For quite a while, I couldn’t get over how much our situation had changed.

Every two days, we made trips to the wetlands, bringing back a steady supply of food. I had no complaints about our diet, it was quite healthy.

By the fourth day after discovering the wetlands, I could say I felt almost back to normal. The weakness was gone. Even my body temperature seemed higher. The brain fog from malnutrition had lifted, too.

Sariel and I had now circled nearly the entire island. On the far side of the volcano, we discovered two more small thermal streams. Each had some mussels in them—meaning we’d had the worst luck ever, stumbling across the only one that was nearly empty. I suspected it was because of its high temperature, making it inhospitable for cold-water species.

Food trips were no longer a grueling ordeal. We walked along the beach, holding hands. It had been Sariel’s idea. At first, he reached for me with a hesitant smile, but then he grew bolder. We probably looked like a couple strolling romantically along some coastal promenade in a bustling city—easy to forget, we were walking across the windy, volcanic shore of a godforsaken island.

We talked. A lot.

We told each other stories about our families. I got a rare glimpse into what life had been like for a family like the Lowens. It was surreal, hearing how he grew up, being one of the heirs to that kind of wealth.

I now pieced this information together with what I already knew about Jacob, how strict and disciplined he was. I could only imagine how that kind of attitude would affect young children when it came from both parents.

It was the complete opposite of my own upbringing. In my family, there had been so much freedom. If you wanted to study, you could. If you didn’t, no one forced you, as long as you just barely passed your classes.

During one of our conversations, Sariel admitted, "I hope we’ll be together, Winter. That you’ll help me with DevApp. Because I know you have the right personality for it."

I smirked. "Are you telling me that, along with your hand, you’re also offering me a kingdom?"

"Yes," he said, deadpan. "The mighty castle of DevApp. Will you accept the dowry?"

I laughed, but didn’t answer.

Because in the end, our future together depended not only on what was going to happen to us here on the island, but also on whether this quiet suspicion I had—this feeling in my gut—was actually real.

It was constantly on my mind.

Were Sariel and I just temporary lovers? Or was there a powerful biological magic binding us together… for life?

God, that would be a miracle.

But I was afraid to fully believe those suspicions, and I noticed that Sariel didn’t bring it up either.

Even though there were already more than a few clues pointing in that direction, like the mysterious leg healing, neither of us said it out loud, to affirm it.

Maybe that was for the best. I decided not to examine it too closely, afraid we'd discover something that would disprove it and shatter this sweet illusion.

On the evening of the fourth day, Sariel and I had sex for the first time since his heat.

I was beyond relieved, because I’d been feeling it build up inside me—wild and hungry—something I’d never felt before, not even at the beginning with Finn.

But that nice evening that concluded with four orgasms wasn't the end of it!

On the morning of the fifth day, I woke up with a burning desire for sex. I just wanted to fuck, hard and long!

There was no other way to describe it. I needed to feel him deep inside me or… to sink into him myself. It didn't matter. I just wanted to be close, pressing against his firm, slender body, merging with him.

This hunger consumed me so much that I hardly recognized the old Winter in the new, naughty me.

So, early in the morning, I embraced him from behind and whispered in his ear that I wanted to enter him, and Sariel didn't mind!

Two minutes later, I slid into his hole… rocking in a rather intense rhythm right from the start, my blood boiling, my appetite for carnal pleasures crazy intense.

We both climaxed embarrassingly quickly, yet another element that was so noteworthy about our relationship, these sweet, effortless orgasms.

I’ve always needed some time, and certainly a lot more foreplay, but here? I got turned on so easily and orgasmed in a flash, sometimes even before I was mentally ready, my body just raced in that direction.

During the day, I felt a constant urge to be near Sariel. I tried to fight it, acting like I always did, keeping a neutral demeanor. But something in me was demanding more.

I also noticed his glances, the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. A few times, he even took deep breaths when he was close to me, like he was… smelling me. His expression carried this strange disorientation, as if he didn’t understand what was happening either.

Just to see what would happen, I started paying more attention to scents too, focusing on them, sniffing his skin… and I began picking up on weird little nuances I’d missed before. Like how my own scent had shifted slightly. Was that… a hint of mint?

