66.
I could still taste his blood on my tongue while we walked. I felt dozy, his power cloaked over me like a warm blanket. I leaned against his solid body. Steel muscles wrapped in velvet blazing skin. Soft and hard at the same time. His blood was pulsing and enticing.
"My love, my mate," he whispered in my ear. He sniffed at my hair, and nuzzled against my neck. His voice made me shudder. The words were laced with longing. I threw my arms around his massive shoulder. My fingers snaked in his unbound midnight hair.
A crunch of leaves made him tense. We both glared in the direction of the noise. A shirtless young man stood there. He gave us a nervous smile then he rubbed his neck.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. You took so long that I thought something happened," he bowed his head in submission.
"Go back, Quil," snapped Jacob. The young man nodded and jogged back into the shadows of the trees. "We are lucky our cabin is far from theirs," he chuckled. I tilted my head to the side to study his handsome face. Long black lashed surrounded, glimmering brown eyes, a square jaw instead of the rounded boyish one from distant memories. Memories that weren't exactly mine. They were from someone else. A girl. One who laughed. One who cried. One who had her heart torn to pieces with longing.
In one swift movement, Jacob pulled me into his arms. I rested a hand over his heart. It raced with life and contentment. He smiled down at me.
"Finally, my love, we are united," he murmured. "Nothing will come between us again," he kissed my temple.
"Yes, nothing will come between us," I confirmed. The trees gave way to a clearing, in the middle was a group of wooden cabins. They had a rustic feel to them. Jacob's scent hung around each of the small houses. Home. I could almost see him sweat as he worked to craft them. Craving the wood and hammering the planks.
Yes, my love. I did it all for you, he nuzzled my hair.
A small group lingered near the larger one. They were all dressed or half-dressed in their human forms. Nervous energy oozing from them. Eyes darting in our direction. My wolves.
Ours, he growled through my thoughts. You're mine, he added in a gentler tone.
"Welcome to your kingdom, my bride, my queen," he bowed his head.
"It's lovely," I squeezed his shoulder gently. He smiled as we entered our domain.