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Epilogue

A liyah

I know I should force myself out of these soft, warm furs and make tea for my handsome mate, but I’m still tired even though I slept all night.

So much has happened in the last four full moons, I grow fatigued just thinking about it. The Fool’s Errand left after giving generous amounts of food to the tribe. It was all distributed evenly—except the cake which Maddie delivered to us personally and forbade us to share.

Sirius must have thought she meant not to even share with your mate, because he ate almost every bite. But he let me lick the frosting off his lips, which led to other things, so the cake pleased me almost as much as it pleased him—maybe more.

Sirius taught everyone in the tribe how to create a spear-throwing device that allows us to heave our weapons twice as far. The falling-leaves hunts resulted in a greater bounty than in the past. We were ensured no one will go hungry this winter.

He also convinced Poppa to build a system to carry water from the stream to the village. We’ll start construction after the snows melt.

My male is so smart and knows so much, but he never acts bossy, it’s one of the many things I love about him.

And he doesn’t act broken either. In fact, I haven’t heard that word since we moved into this wonderful house. I’m glad Poppa built it big and roomy because we’ll need space for the younglings.

Well, I say younglings, but at the moment there’s only one on the way. Although Sirius uses his handspan to measure my belly and wonders if there might be two.

What a miracle that would be! From believing he could never procreate to wondering if I might be pregnant with twins, what a wonderful turn of events.

Sirius shoulders through the door with an armful of firewood. He and the wood are covered with a thick dusting of snow.

“Don’t you dare,” he says when I start rising to help him. “You have one major job—to make the babe. I have one job—to make you happy. Well, two—and healthy. Well, three—and keep you safe. Well, four—to make you scream with pleasure in the furs.”

“I’m waiting patiently for number four, Sirius. I haven’t been filled by you since last night,” I pout.

“I heard females aren’t interested when they carry young.”

“It depends on who was talking. Go ahead, ask me. I’ll tell you the truth. This female wants you in her furs day and night.”

After stoking the fire with old, dry wood, he stacks the new, wet wood, serves me tea, shucks his fur covering, and joins me on our bedding platform.

I’m ready to feel his hands on me, but he dawdles. Lying with his head on his hand, elbow bent, he simply devours me with his gaze. I love this look. It makes me feel like the most beautiful female on the entire planet.

“What color eyes do you think the babe will have?” he asks. “Brown, blue, or… both?”

My stomach lurches as I wonder if he’s feeling broken again. Does he dislike himself so much he’ll reject the babe if it’s born with different-colored eyes?

“What do you want?” I keep my tone neutral.

“I’ll be happy with anything as long as the babe is healthy.”

“I spent enough time with the Earth girls to know they’d call that a cop-out.”

“Well,” he spears me with a serious look, “if it’s a female I’d love for her to have blue eyes, the color of the sky, just like her momma. And if it’s a boy…”

He considers for a long time. So long my heart squeezes in my chest.

“If it’s a boy, wouldn’t it be wonderful for him to have one eye of blue to signify his Momma, and one eye of brown to remind him of me?”

I can’t blink fast enough to keep back the hot tears gathering behind my eyes. This puts the last of my worries to rest. I truly believe Sirius has gone the full distance from self-loathing to self-acceptance. It’s proof. He wouldn’t want his son to carry his markings unless he liked them himself.

“And wouldn’t it be wonderful if our younglings could run as fast as you and be as strong? If their ears could be as soft as yours?” I reach up and rub one ear, the one with the notch.

He releases his breath in a long huff, his eyes closed in pleasure. This male loves to be touched. I guess it comes from so many lonely years as a slave in a cell.

“I promise I’ll make you scream in pleasure,” he says as he turns to lie on his stomach. “After just a few more minimas of petting.”

I run my fingers through his hair, then scratch his scalp, which he enjoys so much sometimes he makes soft little noises of appreciation. Then I slide my fingers through the black-and- brown brindle pelt on his back. When I do that, the noise he makes isn’t even subtle.

After a few moments of this, I can tell the relaxation is changing into something different altogether. His breathing is coming in fast open-mouthed pants.

He flips onto his back and pulls me to straddle his hips. Sitting up, he grabs the back of my head and kisses me with a claiming kiss that’s hard and brooks no debate. He delves into my mouth, seeking out my warm, wet depths.

His other hand reaches around my waist and pulls my core so close it’s riding his rigid cock. “I’m hard for you, Aliyah. Only you. I love everything about you,” he barely lifts his mouth from mine to deliver his message. “You’re my world.”

His hands roam my back as if he can’t touch me everywhere fast enough. He caresses my ass, then slides his hands around my front until he’s plucking my nipples and wringing pleasure from every touch.

I’m on my knees, grinding his cock. My response to him is so wet I’m drenched. I slide onto him, wanting the male I love inside me, moving in me.

Flipping me on my back, he pounds into me, biting the cords of my neck, holding the globes of my ass to get better access. Growling his deep, animal sound of appreciation, he lifts my hips and hits just the right angle, touching the spot inside me that hurtles me over the edge.

“One’s never enough,” his voice is commanding. His hips keep pistoning, his teeth keep nipping, and I come apart again. My inner walls spasm around him and he allows his own release.

Maybe it’s the new wood on the fire, but we’re both covered in a sheen of sweat from our lovemaking.

I truly love this male and I thank the Gods we both traveled from lonely untouchables to a fulfilled couple. We have everything we need: family, friends, a house, enough food and a miracle of a babe on the way. We have each other, which is more than we ever expected—and just what we deserve.