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TWELVE

HELENA

H elena followed Sol’s lead through the final stretch of dense trees until they emerged into a hidden paradise. The sight before her stole the breath from her lungs. A small but powerful waterfall cascaded down moss-covered stone into a crystal-clear pool that seemed to glow with an otherworldly blue light. Lush ferns and wildflowers surrounded the grotto, creating a private sanctuary hidden from the world.

“This is...” Helena struggled to find adequate words.

“Mine.” Sol’s voice carried a possessive pride. “For centuries, this has been my retreat. No pack member has ever been here.” He turned to face her, his green eyes reflecting the dancing water. “Until you.”

Helena felt the weight of that admission. This wasn’t just any secret spot—this was something deeply personal to him, a sacred space he’d kept to himself through countless years.

“Why show me?” she asked, trailing her fingers through a cascade of ferns.

Sol’s expression softened. “Because you’re my Luna. My true mate. What’s mine is yours.”

He began unbuttoning his shirt, revealing inch by inch the tanned skin and defined muscles beneath. The tattoo on his upper right arm seemed to shimmer in the dappled light.

“What are you doing?” Helena asked, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed that she knew exactly what he was doing.

“Swimming.” His grin was pure mischief as he stripped down completely, his movements confident and without a hint of self-consciousness. “Join me.”

Helena hesitated. She’d never been one for skinny-dipping, but something about this moment—this magical, hidden place and this magnetic man—made her bold. With trembling fingers, she reached for the hem of her sundress and pulled it over her head.

Sol’s eyes darkened as they roamed over her curves. “Simply beautiful,” he murmured.

Before self-consciousness could creep in, Helena slipped off her remaining undergarments. The forest air kissed her skin, unexpectedly warm and inviting.

Sol extended his hand. “Together?”

Helena nodded, placing her palm in his. They approached the edge of the pool, toes curling around smooth stone.

“Cold?” she asked, eyeing the water with mild apprehension.

“The perfect temperature,” he promised, then added with a wink, “but I’ll keep you warm regardless.”

With a squeeze of her hand, they jumped. The water enveloped Helena in a surprisingly pleasant embrace—cool but not cold, refreshing after their forest trek. She surfaced with a laugh that echoed off the stone walls surrounding them.

“You were right,” she admitted, pushing wet hair from her face. “It’s perfect.”

Sol swam closer, water droplets clinging to his eyelashes. “I’ve imagined bringing someone here for centuries. No one ever felt right until you.”

He splashed her playfully, breaking the intensity of the moment. Helena gasped in mock outrage and retaliated, sending a spray of water toward his face. Their laughter mingled with the sound of the waterfall as they chased each other through the crystal pool, their bodies slicing through the water with playful grace.

Minutes later, breathless and still grinning, Sol caught her by the waist. His hands, strong and sure, pulled her against him. The feel of their naked bodies pressed together underwater sent waves of desire through Helena that rivaled the ripples they’d created in the pool.

“I’ve waited lifetimes for you,” he murmured, his lips a breath away from hers. Water droplets traced paths down his beard as his eyes, dark with wanting, held hers.

Helena wound her arms around his neck, feeling the power in his shoulders. “I’m here now.”

The kiss was different from their others—deeper and more primal. It tasted of ancient promises and wild magic. Helena felt her fire stir within respond to his touch. Small wisps of steam rose around them from where her heated skin met his under the water.

Helena’s breath hitched as Sol’s lips soon trailed down her neck, his beard brushing against her skin in a way that made her shiver despite the heat radiating between them. Her thoughts swirled, a mix of disbelief and exhilaration. This is real. He’s real. He’s... mine.

The intimacy of the moment, the wild beauty of the grotto, and the sheer magnetism of the man holding her made her head spin. She tightened her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his damp hair as her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist beneath the water. His body pressed against hers, solid and warm, and she could feel the evidence of his desire against her thigh.

“You’re perfect,” Sol murmured against her skin, his voice rough with desire. His hands slid down her back, leaving trails of heat in their wake, before gripping her hips and pulling her tighter against him. “Every inch of you, Helena.”

She gasped as his lips found her collarbone, his teeth nipping gently before he soothed the spot with his tongue. “Sol,” she breathed, her voice trembling with both desire and wonder. “I’ve never... I mean...”

“I know,” he said, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. His eyes were filled with a primal hunger that made her heart thud. “You’ve never felt this much desire and heat before. Neither have I, not like this. Not with anyone but you.”

His words seeped into her, warming her from the inside out. She brushed her hand along his jawline, feeling the stubble beneath her fingertips. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through her. “I’ve lived centuries, Helena. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of time to know what I want. And it’s you. Only you.”

Her cheeks flushed, but before she could respond, his lips captured hers in a kiss that was equal parts possession and worship. His tongue slid against hers, and she moaned, her fingers tightening in his hair. The water around them seemed to heat further, steam rising in curls as her inner fire responded to his touch.

His lips left hers, trailing down her neck and across her shoulder. Helena tipped her head back, her eyes fluttering closed as she surrendered to the sensations. His hands moved to her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples, already hardened from the cool water and his attentions. She gasped as he took one into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive peak.

“Sol,” she breathed, her hands gripping his shoulders. “That feels... so good.”

