Chapter 25 - Miles
The past few months have been the best months of my life, and every single day that I get to wake up next to the most beautiful girl in the world…I keep thinking that my life is getting impossibly better.
“Good morning, puppy,” I smile as she rolls over to look at me. Her eyes are sleepy and confused, but she grins.
“Hi, gorgeous,” she whispers, reaching out to touch my face. “Have you been watching me sleep again,” she giggles.
“It’s so strange, you know, the moment I wake up, I can’t take my eyes off you,” I muse.
She shifts closer to me and wiggles against my chest as I wrap my arms tightly around her and hold her beneath the warmth of the blankets.
It’s still early in the morning. The sun is rising earlier now, though, and that freezing cold bite to the air is changing into something warmer with Spring inviting all the flowers to start spreading through the forest.
The thick blanket of snow is gone, and the ground is an array of wildflowers and bright colors.
“What’s the time. We’ve got the hunt later today,” she says, closing her eyes and sounding like she might drift off to sleep again.
I pull her onto my chest and tickle her sides, making her scream and wiggle.
“No more sleeping, we’re also on patrol duty this morning,” I remind her.
“Oh, my goodness, yes. That’s why I told you not to keep me up so late last night,” she groans.
“Mm. But then, when I stopped doing what I was doing, you nearly had a heart attack,” I chuckle.
She smiles, remembering last night.
“Fair enough,” she sighs. “But I’m staying here while you make the coffee,” she grumbles, pulling the blankets over her head.
“It’s a deal,” I say, slipping away from her and standing next to the bed to stretch. I look down at my gorgeous wife and her perfect little form bundled beneath the blankets.
I’m truly happier than I’ve ever been…and happier than I ever thought I could be.
Leaving her in peace, I head to the kitchen to switch the coffee machine on.
***
Kala grins and kicks moss at me with her back legs.
We’re out on patrol and letting Mudder and her wolf enjoy the early morning air.
Hey! I protest, shaking my fur to get rid of it. Her tail swishes playfully and flirtatiously in front of Mudder, and her scent washes over me.
I duck the front of my body low to the ground. Her eyes shoot wide when she realizes I’m about to pounce.
She bolts off in a streak of pure white fur that moves so fast through the trees it’s almost a blur as I run after her.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over how fast she is.
And her elegance as she leaps from rock to fallen tree stump, then changes direction with a sudden kick against a tree…
it has me wanting her even more, no matter how many times I witness it.
You are extra playful today! I muse as I chase her.
Kala yelps happily and slows down, letting me catch up as she runs along the edge of the flowing stream. I can smell rich earth and cool, crystal-clear water.
And I can smell jasmine. Her perfect scent.
Kala stops where the stream bends, bowing her head and lapping at the small pool that has formed there. A frog jumps from the water, and she yelps in fright, staggering backwards and falling on her ass, getting mud all over her otherwise perfect fur.
I can’t keep it in, and I burst out laughing.
What was that? I ask, as Mudder snorts and snuffs in joy instead of checking if she’s ok.
She stands up, shakes her fur off, and glares at me. I just got a fright.
Kala the White Wolf. A wolf already embroidered into the legends of our pack…. was scared of a frog!
Mudder collapses to the ground, rolling around on his back and kicking his legs in the air as I continue to laugh.
Out of nowhere, Kala leaps onto me and grabs my throat. She’s laughing too. It was a huge frog, and it came out of nowhere! She says, growling as she tugs at the thick fur of my throat.
We hear a howl in the distance, and both of us stand again and lift our heads to the treetops and howl in response.
It’s Blake and Luke, I confirm, sniffing the air.
I wonder if they found anything, she replies.
Let’s go find out.
Mudder leaps over the stream with ease and shoots in the direction of their howls.
We have been scouting these woods for months, since the day we fought the rogues.
But we haven’t found anything. Their camp was cleared away by our team.
We installed additional motion sensors and warning beacons.
We’ve searched every inch of our territory and the surrounding lands, and Ace is nowhere to be found.
We have the other packs in the area on high alert, warning them of who they’re dealing with.
When he shows up again, and I know he will, we’ll be ready.
He’s not the kind of man who will walk away defeated. His ego was far too big, far too dangerous. He wants revenge after being humiliated. And he wants whatever he came here for in the first place.
Kala shoots past me, overtaking Mudder, and I groan. Show off, I call out, picking up the pace just so I can keep up.
I hear her delightful giggle from some way ahead, and it makes me smile.
I am so fucking lucky to have her.
Luke and Blake are standing by the guard hut, getting dressed in the clothes they left there earlier as they started their route.
How did it go? I ask. Did you guys find anything?
“Nothing,” Luke sighs. “And you guys?” He asks.
