Mina POV - As an original three Luna, Mina was used to finery; her pillows were always plumped, her mattress soft, the warmth of home surrounded her each morning. However, she had never woken up so comfortable in her entire life. The bed beneath her was warm and cradled her like it was personally built for her body. It moved with her breath and purred as she nuzzled further into its comfort. It was heavenly, and she enjoyed every second as she was lulled from her deep sleep. Her stirrings awakened something around her, blooming a fresh scent that coaxed at her consciousness. It drew her from the dark, so light and clear. Her eyes fluttered open as she inhaled the breath of fresh air. Her nose chased it, pushing into her pillow. It tickled against her cheek, soft, teasing, drawing a smile. Light brown fur swayed in her vision, dancing in a breeze she was too warm to feel. Mina spread her hand wide in the fur, humming as it played through her fingertips. A rumble answered her, deep a
Mina POV - Despite promising to answer her questions after breakfast, Alastor inhaled his food and set about working on their camp before she had even finished her first bite. When she stood, ready to talk, he fired instructions at her, one after another. The rest of the day followed suit. When she had done whatever job he had asked, another one was already lined up, stealing her attention off the impending conversation. It was frustrating, but as their campsite began to take form, she decided they could talk after they were done working. It didn’t look like much when they had finished, but it was the first shelter she had ever built. Mina smiled, wiping the sheen of her efforts from her brow. They had found enough fallen trees and branches to create a shed of sorts, with three walls and one open side, overlooking the lake. They had cleared the ground inside but hadn’t bothered to find anything to form beds. The dirt was soft enough for them and, if it got cold, they could simply s
Mina POV - There was peace in the night. As much as Mina loved the warmth of the sun, and the bright colours it spread through the nation, the night brought its own calm. She was certain most wolves felt a deep connection to the moon, finding comfort in its light as if it held the Moon Goddess' love, but it was slightly different for her. Back home, the night had meant a time to rest. A time when she was alone. A time when she was nobody and nothing more than Williamina. The responsibilities of her future title slipped away and she basked in having nothing to do, no orders to follow. Spending the day building the shelter had brought her that same peace, but with Alastor at her side, she hadn’t been able to fully calm. He was asleep now. His steady swells of breath broke the crisp air. She felt them as much as she heard them, pushing her body to rise and fall in a rhythm that tried to lull her to sleep. Mina resisted. She had told him she would be the one to stay awake, to keep watc
Mina POV - The night didn’t seem as peaceful anymore. Each sound jerked through Mina in a violent pull that snatched her attention and held it for a heart stopping moment. She tried to soothe herself, knowing the nightlife returning was another sign that the enemy had gone, but she was on high alert. Her heart stuttered at each snapped twig, adrenaline slicing hot through her veins at each rustled leaf. Each one made her breath freeze sharp in her chest. She waited. She listened. When she was certain there was nothing lurking in the darkness, she continued. Mina had never appreciated how heavy a body could be before. She hadn’t lugged another wolf around since she was a young pup. Playing was unbecoming of a Luna after all. Or so her mother had often scolded her, when her and Sam escaped the packhouse to play with the other pups. Alastor was a big man, taller than her, bulkier, heavier, weighed down with muscles that were easier to appreciate than carry. It wasn’t simple to move h
Mina POV - “I don’t understand.” Mina couldn’t keep the edge of panic from her voice as she looked over Alastor’s wounds in the morning light. “Why aren’t you healing?” She glossed her fingers over the claw marks on his back, the bite on his leg and the stab wound in his shoulder. Though they had stopped bleeding, they were still open wounds, the skin purple and swollen around them. They should’ve been well on their way to healing after she cleaned and wrapped them last night. Her unease had grown as she watched him sleep, gently checking on the healing process as he rested, but now it struck sharp in her chest as she tried to figure out what was wrong. Alastor tensed under her touch, a muscle flickering at his jaw, his lips in a firm line. “Now you’ve established they aren’t healed; can you stop poking them?” “Sorry.” Mina forced her hands to her side, fisting the t-shirt she had claimed from Alastor. It eased the urge to touch him, to explore his wounds again, however, her ey
Alastor POV - Something had changed. Alastor couldn’t quite put his finger on what, but he felt its effects deep in the marrow of his bones. The change had stirred the moment Mina permitted him that sweet kiss in the lake, the one he could still feel tingling on his lips. Her confession had burned through him, melting his hesitation, and he saw the same in her. Now they both admitted to accepting their mate bond, the tension and the uncertainty between them had eased. The change surrounded them through the day, fuelling soft touches and chaste looks. It was different, but nice.The new feeling allowed him to tease her into helping clean his wounds, just as it gave her the confidence to linger her touch a little too long to be innocent. Though, he also kept his hands at her waist the entire time, to keep her steady in the water, of course. Or at least that was the excuse he gave to hide his glee at seeing her cheeks heat each time his thumb danced a circle over her skin. He had never
Alastor POV - Though they had both agreed to sleep that night, in preparation for their travelling in the morning, Alastor only kept his eyes closed until Mina's breaths softened. He didn’t have to wait long. She was tired from keeping watch the previous night, keeping guard as he slept and recovered. He intended to do the same. It unnerved him that there were already wolves sniffing around her, and he didn’t want to leave them open to being attacked again. With the group’s leader shouting for a retreat when Mina got involved, calling her their Luna, it was clear she was their target. It wasn’t a surprise; she was a Legacy Luna, but it had only been a few days since they left Clear Blue. How had word spread quick enough for enemy wolves to have tracked them down already? Alastor had hoped they’d have at least a week to fortify their position before the first attempt to take her. He had been wrong. His arms tightened around Mina, drawing her tighter to his side. No one was going to
Alastor POV - Alastor lost himself to the taste of her, his tongue flicking across the seam of her lips, accepting the invitation when they parted for him. He deepened their kiss, exploring every part of her mouth, rumbling an approval when she did the same. Mina moved with him; their kiss perfect, uncontrolled, wild. Her fingers twisted in his hair, as if she couldn’t get close enough, pulling his head this way and that, satisfying whatever urge rose within her. He splayed a hand over her back, keeping her locked to his body, while the other dipped beneath the hem of his t-shirt, that looked far better on her. His fingers played across the warm skin of her waist, the feel of it addictive under his palm. He loved the sweet hitch of her breath at his simple touch, but he restrained his need to hear more. This wasn’t the time or the place to share their first time together. “Lean forward and tilt your hips up.” When she didn’t do it, he nipped her lip. “Now, Princess.” Mina complied