fate, Illene had been shut down. And because love had prevailed, she would now marry the man who she loved.
“Who gives this woman?” Brant said, looking up from the notes he was reading from.
“I do.” Her dad kissed her on the cheek and then let her go to join her mate.
The moment she fell in place beside Thane, she knew she’d always stand by him. No matter what. In that instant, a flashback came to her from the very first moment she had touched him. It was the moment when the ring leader of Area S2 had thrown her into Thane’s arms. The same feeling of warmth and security flowed through her.
The exchanging of vows went by quicker than Kalena had thought. She was grateful to have had the chance to live out one of her dreams and have the beautiful fairytale wedding she’d always wanted. It was perfect.
“Merry Christmas, love,” Thane said as they walked off the veranda and through the smiling crowd. An audience of their peers. Wolves, vampires, altered humans, and some of Kalena’s close family and friends. They’d all just witnessed them professing their love and commitment to each other. Their mating had been fully recognized by all. And soon, she’d be bound to the man she couldn’t live without.
----
“ L ooks like we’re snowed in for the rest of this week,” Thane said, placing his palm on her shoulder and then pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“That’s okay. We have everything we need. My mom and dad and the other out-of-town guests don’t seem to mind. My mom still can’t believe the home has two kitchens. They’ve been exploring all day, and she’s insisted on keeping the triplets while we do a little exploring ourselves.”
“Hmmm. Think we can move your mom and dad here?” Thane chuckled.
“Closer in this state, maybe? In the same home, no. I moved out for a reason. Let’s just put it that way.” She smiled.
“I get that. But they are family now. We’re a family, and we’ll build our future together here.”
“Good, because I love it here,” she said.
“We’ll need the space once the kids grow up.”
“We will, won’t we?” Time had flown past them, and would continue to do so. But Thane would never grow old and she would be forever altered. Unless…
Thane caught her reflection in the mirror. “Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“Giving me a family. And giving me life.”
“We did this together.” She turned around and he took her hand to help her rise from the stool. “But I’m so nervous.”
“About what?”
“Everything really. Being a new mom and your new wife. And now that it actually will happen, bonding with you.”
“I’m here every step of the way. I’ve never been married or mated, so I’m nervous, too. But I know that I love you and you look extremely sexy tonight.”
Thane took her face in his hands and kissed her. He covered her lips eagerly, and she nearly melted from his touch. She wanted to be skin to skin with him, so she pulled his shirt from his pants and pressed her palms against his rock-solid abs. He held her against him, his hands caressing the back of her neck as his lips roamed hot and hungry over hers.
He parted from her for a few seconds to help her unbutton his shirt and throw it aside. He undid his belt and let the pants fall to the floor. Once he was naked, they worked on ridding her of her white, see-through teddy. He was meticulous and gentle, pulling the light garment up over her head. He left her panties on, probably on purpose. He took her lips again and walked them back to the bed.
Kalena sat down on the edge and slid her panties down her legs. Then she laid back and spread her knees for him. She loved watching his cock harden like a rock before her eyes. This time, his cock pulsed as his eyes swept along her legs and he paused to admire her sex.
Thane crawled on the bed, moving between her thighs. His palms stroked up her legs and his lips left a heated trail on her skin. He slid his fingers