Chapter 31

Billie

We turned the picnic rug into a blanket as the night descended. The cool grass of the bank was welcome on my overheated skin. Gavin pulled me into his side and wrapped his arm around me as we lay down and looked up at the stars blinking into existence. I pressed my cheek into his chest, adoring the feel of the hard wall of muscle. My knee hooked over his powerful thigh as my body still wanted to be as close as possible to him.

I want to stay wrapped around him forever.

His spicy scent was intoxicating. I burrowed my nose into his chest as I listened to our hearts beating together and returning to an even pace as we came down from our sex high. The one I'd just experienced for the first time.

I breathed out a contented sigh. "Wow, that was—"

"Like pancakes?" Gavin suggested with a mischievous tone.

I huffed a laugh against his chest. "Mind-blowing."

He kissed the crown of my head. "It was, my love," he agreed in a deep rumble that had my core tightening again. Somehow, hearing him call me "love" now was even better than it had been in the heat of the moment.

I grinned like a lovesick fool. Because … that's exactly what I was. I was deeply and madly in love with my mate. Gavin's mark stung a little on my neck, but it was a kind of pleasure-pain, reminding me that I was the luckiest woman—and wolf—in the whole wide world.

Because Gavin is my firstand my forever.

I had the urge to pinch myself. The fact that I'd just lost my virginity to this hot-damn delicious Alpha seemed like something out of a dream. Another goofy smile wound over my face as I thought of how I would never have believed this future possible when I'd had my Moondream showing him to me.

I totally lucked out in the fate game.

Of course, I hadn't always been lucky. The shadows of my past lingered over me, especially as the truth about my parents' brutal murder was still so raw. But, as I looked through the branches of the cottonwood, watching the glinting stars and snuggling into the strong arms of my mate, I felt a deep contentment settle in my bones.

With Gavin, I felt as if all the things that I'd missed growing up—a home, friends, and being part of a family were all going to be mine. Here in Grandbay, with Aislin and the rest of the pack, as well as Muriel, of course, I'd experienced what it was to have friends and belong to a community. But, as my mate's arms encircled me, I finally knew what it meant to truly be loved.

My life in Dalesbloom had been a shadow of an existence. Whereas here, just like the flow of the Gunnison and the breezes stirring in the cottonwood, what we had was real and palpable, filling my senses and making me greedy for more of it. This man beside me made me want to live to my fullest—body, soul, and wolf until I couldn't take any more.

A bit like … when his cock had filled me, and his tongue had stroked mine, and his hand had kneaded my breast, and that earth-shattering feeling had rocked my entire body.

"What is that stunning blush for?" Gavin asked roguishly as he felt the heat radiating from my cheeks. My face suddenly felt like a heater turned up full blast.

"Just thinking about what your body does to me," I said throatily, looking up at him.

"Oh, yeah?" He arched a dark brow. My pulse spiked at the knowing look on his face. "Are there any particular parts you like?"

I licked my lips as my thoughts lasered in on one particular part of his anatomy that I liked very much and had played the central role in the mind-blowing, earth-shattering orgasm I'd just had.

Gavin's eyes homed in on my mouth, heat already hazing them. I felt his cock hardening against my thigh as if it could feel how intensely I was thinking about it.

My eyes widened. It couldn't have been more than five minutes since we'd climaxed, and Gavin was ready to go again. Wetness started to slick my thighs as my body responded. His nostrils flared, and I knew he'd scented how turned on I was.

"You're ready to go again?" I asked with awe.

"For my mate, I'm always ready," he growled, already pulling me onto him so that I straddled his hips.

He stroked the mark on my neck, his eyes flaring as the pads of his fingers lingered over his mark. Then his hands swept down my torso, teasing one of my breasts. I gasped as they were extra sensitive after he'd already sucked and massaged them so much.

"You're like a fae princess in the moonlight," he whispered.

Never mind, princess, the adoration in his hazel stare made me feel like a queen. I felt as if I were melting into the warmth of his gaze.

"There's something so primal about fucking you outside .…" he uttered as he dipped one of his fingers through my wet folds and let out an appreciative groan at the slickness. "My wolf loves it. I love this pussy," he added, working his fingers through me and hitting my clit, so that I already felt the first stirrings fluttering through my core.