He growled against her skin, the sound sending a thrill through her. “You taste like fire,” he murmured, switching to her other breast. His free hand slid down her side, leaving a trail of heat before slipping between her legs. Helena’s breath caught as his fingers brushed against her most sensitive spot, already throbbing with need.

“You’re so excited,” he said, his voice thick with desire.

She nodded, unable to form words as his fingers began to explore her, parting her folds with a gentle touch. Her hips rocked instinctively against his hand, seeking more. Sol watched her face, his eyes dark with hunger as he slipped a finger inside her.

Helena gasped, her legs tightening around him. “Sol...”

“Does that feel good?” he asked, his voice rough but tender. He added a second finger, his thumb circling her clit with precision.

“Yes,” she moaned, her head falling back as his fingers moved inside her, curling in just the right way. The water around them seemed to pulse with her heartbeat, the steam thickening as her body responded to his touch. “Don’t stop.”

“Never,” he promised, his lips brushing against her ear. “I’ll never stop making you feel like this.”

Her fingers dug into his shoulders as pleasure built within her, coiling tighter and tighter. “Sol, I’m...”

“Let go, Helena,” he urged, his voice a hungry growl. “Come for me.”

The command in his voice and the raw need in his eyes, pushed her over the edge. Her body tightened around his fingers, and she cried out as waves of pleasure crashed over her, leaving her trembling in his arms.

Sol held her close, his fingers slowing but not stopping until every last tremor had subsided. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “You’re amazing,” he whispered, his voice filled with awe.

Her chest heaved as she looked at him, her eyes still clouded with desire. “You’re... overwhelming,” she admitted, her voice shaky but filled with warmth. “In the best way.”

He grinned, that wolfish smile that made her heart skip a beat. “Good. Because I’m not done with you quite yet.”

His hands tightened on her hips as he pulled her toward the edge of the grotto pool, the water sloshing around them in gentle waves. The summer sunlight filtered through the canopy above, dappling their skin with golden light. Helena’s legs remained wrapped around his waist, her body pressed flush against his as he leaned back against the smooth stone edge of the pool. His eyes burned into hers, intense and unyielding, and she felt the heat of his skin even through the cool water.

“Ready for me?” His voice was low, a growl that sent shivers down her spine.

Helena nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “Yes,” she breathed, her voice but a whisper. But Sol didn’t move, his gaze holding hers as if he wanted her to say it louder, to demand it. Her lips curved into a small, defiant smile. “Give me what I need.”

He grinned wolfishly. “That’s my Luna.”

With a deliberate slowness that made her ache, he slid into her, his thick length filling her completely. She gasped, her head tilting back as pleasure rippled through her. The sensation was overwhelming, the perfect blend of heat and tension, and she tightened her legs around him, urging him deeper.

“Sol,” she moaned, her fingers gripping his shoulders. “Don’t tease me this time.”

He laughed, a deep rumble that vibrated through her. “Patience, Luna. I want to savor every second.”

But patience wasn’t something she had in abundance, not when his body was moving so slowly, drawing out every sensation until she was trembling with need. Her nails dug deep into his skin as she rocked against him, trying to take control, but he held her firmly, his grip unyielding.

“You’re so eager for me,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement. “But this is my pace right now. You’ll get what you need when I say so.”

Helena glared at him, though the heat in her eyes was far from anger. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re mine,” he countered, his voice dark with possession. He shifted his hips slightly, hitting a spot that made her gasp, her body arching against his. “See? I know exactly what you need.”

She couldn’t argue with that, not when pleasure was building inside her like a storm, threatening to consume her. Her hands moved to his hair, tugging gently as she tried to coax him closer and faster. “Please, Sol. I can’t take it.”

He finally gave in to her pleas, and his pace quickened, Helena felt the world around them fade. His thrusts were hard and deep, each one driving her closer to the edge. She matched his rhythm, her body moving with a primal intensity she hadn’t known she possessed. Heat surged through her veins, her fire responding to the raw desire coursing between them. She could feel his heat too, not just in his body, but through their bond that was growing stronger with each passing second.

“Look at me,” he commanded, his voice rough with need.

She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. His eyes were dark with desire, but there was also a tenderness in them that took her breath away. “I’m here,” she whispered.

“You’re my everything,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. His pace became frantic, his body driving into hers with a ferocity that left her gasping.

The pressure inside her coiled tighter until it finally snapped, her body convulsing as pleasure exploded through her. She cried out as her inner walls clenched around him, the heat within her seeming to ignite, sending flames licking up her skin.

Sol let out a loud groan, and he thrust deep into her one last time, his own release hitting him with a force that left him shuddering as he spilled himself inside her.

For a long moment, they stayed like that, their bodies pressed together as the waves from their movements lapped against the edges of the pool. Helena’s head rested on Sol’s shoulder, her breath coming in ragged gasps. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, his heartbeat steady beneath her ear.

“That was…” she began, but words failed her.

“Mind-blowing?” he supplied, his voice tinged with amusement.

She laughed softly, her fingers tracing the lines of his tattoo. “I was going to say overwhelming again, but mind-blowing works too.”

He kissed the top of her head, his hands moving to cradle her face. “You’re my fire, Helena. My everything. Never forget that.”

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a warmth that matched the flames inside her. “How could I forget?”