Page 115 of Claiming Rys

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Rys

After a day spent sorting out minor pack squabbles and moving the rest of Gabriel’s things into my room, I was ready to escape for a bit.

“Ready?” I asked as Gabriel walked into the kitchen, dressed in jeans, a hoodie, and boots.

“Yes, where are we going?”

I smiled. “To my favourite spot.”

Taking his hand, I led him outside, through the grounds of our territory, until we reached the edge of the lake. The sun was low in the sky, sunset almost upon us, and I wanted to share this with him. What I hoped would be our first of many together.

“Let’s sit.” I tugged him down to sit between my legs and wrapped him up in my arms.

He leant back against me with a sigh. “This is beautiful.”

“It’ll be even better in a few minutes,” I whispered. “Watch.”

We sat in comfortable silence, watching the sky turn a wonderful mix of oranges and reds, mirrored on the lake.

“Wow,” Gabriel breathed. “It’s amazing.”

It was.

So perfect.

As was this. Sitting here, with my soulmate in my arms, knowing that no matter what, he was mine.

And I was his.

Nothing would ever come between us again.

A memory had been niggling at me for the last couple of days, one from the day that Tombs took me.

“I remember,” I said, stroking my thumbs over the backs of his hands, “what you said to me at your cottage when I was my wolf.”

“You do?” He swallowed thickly, leaning back and resting his head on my shoulder.

“Yes.” I licked the side of his throat, reaching up to stroke over the faint scar of my bite. “Did you mean it?”

He turned in my arms and cupped my jaw. “Yes.” He smiled, eyes full of an emotion I was still too wary to name until I heard him say the words. “I love you, Rys.” He kissed me softly and the bond between us flared bright. “Now and always.”

“I love you too.” I pulled him close and settled him between my legs again to watch the last rays of the sun disappear. Kissing his neck, I whispered, “Now and always.”

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