[ 31 ] - love
I took a deep breath and tried to think logically. "This doesn't necessarily mean that Leander is the one behind all this, Kane."
His steely gaze turned to mine, filled with his hatred of Leander. His eyebrows twitched in bewilderment. "I am made aware of everything that happens on my territory, especially if it involves a non-werewolf. I'm certain he knows about this."
I turned to Celine. "Do you know of any witch that has sworn allegiance to Leander?"
She went to shake her head when she faltered. "There was one, but it is not within our customs to swear allegiance to anyone other than the coven leader. She would've been made to return to her own coven."
"And if she didn't?" Kane questioned. "If she chose to remain as Leander's mage?"
Celine released an amused laugh. "You would never have even laid eyes upon your territory had that been the case. We can tip the scales of war."
"What coven does she belong to?" I asked.
Her mate, Silas, answered instead with a gravelly voice. "We would never sell out one of our own." His eyes cut to Kane and sharpened. "Especially to you."
I finally allowed my curiosity to get the better of me. "What is your problem?"
"I don't like war, let alone someone who is so quick to wage it."
Kane chuckled mirthlessly. "Because everything can be solved with herbs and spells."
"Herbs and spells that you've come to us for, Buchanan," Celine quipped, stepping back against Silas.
Kane put up his hands then sighed. "I need a name, Celine."
"I gave you as much as I'm willing to give. The one you're looking for is in Leander's territory."
"Our lives are at stake here and you care about neutrality?" I narrowed my eyes. "The future of our pack depends on us, and you know the person who wants to put an end to all of it, but you won't tell us?"
"This is dark magic that requires the witch's life to cast it. She didn't do it lightly, so it makes me wonder why she did it. We want no part in any bloodshed that may come of this."
Kane slid his hand into mine and lightly squeezed. "You had the option to minimise the bloodshed. You would do anything to make sure you and your mate had a lifetime together too." He took a step back and coaxed me from my place with him. "Let's go, Rina."
Celine frowned and stared at him for a moment. We turned and walked towards the door. As we passed through the beaded curtain, her voice sounded through the room.
"The cure is within you—a double-edged sword."
Kane glanced at her over his shoulder for a moment before we continued to the shop door. The walk back to the car was quiet and every step felt heavy. When Kane held open my door, he stopped me with a hand on my upper arm.
"Look at me, baby," he said softly. His eyes looked like warm honey that warmed me from the inside out. "We're in this together, okay? I promise I won't let anything happen to us."
"I know," I replied quietly. "I just can't help but feel the panic and uncertainty. It feels like the next full moon is a blink away and I don't like not knowing what will happen then."
He looked at me as if he wanted to have all the answers so he could assuage all my fears and anxieties. It pained him that he didn't. "It's not a hopeless cause. We saw what our future could look like—we just need to fill in the gaps any way we can."
A small smile pulled at my lips, and the sight of it, Kane began to smile too. A family of our own.
"Twins, Rina." His hand flattened against my stomach. "You'll carry my pups and make me a father. You're my sun and everything I live for now."
Two timelines merged then in front of me.
I saw the way future Kane looked at future me, as if I was a dream personified.
I felt it from him now, a deep longing in his heart and soul.
Our souls were already linked through our marks, but my life felt tethered to his.
I wanted us to have a lifetime together too.
The words escaped me, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. He exhaled deeply and lifted me to his height. Our chests were pressed tightly together and his heart beat in time with mine.
"I don't want to look back at this time and feel like all we were doing was running down the clock or that we didn't have enough time," I murmured into his shoulder. "I want to make more good memories."
He leaned his head back and nodded. "I'll delegate to Finn and Carmen for today. The next thing that needs to be done is to contact the rest of the covens and see if anyone will talk."
I slid my hand across the back of his neck and rested my thumb on his earlobe. "Okay." I leaned forward and softly pecked his lips.
"We can do better than that," his eyebrows raised slightly and he smirked slowly.
I threw my head back with a laugh. "How much better are we talking?"
He placed me back on my feet and wrapped his arms around my waist to pull me flush against him. "I think that requires more of a hands-on answer."
—————
The drive back to our territory was spent in a comfortable silence. Kane parked outside our house and took my hand when he opened the door for me.
"The best thing to do with memories is to capture them," he said, leading the way into the house. We slipped our shoes off and he gently turned me to take my jacket off. "I like this top on you."
