Chapter 19 Mila
NINETEEN
MILA
Finally back in Cade’s chambers, Mila couldn’t stop her hands from trembling as she watched him collapse into the leather chair by the fireplace.
Blood streaked his muscled torso from Zarik’s claws, and dark bruises were already forming along his ribs where the Shadow Moon king’s jaws had found purchase.
“You really need to clean those wounds,” she said, moving toward him with concern etched across her features. “And get some rest.”
Cade’s green eyes tracked her movements with piercing intensity despite his obvious exhaustion. “I’m fine, Mila. Nothing that won’t heal by morning.”
“You’re not fine.” She stopped in front of him, putting her hands on her hips in a gesture that brooked no argument. “You’re bleeding, you’re bruised, and you just fought for your life. At least let me help you clean up and bandage the worst of it.”
A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips as he leaned back in the chair, his gaze raking over her body with unmistakable hunger. “I’ll consider it, but only if you join me in the shower first.”
Heat flooded Mila at the raw desire burning in his voice. “Cade, you should be resting and recuperating, not—“
“Not what?” He stood slowly, every movement controlled despite his injuries, and stepped closer until she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. “Not celebrating the fact that I’m still alive? That I won? That I secured our future together?”
His fingers traced along her jawline with gentle reverence, but his eyes held the wild gleam of a wolf who’d just claimed his territory.
“I’ve been fighting for control and duty my entire life, Mila.
Today, I fought for something far more important—for you, for us.
And now that the battle’s over, I want to feel alive with my mate. ”
His raw honesty caused shivers throughout her entire body. She could see it now—the way victory and adrenaline and relief were combining into something primal and overwhelming. This wasn’t just about desire; it was about affirming life after facing death.
He could have died today, the thought hit her with sudden force. When Zarik had him pinned against that wall, I thought I was going to lose him before we’d even had a chance to really begin.
“Fine,” she whispered, her body betraying her practical instincts. “I’ll join you. But only because you’re clearly too stubborn to take care of yourself properly.”
His triumphant grin transformed his entire face, banishing the shadows of exhaustion and revealing the playful side he rarely let anyone see. “I knew you couldn’t resist my charm.”
Cade led her into his expansive bathroom. The space felt like a private grotto with natural rock formations and subtle lighting that created an atmosphere of intimate luxury.
As they began undressing, Mila’s breath hitched at the sight of his powerful body in the soft light. Even battered and bloodied, he was gorgeous—all corded muscle and masculine grace.
He’s not just my mate, she thought as her eyes traced his body. He’s my protector… my wolf.
The magnitude of what that really meant settled over her like a mantle of responsibility and privilege combined. She wasn’t just in love with any man; she had bound herself to a leader, a legend, a force of nature who commanded the loyalty of an entire territory.
“Second thoughts?” Cade asked, misreading her expression as doubt rather than awe.
“Never,” she replied firmly, stepping out of her dress with confidence. “I’m just... processing everything. A few hours ago, I was terrified I might lose you. Now you’re the undisputed High Sovereign, and I’m about to become queen of not just the Ice Moon pack, but all three territories.”
Steam swirled around them as they entered the shower together, the warm water immediately sluicing away the blood and grime from his skin. Mila reached for the soap, her touch reverent as she began washing his wounds with careful attention.
“Does this hurt?” she asked, her fingers ghosting over a particularly deep scratch along his shoulder.
“Everything hurts,” he admitted with characteristic honesty. “But having you here, touching me, taking care of me—it makes the pain irrelevant.”
His vulnerability made her heart clench with emotion. This powerful Alpha wolf, this king who commanded respect through sheer force of will, was letting her see him at his most human and fragile.
“I was so scared today,” she confessed as she worked soap across his broad chest. “When I saw Zarik’s wolf overpowering you, when you were pressed against that wall and bleeding... I thought my heart was going to stop.”
Cade’s hands found her waist, pulling her closer under the cascading water. “I felt you. Your strength, your faith in me—that’s what turned the tide. I was fighting for our future, for the right to wake up next to you every morning for the rest of my life.”
Before Mila could respond, Cade lifted her effortlessly, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he pressed her against the cold stone wall.
The contrast of the cool surface against her heated skin sent a shiver down her spine.
His arousal pressed against her, unmistakable and unrelenting, and her breath hitched as she felt the sheer power of him.
“I need you,” he said, his voice thick with desire and something deeper—something raw and unspoken. His green eyes burned into hers, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, water cascading around them, and their bodies entwined in a primal embrace.
“I need you too,” Mila whispered. Her hands slid up his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath her fingertips. “Cade…” She paused for a moment. “I love you.”
Those three words hung in the air, heavy and irrevocable. Cade’s breath stuttered, his gaze softening even as his body remained tense with need. “Mila,” he breathed. “I love you too. More than anything. You’re my everything.”
Her heart swelled at his admission, the depth of his love undeniable. She leaned in, capturing his lips in a fierce kiss that spoke of all the words they couldn’t say. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer as his tongue sought hers, the kiss deepening until they were both breathless.
Mila reached between them, her hand brushing against his arousal. He groaned low in his throat, his hips jerking involuntarily at her touch. She guided him to her entrance, her body already slick with need. “Take me,” she murmured, her voice trembling with anticipation.
Cade didn’t hesitate. He thrust into her in one deep, claiming motion, and Mila cried out, her head falling back against the wall.
