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1092 Words
I’d gotten some sharp looks from some of the older pack members, and when I’d asked Jordan about it, he’d said that some of them still followed his father's ways. But they were in the minority, and most of the pack was eager to put that in the past. They wanted to grow and change as a pack, and this was where Jordan and I could really make a difference.
I didn’t realize I was staring out of the windshield—or that we were already halfway home—until Jordan put his hand on my knee.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked. “You look like you’re pretty deep in thought.”
"Oh, um." I didn’t want to tell him that I was still unsure of becoming his alpha female. "I was just wondering why Roxandra hasn't done anything yet."
“I’ve been thinking about that too." Jordan squeezed my knee. “I think she's staying away because she's scared of you.”
"She should be scared," I muttered, imagining all the things I wanted to do to Roxandra if I ever got her alone.
Jordan grinned. "I love how fierce you are."
Oh, there it was again. The L word. He hadn't said it since that night with Kaden and Ayla and I'd chosen to pretend it had never happened...but now it was back. Did he really love me? How could he be so sure?
"Where are we going?" I asked, as I realized we were heading out toward the desert instead of to his house.
"I'm taking you to one of my favorite places. It's a new moon tonight, and the view of the stars is going to be incredible."
I raised my eyebrows, wondering where exactly we were heading but willing to go along with it. "Did you bring food?"
He chuffed. "Do you even need to ask? Of course I did. I brought wine too."
"Sounds romantic."
He glanced over at me. "I hope so."
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as we drove, while the sun moved lower and lower in the sky. We didn't speak again for the rest of the drive, which took about twenty minutes.
When Jordan finally parked, he pulled two backpacks out of the trunk. "Take off your clothes and put them in the black one. We're going on foot from here."
I nodded, eager to see where he was taking me. We both removed our clothes and put them away, then shifted at the same time. My black wolf brushed up against the side of his red wolf, telling him I was ready. We each picked up a backpack in our mouths, and then we took off.
Jordan had parked us next to a very large red rock formation, and he led me up a steep path toward the top. On foot it would have been a challenge, but as a wolf we were able to climb it easily and quickly. We reached the top just as the sun met the horizon and painted the never ending sky in a rainbow of colors that took my breath away. The rock formation jutted out at the top, forming a smooth ledge that reached up toward the sky, and that's where Jordan took me. From this spot, we could see the entire valley below, and I marveled at everything I saw there. Not some dry, desolate desert, but a land filled with life, color, and beauty. I'd come here thinking there would be nothing to love, and instead I'd discovered a place I continuously wanted to explore.
Jordan raised his head and let out a long, crooning howl, and I lifted my nose and joined him a second later. It was an ode to the beauty of the land and the sky, a goodbye to day and a hello to night, and a celebration of being alive, together, in this moment.
When our song ended, we both shifted back and stood together holding hands, letting the cool breeze dance across our skin while the sky darkened around us and the stars began to slowly appear.
"Thank you for bringing me here," I said. "It's so beautiful."
Jordan nodded. "This is where I used to come when I needed to escape my father. When I was angry at everyone and everything, when it was all too much and I didn't know how I could take another second of it, coming here always calmed me down."
I squeezed his hand. "I can see why."
Jordan turned to face me. "I've never brought anyone else here before. Only you."
My breath caught in my throat. "I'm honored."
He took both of my hands in his before speaking again. "Stella, there's so much I want to say that I don't even know where to start. I'm sorry for forcing the mate bond. I'm sorry for everything the Leo pack has done to you. I'm sorry for—"
"Stop. You don't need to apologize anymore." I stepped closer and kissed him. "I forgive you for everything, and I'm sorry for rejecting you and for everything I did too. The past is done. Let's focus on moving forward."
"I'd like that, as long as we're doing it together." His fingers tightened around mine. "Stella, I want you to stay."
"I am staying."
“Not just until the end of this thing with the Sun Witches, but always." He swallowed hard. "I know you don't feel like you belong here, but I can't imagine my life without you in it anymore. You make me a better man, and a better alpha. My pack needs you. I need you. And more than that... I love you. Not because of the mate bond, but because you're clever and kind, strong and loyal, brave and funny. You're never afraid to keep me in line. You go out of your way to help others. You charge into danger to protect people you don't even know. You're generous with your time and your love. You're an Ophiuchus at heart, but a Leo in your soul. You belong here, with us. With me. As my mate and my alpha female."
My heart felt like it had expanded to fill this entire, endless sky. "Jordan—"
"You don't need to say anything." He let go of my hands. "I'm not going to pressure you or force you to make a decision tonight. I just wanted you to know how I feel so—"
"Jordan!"
He blinked. "Yeah?"
"Shut up."
- Writer
