Luca's POV
Four months married, and I'm completely, ridiculously in love.
"You're staring at him again," Sara teases during Luna duties.
I am. Rian's across the room discussing border patrol, commanding and gorgeous.
"Can't help it. He's mine."
"You two are disgustingly cute." She nudges me. "Remember when you hated him?"
"Vaguely." It feels like another lifetime. "Now I can't imagine life without him."
"That's what the mate bond does. Makes you insane for each other."
"It's not just the bond." I watch Rian laugh at something Damon said. "I genuinely love him. Everything about him."
"Even the possessive Alpha thing?"
"Especially that." I grin. "Makes me feel wanted."
Rian's eyes find mine across the room. The bond hums with love and desire.
Need you, he sends through our connection.
Meeting first, I respond.
Now.
Needy Alpha.
Your needy Alpha.
I excuse myself from Sara, meeting Rian in the hallway.
"What's so urgent?" I ask.
He pulls me into an empty room, kissing me desperately.
"Needed to touch you," he breathes. "Couldn't concentrate."
"You saw me an hour ago."
"Too long." His hands slide under my shirt. "Miss you constantly."
"We live together. Sleep together. Spend every day together."
"Still not enough." He lifts me onto a desk. "Will never be enough."
I wrap around him, kissing back just as desperately. "You're insatiable."
"For you? Always." His mouth trails down my throat. "Love you so much it's insane."
"Love you too." I pull him closer. "Now show me."
He does. Quick and intense and perfect.
Later, adjusting our clothes, we're both grinning.
"We're supposed to be in meetings," I say.
"Meetings can wait. You couldn't." He kisses me softly. "You're my priority. Always."
"Romantic and horny. Quite a combination."
"You love it."
"I really do."
That evening, celebrating four months of marriage, he presents me with a gift.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
Inside is a painting—my grandmother's cabin, where we first met. But it's transformed, showing both the dark night and a bright sunrise overlaid.
"Our beginning," he explains. "Dark and difficult. But leading to light."
Tears burn my eyes. "You painted this?"
"Had it commissioned. From your description." He cups my face. "We started wrong, Luca. But we're ending right. Forever right, I trace the painting with trembling fingers. The cabin in darkness, wolves circling, and then—sunrise. Light breaking through. Hope.
"It's perfect," I whisper. "You're perfect."
"I'm far from perfect." He pulls me close. "But I'm trying. Every day, trying to deserve you."
"You already do." I kiss him deeply, pouring everything through the bond. "Thank you. For this, for everything, for loving me."
"Easiest thing I've ever done." His thumb brushes away my tears. "Loving you is breathing, Luca. Natural. Necessary. Forever."
That night, we make love slowly—celebrating four months, celebrating us, celebrating everything we've become.
"I choose you," I breathe as we move together. "Every day. Forever."
"I choose you too," he gasps. "My mate. My heart. My everything."
When we reach completion together, the bond flares brilliant—stronger than ever, souls perfectly aligned.
Later, wrapped in his arms, the painting visible across the room, I realize something.
"I'm not afraid anymore," I say quietly.
"Of what?"
"Of this. Us. Forever." I turn to face him. "At the beginning, forever terrified me. Being trapped, owned, controlled. But now..."
"Now?"
"Now forever with you sounds perfect." I smile. "You changed me, Rian. Made me believe in love again."
His eyes shine with unshed tears. "You changed me too. Made me believe I could have happiness after loss. That I deserved a second chance."
"We both deserved this." I kiss him softly. "Whatever happens, we face it together."
"Together," he agrees. "Always."
We fall asleep tangled together, the painting watching over us—a reminder of dark beginnings and bright futures.
Four months married.
A lifetime to go.
And I can't wait for every moment.
End Volume 2