My pleasure-hazed eyes wound over Gavin's chiseled features, limned in the moonlight as if even Vana, goddess of the moon, couldn't help stroking his handsome face. I didn't blame her. The fact that the goddess had given this man and wolf to me, I knew, would always make me her loyal disciple.

"I love you, Gavin," I uttered, my heart overflowing with devotion as my eyes held his.

In a moment, the head of his cock crowned my entrance, and I cried out as he buried himself inside me again. I shuddered around him, loving the way that he filled me so completely. He sat up, the angle of his cock altering, and I gasped.

He wound kisses over my neck, sucking my ear until I rocked and started to ride him. "I love you, too, Billie," he murmured against my ear. I wasn't sure if it was his ardent tone or him being so deeply seated in me, but the next moment, I was coming again, those delicious tremors racking my body as I came apart in Gavin's arms. Later that night, we finally made it home and drifted into the most blissful sleep of my life.

But, as I woke to a hammering on our cabin door, I was reminded that Gavin's mate had other duties besides pleasuring him. Although, I'd decided that that was definitely my favorite duty.

Groggily, Gavin got up, pulling on a pair of jeans before going to the door.

"I thought you guys would be planning already," Aislin's too-chipper voice sang from the living room.

At the word "planning," my heart picked up a notch. I groaned into my pillow before pulling the sheet up around my chest and sitting up. Aislin was talking about planning for the upcoming pack meeting. She must be here to learn what the scoop was pre-meeting.

The meeting that'stoday.

Thoughts about the rapidly approaching assembly and all the uncertainties flocking toward us started to swarm. But then, Gavin appeared in the doorway. "Want a coffee?"

A dopey smile wound across my face as I blinked him in in all his deliciousness. My greedy stare took in his mussed hair, the slight stubble on his jaw, and his defined pecs and abs.

How the hell am I meant to plan anything with him around?

We'd made love three times last night at the ridge before coming home. I remembered how when we'd gotten back, Gavin had said that we needed to christen all the rooms of our house. We'd been too tired last night, and both curled up in bed and soon dropped off.

But, judging by the carnal look that he was giving me, we'd have been getting right on that if it wasn't for the fact that we had company in the next room.

A fact that Aislin reminded us of as she piped up, "So what are you thinking of telling the Eastpeakers?"

I only nodded a delayed yes in answer to Gavin's question about coffee, not trusting that my voice would work. Except perhaps to beg him for something else entirely.

His nostrils flared, and he pushed himself out of the doorway with obvious reluctance. He grabbed his T-shirt from the floor and tugged it on before leaving without a backward glance as if that were too much temptation.

Getting up, I shoved on my PJ vest and trousers. The petite set had a ditsy floral design over the soft white cotton. It was a present from Gavin that I loved, along with a whole stack of clothes in my size. As I gazed at myself in the looking-glass of our wardrobe, I admired how the set showed off the curve of my bust, hips, and butt.

Aislin was in the kitchen with Gavin, talking about the meeting as I joined them.

"We will have to talk to Everett today," Gavin said, talking about the Eastpeak Pack.

After Everett and the Eastpeak Pack had come to our aid at Hexen Manor, the Eastpeak Alpha had wanted to take Muriel away. But with our borders being closer to Dalesbloom than Eastpeak's, he'd conceded to Muriel being brought back to Grandbay. She'd been able to receive healing more quickly for the wound she'd suffered from David's desecrated blade.

My heart squeezed as I thought of my friend whose health was still fragile after her injury. I'd asked her what she wanted—if she'd feel safer with Everett and Eastpeak. She'd confided that she felt safer here. She trusted me and Gavin to keep her safe. Something I was committed to doing with all my heart and fighting for, even against the Eastpeak Pack if we needed to.

Yet, the problem was Everett had only conceded to Muriel's staying here as a temporary measure. He'd given us three days" grace, saying that he expected to hear from us after that. The allotted time was now up.

Later today, Gavin, me, Muriel, and the rest of the pack were meeting to discuss how we were going to move forward. Both with Muriel's place of residence and with our plans against the Inkscales and David.

As I came into the kitchen, eager for coffee, Aislin's whiskey-brown eyes rounded. She looked pale. I knew her wound was still healing from the fight she'd had with Catrina, and for a moment, I was worried she was in pain. She had on her running clothes, and her hair was up in a ponytail. She'd been taking to wolf form a lot to help with the healing process and reckoned she'd been out early for that purpose.

But then, she squealed excitedly, "Gah!" She came forward and went for my neck.