I glanced down at my fitted, white top. "It's just a regular top," I laughed.
"Maybe I just like you in white," he smoothly replied, taking his jacket off too.
I turned around to hide my smile and headed for the stairs. He tugged me back by the hand. "Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you."
I did as he asked until he bent down and threw me over his shoulder. I yelped and opened my eyes to see his back. "How is this a surprise?" I exclaimed.
His body vibrated with his deep laugh. "The surprise is upstairs. It's quicker if I carry you. Keep your eyes closed."
"I think you just want an excuse to carry me over your shoulder," I grumbled, relaxing in his hold.
"Well, there's that too," he responded, walking up the stairs two steps at a time.
I could feel him climb three flights and when I caught a whiff of paint supplies, I knew where he was taking me. He pushed open the door with his foot and moments later, he sat me down on a chair. I opened my eyes when he lightly caressed my cheek and looked up at him.
"I want to capture the real thing now. Do you think you can sit still for me?"
My heart began to beat faster and I nodded. "Yes."
Behind him were the same seven easels, three smaller canvases on each side and one large one in the middle. He walked to the far corner of the room and ripped the packaging off a fresh, large canvas.
I watched him in awe as he set up his supplies. He was sitting across from me and looked in his element, completely comfortable as he began sketching me. His attention on me caused goosebumps to rise on my skin. I wasn't sure what I looked like and self-consciously lifted my hand to fix my hair.
"You look beautiful." His voice stopped me in my tracks and he gave me a small smile. "I never thought I'd be sitting here painting you live."
"How long did the other one take you?"
"Normally, it would take me two months, but I was obsessed and painted morning to night. It took me about a week and a half."
"How long do I need to sit still for?" I asked, surprised.
"Only for me to sketch you, don't worry. I'm going to use paint after dinner." He stopped for a moment to pull his hoodie over his head.
I let my gaze glide over to the covered canvases behind him. "What are the other six paintings?"
He kept his eyes on me as he answered. "Just some other paintings from that time."
My curiosity piqued, but I had to stay still. It took him three hours to finish the sketch, and by the time he was done, I was ready to finally move again.
I immediately stretched. "After that, I think I need to shift too."
"We could do that." He placed his pencil down and flexed his fingers. "Do you want to see it?"
I eagerly nodded and walked over to him.
He slid his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side to look at it.
Realism must have been his strong suit because he had sketched me perfectly.
I instantly noticed that this time, he was able to sketch his mark on my neck.
Suddenly, this portrait was my new favourite.
"I love the way you see me..." I mused, staring at my portrait. There was something about my eyes.
In that moment, the mate bond thrummed between us.
I looked up at him to see him already staring at me.
It was different this time. He wasn't inspecting me to get down every detail on the canvas.
This time, he was gazing at me like he had already committed everything about me to memory.
His eyes trailed over my features like he was mentally tracing my face again.
There was a deeper connection blossoming between and around us like a magnetic field. I wasn't sure what it was until, like a compass, his heart found mine.
"I love you, Rina."
He said it as easily as he breathed, like loving me and breathing were the same thing.
I gasped quietly, feeling the electricity course through me. It was invigorating.
"You...?" I whispered.
He turned and cupped my face in his hands.
His eyes darted between mine and he sighed.
"I love you." A bright smile broke out on his face.
"God I've loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you.
I know that it hasn't been easy, and there are a lot of things that we aren't certain of, but Rina, one thing I am certain of is that I love you—more than I'm able to express, but I will never stop trying to show you just how much. I love you and I always will."
"You've said it five times in one minute," I said, breathlessly.
"It feels good to finally say it."
I darted forward, pressing my lips firmly on his.
He dug his fingers into my hair and returned the kiss, allowing his love to pour into every slow movement of his mouth against mine.
It was a kiss that I truly never wanted to end.
I slid my hands against his chest, feeling his heart against my palm.
While my eyes were closed, I saw a black moon slowly turn white.
I shook it off, too inebriated by the buzz his touch gave me. I stepped onto my tiptoes and linked my arms around his neck, closing any distance between us. I couldn't get enough of him, and I wasn't sure where my longing ended and his began. I ached for him—that was when I knew.
I cradled his face with my hand and pulled back, breathing heavily. I looked into his eyes, a warm amber, and realised that they were not the same ones I had feared all those weeks ago.
No, my feelings had completely changed.
"I love you too, Kane."