Even Sariel’s natural peppermint smell had changed a bit; now there was a subtle lavender note to it. Mine.

Interesting.

I had no idea what to make of it, or… did I? I just didn’t feel like thinking about it too deeply. Everything was developing slowly and organically, no questions asked, no doubts resolved, nothing clear. We both just let it roll.

On the sixth day, we didn’t have to go out for supplies. We could relax in our warm little pool or walk along the beach, keeping an eye out for drones, ships—anything at all. But, of course, there was nothing.

By midday, I couldn’t hold back anymore. As Sariel scraped the stones we used to heat our seafood, I moved closer and placed a hand on his thigh. He looked up at me.

"Want to lie down for a bit on the mattresses?" I managed to get out.

Wow. What a lame invitation to sex. I felt so awkward suggesting it in the middle of the day, without any lead-up. But I immediately knew my offer was well received. Sariel’s lips stretched into a wide smile, and he nodded enthusiastically.

Oh. That was… so pleasantly easy. Maybe I should do this more often, if it really was a non-issue?

It was my long-standing thing, this problem with never initiating sex; after years of avoiding it, I just… kind of felt like an awkward virgin.

Surely, it took a certain mindset. A certain boldness. A kind of… ability to assert myself in a relationship, to express that I needed something from the other person. Before, I always wanted to be independent, never rely on anyone, never be vulnerable by revealing my desires… Maybe I was even too proud?

But Sariel’s eager reaction convinced me that maybe I shouldn’t be so tentative about it. I had a feeling he’d always enthusiastically welcome this kind of request—and that put me at ease.

We headed to the mattress. I was in the mood for bottoming, so I quickly stripped, lay down, and pulled my legs up to my chest, wanting him to pound me hard.

"Fuck me, Sariel," I breathed out.

I saw a flicker of surprise on his face, but also excitement, as sparks of joy danced in his eyes.

"With pleasure," he said.

He leaned in, and we started kissing passionately, wildly. His mouth moved down to my neck, and I felt his teeth gently nibbling my gland.

"Gonna mark you again," he murmured. "Love it so much."

"Yes…"

A moment later, I felt his cock press against my hole. He pushed hard, thrusting into me. I cried out, startled that he did it with no prep, but—

To my amazement, I didn’t feel any real discomfort, almost as if I were already well-prepped. But I didn’t even have a chance to question what was happening, because Sariel was already fucking me—deep, quick, with almost wild thrusts.

"Fuck, so good, so good!" he moaned, his face flushed as he closed his eyes. I watched him above me, clearly just as lost in it as I was. His mating teeth, long and white, emerged from between his parted lips. Then he growled, leaned in, and… bit me.

And it all hit me at once, climax crashed over me instantly, overwhelming me with pleasure and a sudden, intense desire to… bite him back.

I didn’t hesitate, not this time. I wasn’t going to waste energy questioning everything .

With matching urgency, I bit him, and we locked into a bite-grip, both of us latched onto each other’s glands. At the same time, I felt pressure inside: I knew Sariel’s knot had expanded.

The intensity was unreal. I panted, moaned, utterly overwhelmed by the dual sensation of his teeth in me and his knot stretching me, holding me in place. We couldn’t have been more connected than we were right now.

And all of it was wrapped in a dizzying wave of satisfaction and joy, like being high. I was suddenly flooded by the simple, powerful realization that I was still alive to feel this. That we hadn’t died here. That my life was still rolling forward.

And then…even more. With a quiet jolt, it hit me… I wanted this to last. With Sariel.

I’d been so scared, of the age gap between us, the difference in life experience, the fact that he hadn’t really had the chance to spread his wings yet. That one day, he might walk away with some beautiful omega whose scent would knock him off his feet.

Did it still matter? Surely, not on the island.

Something had shifted in me. Softly. Naturally. Like a thaw.

Had this island changed me for good? Maybe even healed something I didn’t know was broken?

It was kind of ironic, really.

Here, in a place so cold and frozen…

I had finally defrosted.