We only just started our shift, Kelsey says, tilting her head to the side. One of her giant wolf ears flops over, and I chuckle at how cute she looks.
“It’s a stunning day,” Blake says, tugging his t-shirt on. “We’ve been on duty since the middle of the night. Can’t wait to get back and eat something,” he smirks.
“You eat no stop. You’re worse than I am,” Luke muses.
Kala snorts. I’ve seen you eating at work. No one is worse than you are, she teases playfully. Luke laughs and shakes his head. “Fine, fair enough. You two have an awesome day. I think I’m on duty with you tomorrow, Kels. Night shift?”
Yes, we’ve got the 3 am route.
“See you then!”
The guy’s head off, and Kala and I trot back towards our plotted scouting route for the day.
***
It’s early evening when our long day finishes. We scouted for four hours straight, then came back to eat, and after that, we joined the hunting team to get fresh meat for the pack.
Now I’m hungry all over again, and while Kelsey is in the shower, I’m putting together some homemade pizza for us. There’s a knock at the door, and I go to answer it.
Mira is standing there with a grin on her face. “It’s ready,” she says, handing me a black velvet box.
“Are you serious? You said only next week,” I whisper excitedly.
“I know, but I know how impatient you are to give it to her, so there it is. I hope she loves it,” she says, smiling and stepping away from the door. “Have a nice night, I’m headed home finally,” she says, waving goodbye.
“Thank you!” I call out. This has made my night.
I’ve been designing this with Mira for over a month, trying to get it perfect. I had an idea for the perfect gift for Kelsey, and Mira helped me bring it to life.
I hear the shower switch off and Kelsey humming as she climbs out. Hurrying back to the kitchen, I hide the box in the top drawer and get busy with the pizza again. But I’m excited. I literally can’t wait to give it to her.
Kelsey walks through in a white silk robe, rubbing a towel through her wet hair.
Her wet hair has dampened the robe, and it clings to her breasts, pressing against her nipples and making me shudder with need.
“Wow, is there anything you can wear that doesn’t make me want you?” I ask, walking around the counter to pull her into my arms.
“I could wear nothing at all?” She teases, tugging at the cord tying her gown.
“You know that will make things ten times worse,” I laugh, lifting her in my arms.
I carry her into the kitchen where she can sit with me while I finish dinner. I set her down on the counter near the drawer where her gift is.
My initial idea was to wait until dinner. Or even after dinner. But now I can’t seem to muster the patience.
Kelsey is watching me with narrowed eyes.
“What is up with you?” She says, reading me far too well.
“Why? What do you mean?” I pretend to have no idea what she’s talking about.
She leans forward and grabs the front of my t-shirt to pull me closer. “Tell me, or I’ll bite,” she grins.
I laugh, shaking my head. I pull the drawer next to her open and gesture for her to look inside.
She leans over and peers into it.
When she spots the velvet box, her eyes shoot wide.
“A present?” She says happily. “For me?”
I grin and lean back so she can pick it up, but I remain standing between her legs.
She tugs the ribbon off and yanks the lid up, tossing it away as she looks eagerly into the box.
Her eyes go even wider, and her mouth drops open as she stares at the gold bracelet inside.
The bracelet is a carefully laser-cut design that incorporates her family emblem. It’s a symbol of who she is and where she came from. A symbol of her power and her history.
Kelsey gently lifts it out of the box, and I take it from her to undo the clasp so that I can slip it over her wrists. It’s big but elegant and delicate.
“It’s....it’s so beautiful,” she gasps. “Did you have this custom-made for me?” She stammers.
“As a matter of fact, I did. But it’s not just a bracelet.”
“What is it?” She asks, eager to know.
“Mira is the one who, with insurmountable patience, helped me bring the idea to life. The gold is infused with your magic. You can wear it even when you shift, as it will adjust to fit you. It was designed in the same way the beacons in the forest were designed…to enhance the power you already have by narrowing the channel it can move through should you wish to use it,” I explain.
“So, I have the shield and the weapon with me always? I don’t need to be near one of those beacons?” She asks, shocked.
“Correct. You will always be safe.”
“This is… Miles, this is amazing!” She exclaims happily, then throws her arms around my neck to hug me. “How long have you been working on this?”
“Forever, and I had to keep it a secret the entire time. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep something from you when I’m so excited to tell you about it?” I laugh.
She leans back and looks at her wrist again, moving it back and forth to admire the gold.
“I can’t believe how beautiful it is. I’ll never take it off. Thank you so much. I can’t believe I got so lucky to marry a man like you and get to spend the whole of my life with you,” she smiles beautifully as a tear rolls down her cheek. I wipe it away with the pad of my thumb.
“I’m the lucky one, puppy. I love you so much,” I whisper, kissing her softly.
*****
THE END