Her hand slides over mine, eyes blazing despite her exhaustion. “Always.”
The knot of doubt that sat in my chest since last year — fear she didn’t want me — unravels. I climb into bed and press my forehead to hers, breathing her in, memorizing the steady rhythm of her heart.
For the first time in a year, I can sleep. Because she is beside me. Because the gods themselves saw herchooseme.
By sunrise, the valley is alive with movement from the Aurora pack. Wolves and humans alike crowd into the wide valley. Some still wear the marks of bites, some glimmer with the afterglow of mating, but all line up with their new bonds. As I glance around at the faces, none of the widows returned. Either Ember killed them, or they ran mating into another pack to escape us. I also don’t find Ash, Lucia’s brother, among them.
I stand at the front, Ember at my side. The scarlet bite at her throat is proof enough, but I place my hand over it anyway, daring anyone to look away. She’s not just mine, she’s theirs as well.
“Aurora pack,” I thunder, voice carrying into the morning. “The gods have chosen. Your mates stand beside you. Your bonds are forged in blood, in trial, and in fire.” My gaze sweeps over them, then settles on Ember. “This is Ember. My mate. Your Alpha’s mate. The one the gods chose for me — for us.”
Her chin lifts, fierce and unyielding. There’s still bloodunder her nails where she tore into the widows, and I know my pack sees it too. They see what I already know: that she’s not just a pretty face to stand beside me, but a wolf to fear and stand at my side.
A cheer rises, first scattered, then swelling into a roar that shakes the stones. Wolves pound fists to chests and stamping feet against the grass.
I grip her hand, lifting it high. “Today we leave this valley behind. We return to the Aurora caves carved from ice and stone, where the mountains rise above the clouds and the wind will test your bones. That is our home.” I glance at Ember, pride swelling in my chest. “And now it’s yours too.”
Her eyes glimmer, fierce and terrified all at once, but she nods, unflinching. Then she turns toward Roman, whose green eyes are prideful as he looks over at his sister. He meets my eyes, and I nod to him as well. We had discussed his interest in the Aurora pack on the night of the feast. I’d offered him a place in my pack anytime. Today, Roman nods back, shuffling the satchel of books the priests allowed him to take onto his shoulder. I’ve never known the priests to allow anything to leave the Ancient Castle. Roman must have made a good impression on them.
The pack parts as we step forward, mated pairs falling into line behind us. I howl into the morning to signal departure; I can feel the shift in the air. This year’s trials are done. The gods have spoken.
With Ember at my side, the Aurora pack will be forever changed.
Chapter 50
EMBER
The trek to the Aurora Cave is a trial all of its own.
The farther north we press into Alaska, the less prey there is to catch. The colder it gets, the thinner the air and the harder it is to run. Alone, it might have broken me. But together, it’s miserable in an entirely different way, because there’s no privacy for mating, only stolen quick kisses.
Snow has fallen nonstop since we crossed into the borderlands, swallowing the world in white. At last, cresting a frozen forest, I see it: a mountain that juts out like a fang above the cliffside, one peak angled out over the ocean. Thorn flashes me a one-sided grin, sharp enough to show teeth.We’re here.
I should feel relief, but my body is too numb, too cold. At this rate, I don’t think I’ll ever be warm again. Still, his white wolf runs steady beside me, guiding us across the plain until the dark mouth of the cave looms ahead. The ocean spreads endlessly below, blue and restless. Waves crashing against the hard ice. I’ve never seen so much water.
“Wow,” I breathe.
Thorn presses against me from behind, his warmthsoaking into my frozen skin. “You should see it at sunset,” he murmurs, kissing my throat.
A moment later, Roman bounds up, and Thorn ruffles his hair in that effortless, brotherly way that makes my heart ache. Watching them together, my soul unclenches. A sense of comfort fills me that I haven’t felt in a long time.
Then Thorn cups my face, brows pinched. “Ember, you’re ice cold. Are you okay?”
The exhaustion I’ve been holding at bay sweeps over me like a wave. My knees weaken, my vision hazy.
“She’s paler than usual,” Roman says worriedly.
“Let’s go.” Thorn’s arms band tight around me, hauling me into the cave.
Inside, the corridor opens into a vast ice cavern lit by fire. Dozens of wolves turn to look, some surprised, some curious, some openly staring at me in Thorn’s arms. He doesn’t care. He carries me deeper, protective, Roman trailing behind.
Tala and her mate, Bane, step forward. Tala smiles. “Thorn…did someone get a mate?”
“Yes,” Thorn says simply, pulling me tighter against his chest. “You remember, Ember. And this—” his eyes cut to Roman, “is her brother. He’s family now. Make him welcome. The journey was rougher than we expected, I’m going to get Ember into the Springs.”
“Wait, Roman’s–” I mumble.
“He’ll be perfectly fine. Tala will take good care of him and show him to his cave.”