I flushed as I realized she'd caught sight of Gavin's mark.

"By Vana! Finally," she said, rolling her eyes at Gavin.

Gavin wore a proud look, and not even Aislin's snarky expression could bother him. "Yes, Aislin, you're looking at the new Luna of Grandbay and my mate."

The way he growled out those words had tingles zipping down my spine, and I didn't think I'd ever tire of him calling me such.

Aislin wrapped me in a hug, squeezing me tightly. "I'm so happy for you both."

Curiosity flashed in Aislin's eyes as she looked between me and Gavin. "Have you both shifted since giving Billie your mark?"

I shook my head, my cheeks heating as I admitted, "We were a little too busy."

Aislin chuckled, then said, "I can't wait to see how your telepathic connection makes you on the hunt."

Excitement whooshed through me as I couldn't wait to experience this new thrill either. My gaze wandered to Gavin, and I saw my excitement reflected in his eyes. From everything I'd heard about fated mates and the telepathic connection between them once they'd embraced their bond, our strength and prowess on the hunt would be unmatched.

Determination moved through me at the thought. "One thing is for sure—Gavin and I will hone our skill before we come up against David and the Inkscales, and I swear we'll beat them next time."

A whisper of regret still swept through me as I knew that I was to blame for the pack going up against them unprepared last time. I had been the one who'd gotten captured. But my regret dissipated as burning resolve sang through me, and my mate's features shone with the same fortitude.

The kitchen clock caught my eye, and I was surprised that it was already eleven o'clock. Then again, Gavin and I hadn't gotten to bed until early morning. Gavin poured us all coffees, and we settled down in the living room to chat about the upcoming pack meeting. I took my preferred spot in one of the curl-up chairs by the fire. Gavin stacked up some kindling, lit a fire, and then took the couch. As Aislin collapsed into the chair opposite me, her sharp intake of breath didn't escape my notice. My brows knitted together. Her wound was still bothering her.

As the warmth of the fire started to pervade the room, my thoughts slipped to the battle at the Hexens. The biggest regret I still harbored surfaced to the forefront—how things had ended with Colt. Sipping my drink, I kept quiet about it, though. I knew it was too soon for Gavin to forgive Colt for what he'd almost done by marking me. But I trusted that as mine and Gavin's bond deepened, in time, he'd have the capacity for forgiveness.

I remembered how Aislin's wolf had flown at Colt in cold fury at the Hexens, too, when he'd attacked Gavin. I knew Colt had a lot of making up to do, but I knew that as my friend, Aislin would come around when she saw how important Colt was to me.

I'd spoken about my secret hopes concerning Colt with Muriel. With her compassionate nature, she agreed that it was too soon to give up on Colt. He couldn't help the power-hungry influence that both his father and Catrina had corrupted him with. I knew that deep down, beneath what his father had pressured him to do, he was a good soul. Now, with Catrina gone and once we'd defeated David and the Inkscales, I nursed the secret hope that my friend could be brought back to me.

Aislin's steady voice cut through my reflections, "Everett will likely play the whole Mythguard card, you know?"

My thoughts went back to the situation immediately before us: the pack meeting in a couple of hours.

Taking a sip of milky coffee, I said, "Then Everett and Mythguard will find the two Alphas at Grandbay more than happy to fight to keep our friend safe."

Aislin's brown eyes glinted, and with her usual tenacity, she seconded. "I've always thought I could take a mountain man. Bring it on."

I laughed at my friend's boldness, but it was the heady concoction of pride and love on Gavin's face that claimed my attention. I knew with certainty that he'd have my back in whatever was coming—just as I'd have his.

Even amidst the challenges that we faced, my body thrummed with excitement as I thought of how much we had to look forward to. The prospect of running through the woods together as wolves and trying out our telepathic connection had me wanting to shift now so that I could be even closer to my mate. But instead, I savored another sip of coffee. We had all the time in the world for that.

The idea that every day, and all the days ever after this one, was going to be spent in the company of my mate washed over me. Once again, a love-struck smile wound over my face, one that had Gavin sending me a smoldering look that zinged straight to between my legs. My one-track mind had me thinking again of how I was going to love my mate tenderly and passionately within all of these rooms. Then, as if Vana herself had given me a vision of the future, my heart felt full to bursting because, within this wonderful home, I knew that our love, our family, and our pack would grow and strengthen.