Chapter 24

S he’s as magnificent as she is scared.

I approach her; I know my size is daunting, but surely the small wolf will recognize me as her own quickly.

Her glowing blue eyes blink at me from where she lies on the ground, in a frightened position.

“Do not worry, little mate, I would never hurt you,” I tell her. “Is Violet sharing this moment with you?”

“The woman?” she asks. Her voice is sweet in my mind.

“Yes, is it just us?”

“I… I think so. I don’t hear her.”

“It’s scary shifting for the first time. You did wonderful, little wolf.”

“Who… who are you?” she asks.

“I am Thorin, your Alpha, and your mate. May I know my mate’s name?” I ask her, to know my mate’s name would mean everything to me.

I love Violet, I even love the man. But the wolf before me is my everything.

“Azure,” she says and I raise my head to the sky, letting the beauty of her name and the sound of her voice wash over me.

I thought I was lucky to have a mate in any form; I didn’t believe this was possible. But here she is. Magnificent doesn’t even begin to cover how gorgeous her pelt is.

The moon has chosen wisely, but I already knew that.

“I’m scared,” Azure says, and I lie down next to her, my paw over hers.

“You do not need to be scared around me or the man, we are devoted to you, though I am the more superior one.”

“I can feel her, Violet. She wants to shift back,” Azure says.

“You don’t have to listen to her. In fact, I think we keep this mate business between you and me,” I tell her.

“Why?” she asks with a precious tilt to her head.

“The man and the woman aren’t as wise as us. They complicate things, though I believe they will come to terms with reality soon. For now, we can just be mates when we’re in this form and leave them out of it.”

“What if I’m locked in again?” she says.

I rub the top of my head against her own and she calms. Her fur is soft, and she’s perfect.

I’m a lucky wolf.

“I will not let that happen. You’ll never be locked away again, my mate.”

“You promise?” she asks.

“I promise. Would you like to go for a run?”

“A run?” she says, standing up straight. Her legs are slightly wobbly, like a child shifting for the first time, I find it adorable. “I think I’d like that very much.”

I howl at the moon and I run around with my mate all night, living the life I only ever dreamed of.