Page 59

"Thank you," she said again, unable to express the depth of her gratitude.

After the pack dispersed, Orion turned to her. His gray eyes gleamed in the fading sun, making them shine like polished silver. "Would you like to take a walk on the beach? After everything that's happened, I think we both could use some peace."

"I'd like that," she replied, suddenly aware of how tense her muscles still felt.

He led her down a winding path to the shore where pristine white sand met the gentle wash of turquoise waves. The setting sun painted the sky in bold strokes of orange and pink, reflecting off the water like scattered diamonds.

"It looks like a painting," Seraphina murmured, slipping off her sandals to feel the cool sand between her toes.

"One of the reasons I chose this place," Orion said, watching her. "I've never tired of this view."

They walked in companionable silence for a while, the rhythmic sound of the waves soothing Seraphina's frayed nerves. When they reached a secluded curve of the beach, Orion stopped and stepped behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her waist.

Seraphina leaned back against him, savoring the solid warmth of his chest. His chin rested atop her head as they watched the sun sink lower toward the horizon, painting the sky in ever-deepening shades of crimson and gold.

"I thought I might've lost you today," he whispered, his breath stirring her hair.

She placed her hands over his where they rested on her stomach. "For a moment there, I thought my vision would come true—that he would kill you."

"It would take more than a power-hungry wolf to separate me from my Luna." His arms tightened possessively around her, and she felt the rumble of his next words against her back. "You're mine to protect. Mine to cherish. Mine to love."

Seraphina turned in his embrace, tilting her face up to his. The intensity in his gaze took her breath away. The man before her—this powerful alpha king—had crossed islands and battled enemies for her. And here, with the dying sun gilding his features, she knew with absolute certainty that she belonged with him.

"And you're mine to honor, to support, and to love," she whispered back.

Seraphina's heart raced as Orion's lips claimed hers. The kiss was a soft brush of reassurance before deepening into something more. His hands cradled her face as if she were something infinitely precious. She melted into him, her fingers tangling in the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer until their bodies pressed together beneath the glow of the setting sun.

When they finally parted, both breathing raggedly, Orion's eyes gleamed with a possessiveness that sent a thrill through her. "You're all mine now," he growled softly, the alpha in him unmistakable. "And I'll spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt it."

Before she could say anything, he scooped her up effortlessly. Seraphina laughed, a breathless, surprised sound, as her arms instinctively looped around his neck. "Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere I can show you exactly what you mean to me," Orion said, his voice a deep rumble that vibrated through her. He carried her down the beach, his strides long and sure, until they reached a private tented cabana nestled on the shoreline. The white curtains billowed in the ocean breeze, and the interior was lit by the soft, emerging moonlight.

Orion laid her on the plush bed, the sheets cool against her skin. He loomed over her, his eyes dark with desire as he stripped her sundress away with deliberate slowness, his fingers trailing over her body as if memorizing every curve.

"You're magnificent," he murmured, his voice husky. "Every inch of you."

She shivered under his gaze, her skin tingling where his fingers lingered. When she was bare before him, his lips brushed against her collarbone, then lower, tracing a path of fire across her skin. His beard scraped lightly against her, the sensation sending jolts of pleasure through her.

"Orion," she gasped, her hands fisting in the sheets as his mouth found her breast, his tongue circling her nipple before drawing it into his mouth. She arched into him, her body alive in ways she'd never imagined.

He shifted lower, his hands sliding down her thighs as he settled his face between her legs. His breath was warm against her most sensitive flesh, and she trembled in anticipation.

"Relax," he whispered, his voice a command she couldn’t ignore. "Let me take care of you."

His tongue flicked against her, a slow, teasing stroke that made her gasp. He took his time, exploring her with an intensity that left her breathless, his movements deliberate and unhurried. Her hips pressed into him, her fingers threading through his dark hair as she lost herself completely in the sensations he was drawing from her.

"You taste like heaven," he murmured, the rumble of his voice sending vibrations through her. His lips closed around her, sucking gently, and she cried out, her body tightening as pleasure coiled deep within her.

"Orion, I—" Her words broke off into a moan as he increased the pace, his tongue circling her clit with unrelenting precision. She was spiraling, her body trembling on the edge of release. "I can't—oh, please?—"

"Come for me, Luna," he growled, his voice a command that sent her crashing over the edge.

Her body convulsed, waves of pleasure washing over her as she cried out his name. He didn't stop, drawing out her orgasm until she was quivering beneath him, her mind blank except for the knowledge that this man—this alpha—had known exactly how to satisfy her.

When he finally pulled away, she was boneless, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath. Orion crawled up her body, his eyes burning with satisfaction.

"That's just the first round," Orion growled softly. "I'm going to spend the rest of the night showing you exactly what it means to be mine."