The next weeks were... intense.
Kael took his "practicing" seriously. Very seriously.
Morning, noon, and night—if we had a moment alone, he was pulling me close, kissing me breathless, laying me down wherever we happened to be.
Not that I complained.
"You're insatiable," I gasped one afternoon, pinned beneath him in the forest.
"Trying to give you a baby." He kissed my neck. "It requires dedication."
"This is dedication?"
"This is worship." He entered me slowly. "This is love."
I couldn't argue with that.
---
Sasha noticed.
"You two are glowing," she said one day, amused. "Also, you're never where you're supposed to be."
"We're busy."
"Busy." She raised an eyebrow. "Right."
I felt my face heat. "Sasha—"
"I'm happy for you." She squeezed my arm. "Really. Kael deserves this. You deserve this." She paused. "Any signs yet?"
"Too soon to tell."
"Well, keep practicing." She grinned. "That's the fun part."
---
Lia noticed too.
"Why is Kael always looking at you like that?" she asked one evening.
"Like what?"
"Like—" She made a face. "Like he wants to eat you."
I choked on my drink.
"Lia—"
"It's weird." But she was smiling. "Also kind of nice. He loves you a lot."
"He does."
"That's good." She nodded seriously. "Everyone should be loved like that."
I pulled her into a hug. "Someday, you will be."
---
The full moon came.
Traditionally, a time of heightened fertility for wolves. Kael was... enthusiastic.
"We should go to the moon pool," he suggested.
"Kael, we've been together three times today already."
"And?"
"And I'm tired."
He kissed me. "I'll make it worth your while."
He always did.
---
The moon pool was beautiful at night.
Water glowing. Stars reflecting. The whole world quiet and sacred.
He undressed me slowly. Led me into the water.
"Elena." His voice was reverent. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Thank you for wanting this. For wanting me. For wanting a family with me."
I touched his face. "There's no one else I'd want."
He kissed me. Deep and slow.
The water swirled around us as he lifted me, wrapped my legs around his waist. When he entered me, we both gasped.
"Kael—"
"I know." He moved inside me. "I feel it too."
The bond blazed. The water held us. The moon watched.
We made love until we couldn't anymore.
---
Afterward, we lay on the bank, tangled together.
"What if it never happens?" I whispered.
"Then we have each other. We have the pack. We have this." He kissed my shoulder. "That's enough."
"Is it?"
"It is for me." He turned me to face him. "You're enough, Elena. With or without children. You're everything."
I cried then. Happy tears.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now let's go home. I'm not done with you yet."
"Kael!"
"What? I'm dedicated."
I laughed. Let him pull me up.
Whatever the future held, we'd face it together.