Chapter 182
Elena's POV
We finally arrived at the cabin. It sat in a picturesque clearing—open forest, a lake nearby. This was our private paradise for the night, no one else for miles around. Just ours, just for tonight.
"It's perfect," I breathed deeply, taking in the peaceful scenery. "I forgot how beautiful it is here... the air is so crisp."
Caleb stepped behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me back against his chest. "We can come here anytime," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "It's perfect for getting away from everyone, giving ourselves some space and time."
My heart hammered as his strong arms encircled me, his scent completely surrounding me. I'd been waiting so long for tonight, and now it was finally here. I was finally going to become a marked she-wolf.
"What are you smiling about, sweetheart?" he asked.
"I'm happy," I said simply. "I'm excited."
"Nervous?" he teased, his lips brushing my earlobe.
"A little," I admitted.
"Me too," he confessed, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
I turned in his arms to face him. "Really?"
"I've been waiting for this night for a long time," he said, his eyes intense and eager as they met mine. "I want it to be perfect for you."
I couldn't stop smiling, my cheeks aching from it. In this moment, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
He took my hand and led me inside. The first thing I did was check the fridge, which made him laugh.
What? I needed to eat.
It was packed full. "Did you do this?" I asked.
"Wanted to make sure we wouldn't starve." He grinned.
"Enough to feed an army." I closed the fridge door. "Let me get the bags." I started to move past him, but he caught my hand and pulled me close.
"Your heart is racing."
"No it's not." I pressed against him, feeling the solid warmth of his body through the thin fabric of my shirt. His eyes darkened as he looked down at me, and I felt that familiar pull low in my belly.
My heart pounded so hard I swore Caleb could hear it across the room.
Maybe now was the time.
I'd always thought the marking ceremony had to happen at midnight, when the moon reached its highest point. But here we were, in broad daylight. Would it happen now?
"Deep breath, sweetheart," he cupped my face gently. "Remember, it's just the two of us. This is the moment we've been waiting for."
I bit my lower lip, pulling back slightly from him. "I'm nervous," I admitted, unable to meet his eyes. God, I was such a mess.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No," I definitely didn't want to sit down and discuss how nervous I was about having sex with him. How embarrassing would that be? Just thinking about it made my cheeks burn.
His mouth curved into a tender smile. "There are still a few hours before dark. Want to walk through the forest? The woods are especially beautiful this time of year."
I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. I shouldn't be this nervous around him anymore. We hadn't had sex yet, but we'd done other things. Almost.
I forced myself to meet his gaze, suddenly determined to overcome my anxiety. "I want to see you naked," I blurted out.
"Sweetheart?"
I couldn't help but laugh despite myself. "I'm trying to ease the tension."
He raised an eyebrow, amusement playing at the corner of his mouth. "To be honest, I'm a bit nervous too." He leaned close to my ear. "Does this mean I get to see you naked as well?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe."
He stroked my cheek with his thumb. "You don't need to be nervous, sweetheart." He took my hand. "Come on, let's take a walk."
The forest trail was well-maintained, tall pines swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. He held my hand as we walked, our fingers comfortably intertwined. I couldn't help but marvel at the vastness of everything around us.
"Does all this land belong to your family?" I asked curiously, looking at the seemingly endless forest surrounding us.
He nodded. "This territory has belonged to the Vance family for generations. Generation after generation worked hard to provide the best life for their descendants. I never take any of this for granted. I'm not ungrateful."
He stopped walking, his expression growing serious as he looked directly into my eyes. "I'll spend the rest of my life making sure you're happy."
I studied his face carefully, still anxious about something that had been bothering me. "I've hurt you before... do you really not mind?"
"No," he said firmly. "I've never blamed you."
His grip on my hand tightened, and I smiled. The past was the past. We'd had our differences, our ups and downs, but now we were finally on the right track.
"We met at exactly the right moment fate intended. The Moon Goddess truly gave me the perfect mate."
I nestled against him. "She really did."
We walked through the forest for what seemed like hours. My feet ached, my stomach growled, and my throat felt dry, but I treasured this rare alone time with him. He was always so busy with affairs.
I stopped suddenly, my voice firm. "I have conditions."
"Conditions?" He raised an eyebrow, interest sparking in his eyes. "About what?"
"About after we become mates," I said. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I'm listening, sweetheart."
I took a deep breath. "More date nights. No more secrets. We never go to bed angry."
A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "Does this mean no more makeup sex?"
Heat flooded my cheeks. "That's not what I meant! I mean we don't go to sleep angry."
He laughed. "Nice save."
"Are you hungry?"
"I'm always hungry," I admitted honestly.
He gently draped his arm around my shoulders. "Let's head back and make dinner. I'll build a fire behind the cabin."