me take care of you today."
"Kael—"
"Just for today. No training. No duties. Just us."
I wanted to argue. But the thought of a day with him—just him—was too tempting.
"Okay."
"Good."
---
We spent the morning in bed.
Not making love—just being. Talking. Touching. Existing together.
Around noon, he made breakfast. I watched him move around the kitchen, still amazed that this was my life.
"What?" he asked, catching me stare.
"Just appreciating."
"Appreciating what?"
"You. This. Everything." I joined him, wrapped my arms around him from behind. "I never thought I'd have this."
"Have what?"
"Peace. Safety. Love." I pressed my face to his back. "Someone who actually sees me."
He turned in my arms. Cupped my face.
"I see you, Elena. All of you. And I love every part."
I kissed him. Long and slow.
---
After breakfast, we walked in the forest.
Just us. No pack. No duties. No expectations. Hand in hand, wandering without destination.
He showed me places I hadn't seen—hidden waterfalls, ancient trees, caves with paintings from wolves long dead.
"This is our history," he said. "Yours now too."
I touched the paintings. Felt a connection to wolves I'd never meet.
"Thank you for sharing this with me."
"Thank you for wanting to see it."
---
We found the cave by accident.
Tucked behind a waterfall, hidden from view. Inside, the walls were covered in paintings—not just wolves, but something else. A figure. A woman.
Me.
I stared. "Kael—"
"I see it." His voice was hushed. "It's you."
The paintings showed a woman with my features, standing beside a great black wolf. Leading wolves. Protecting them. Loved by them.
"How is this possible?" I whispered. "These paintings are ancient."
"The Moon works in mysterious ways." He pulled me close. "Maybe you were always meant to be here. Always meant to be mine."
I didn't know what to believe. But looking at those paintings, feeling his arms around me, I knew one thing for certain.
I belonged here.
---
That night, we made love in the cave.
Beneath the ancient paintings. Surrounded by history. Connected to wolves past and future.
"Elena." His voice was rough with emotion. "My Elena."
"Yours." I pulled him closer. "Always yours."
We moved together, slow and deep, the bond blazing brighter than ever.
Afterward, he held me close.
"The Moon chose well," he whispered.
"The Moon chose us."
"Yes." He kissed me. "Us."