The sensation was overwhelming, a heady mix of pleasure and intensity as he filled her completely.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent as if it were the very air he needed to survive.
“You feel so good,” he murmured against her skin, his voice a rumble that vibrated through her. “Perfect and mine.”
Mila clung to him, her fingers digging into the muscles of his shoulders as he moved within her. Each thrust was slow and deliberate, drawing out their pleasure with an almost unbearable intensity. She could feel the tension building, coiling tightly in her core, and she knew she was close.
“Faster,” she gasped, her voice breaking as her body teetered on the edge of release.
Cade obeyed instantly, his hips snapping against hers with a rhythm that sent shockwaves of pleasure coursing through her.
Mila’s breath came in short, ragged gasps, her body tightening around him as she felt her orgasm crash over her.
She cried out his name, her nails leaving marks on his skin as she clung to him, riding the waves of ecstasy.
Cade growled her name as he buried himself deep within her, his release surging through him as her body convulsed around him. He held her tightly, their bodies pressed together as the aftershocks of their shared pleasure rippled through them.
The water cascaded around them, washing away the remnants of their passion as they clung to each other, their breathing slowly returning to normal. Cade pressed a soft kiss to her lips, his gaze tender as he looked into her eyes.
“You’re extraordinary,” he murmured, his voice filled with awe. “Everything I never knew I needed.”
Mila’s heart swelled at his words, a warmth spreading through her body. She cupped his face, her thumbs brushing over his cheeks. “Cade, you’re my everything,” she whispered. “And you’re exactly what I need.”
Their lips met again in a gentle kiss, a promise of forever sealed in the heat of the moment. As the water continued to fall around them, Mila felt a sense of clarity she had never known before. They were stronger together than they could ever be apart.
Cade stepped out of the shower first, water sluicing down his muscled back, and grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist. He turned, his green eyes locking onto Mila as she stood under the spray, her golden hair plastered to her shoulders. He extended his hand, his voice low and commanding.
“Come here,” he said softly.
Mila stepped out of the shower and into his arms. He looped a towel around her, his hands lingering on her shoulders as he leaned in to press a kiss to her temple.
“Let me take care of your wounds now,” she said, her voice soft but firm.
“Only if you promise to let me take care of you some more afterward,” he replied, a playful glint in his eyes.
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re insatiable.”
“I’ve spent my entire life being insatiable for duty,” he murmured, his lips brushing her ear. “Now I’m only insatiable for you.”
Mila shook her head, laughing lightly as she gently pushed him toward the bench in the bathroom. “Sit. Let me patch you up first, you stubborn wolf.”
He grumbled but obeyed, his large frame settling onto the bench as she retrieved the first aid kit from the cabinet. She knelt in front of him, her movements methodical as she cleaned the shallow gashes on his shoulder and ribs. Cade watched her intently, his gaze burning into her as she worked.
“You’re lucky these aren’t deeper,” she said, her tone laced with concern.
“I’m lucky I have you to patch me up,” he countered, his voice softening.
She looked up at him, her blue eyes meeting his. “Today was horrible, Cade.”
His expression turned serious, his hand cupping her cheek. “I know. But I’m here now and I’ll be as good as new tomorrow.”
She leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth of his palm before returning to her task. When she was finished, she leaned back, surveying her work. “There. All better.”
“Good,” he said, standing abruptly and pulling her to her feet. “Now it’s my turn.”
Before she could protest, he scooped her up and carried her into the living area, his towel dropping somewhere along the way. He set her down on the luxurious fur rug in front of the fireplace, his hands roaming over her body as he kissed her deeply.
“Cade,” she gasped, her fingers tangling in his wet hair.
“Tell me what you want,” he breathed against her lips.
“You,” she breathed, her body arching into his.
He didn’t need to be told twice. Their second time was slower, more deliberate, as if Cade was savoring every inch of her.
His hands worshiped her body, his lips tracing a path down her neck, her collarbone, and her breasts.
When he finally entered her again, it was with a reverence that left her breathless.
“You’re all mine,” he whispered as he moved within her.
“Always,” she replied, her hands gripping his back as her pleasure built.
Their orgasms came quickly and more intensely than in the shower, and she marveled at how this man made her so sexually satisfied. This was everything she could have ever hoped for.
When they finally lay spent on the rug, Mila’s head resting on his chest, Cade’s fingers idly played with her hair. “How are you this perfect?” he asked, his voice filled with awe.
She smiled, tracing the muscle of his arm with her fingertips. “You bring it out in me, I guess.”
He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “Well, I think I’m just getting started.”
Mila glanced up at him. “Oh, I think you’ve already started quite a bit, don’t you?”
He grinned, flipping her onto her back and pinning her beneath him. “Well, then let’s keep going.”
Their third time was on the bed, and by then, Mila was thoroughly exhausted but exhilarated. Cade’s stamina was unmatched, and she quickly realized that his appetite for her was as relentless as his wolf instincts.
“Are you trying to wear me out?” she teased as he hovered above her, his body warm and solid against hers.
“Maybe,” he replied, his lips brushing hers. “Or maybe I’m just making sure you know exactly how much you mean to me.”
Mila wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. “Oh, I think I’m getting the message loud and clear.”
By the time they finally fell asleep, tangled in each other’s arms, Mila couldn’t help but have pleasant dreams. Their future together was going to be anything but ordinary—filled with passion, adventure, and a love that burned brighter than the twin moons of Nova Aurora.