"Ugh, disgusting." Kian gagged as he passed Jude and I.

We ignored him, leaning in for another quick kiss.

Pen walked behind Jude, catching my eye. She smirked at me, wiggling her brows and making grabbing motions in the direction of Jude's bubble butt. I stifled my laugh against Jude's shirt, worried I would start snorting like a pig.

"Alpha, we have to leave soon."

"Of course." Jude replied to an unimpressed Seamus standing with a tablet in one hand. Impatience engraved his handsome features as he pointedly glanced between us.

"Horny kids these days." Kian sighed, shrugging his shoulders. Seamus pinched the bridge of his nose, probably regretting the moment he woke up this morning. I released Jude with a kiss to the jaw, "I'll see you later."

"Say it." He demanded, whispering in my ear like the devil.

I groaned, closing my eyes. "No."

"Say it Aella."

"Jude. No."

"Hmm, why are you two still whispering. I'm sorry Alpha but you gotta get out of here and stop whispering kinky shit to each other. Save that for the bedroom." Kian sighed, earning an elbow to the stomach by my loyal friend Pen. Kian wasn't too far off though. Jude left with a smirk just as Pen joined my side. "You two are hot as hell."

I groaned as she laughed.

We were interrupted by Daisy who ran up to us with one lollipop in each hand. She beamed when she peered up at me, sticking out the blue one. "Hey Luna! I gots you something!"

I melted. "Thank you, Daisy."

"And you too!" Daisy handed the pink one to Pen who looked completely shocked by the small gift. She stumbled over her gratitude, taking the lollipop with confusion and awe. "Thank you."

Daisy grinned wide, "That's okay. I like your hair. That's why you get a pink one. It's my favourite colour too!" She giggled, twirling her hair shyly before she rushed off to her brothers who waited a few metres away.

Pen glanced at me with a genuinely shocked expression. "Did you just witness that?"

"Pen, you forget how badass you are sometimes. You're one of the best people I know." I said openly.

This made her grin broadly, "You're one of the best people I know too Aella."

"I hope you're not going to cry here." I half-heartedly teased.

"No, the wind is just a bit too strong today." She turned her face to the sun, breathing deep. Her pink highlights fluttered around her shoulders, catching the soft currents of the wind.

There was so much peace in her, I wanted to embrace the hell out of her because she made it someplace she yearned for. Daisy had been a sweet reminder that the Shadow Hunters Pack would be the beginning of her happiness. Goodness awaited her in abundance, and I wanted to see that smile of hers continue to grow.

"I'll see you in the evening?"

Pen hummed, lifting her hands towards the warmth of the sun. "Yip."

As I turned away, Jude strolled towards me.

This morning he had dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt that teased his pecks, particularly his firm chest since he kept all the three little buttons on it opened. His slacks were dark, with one knee sporting a slight rip. His feet were fitted into brown lace-up boots.

"I want to show you something." He took my hand. The roughness of his palm now felt familiar. It felt like home. I caught a glimpse of our intertwined hands swinging between us, enjoying the way I felt with Jude by my side. I wanted to lock away this light feeling in my chest to have forever.

"You're not going to kill me out here, are you?"

He barked out a startled laugh, catching a glance of my wary expression. "Don't be silly. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

Ain't that the truth.

"Well, I was just wondering because I won't be easy to take down."

"Aella, you just might be the first person I know that could convince a killer you'd be too much effort to kill."

"Why thank you. It's a hidden ability of mine."

Jude flicked me an amused look but didn't reply.

The crunch beneath our boots accompanied our walk until we gradually made our way along a familiar path. "We're going back to the Pack house?"

"Yes."

Jude took us to his bedroom door. A snort escaped my lips, stopping him from opening the door. "Really Jude?" I asked, struggling to hide the laughter gathering in the back of my throat.

"Yes really." He nodded, opening the door.

"If you wanted to have your way with me, you could've just said you were horny and needed some TLC-"

"Babe, just get your ass out onto the balcony." He cut me off, sliding the glass doors open. The curtains flew outwards with a burst of air. Jude deftly snatched the diaphanous fabric up and bunched them back inside, securing it with a knot.

I hesitated, eyeing his carefully blank expression. "Jude, that's a little too kinky for me even. I don't think anyone would appreciate us doing any hanky panky out there."

"Aella." He sighed deeply, massaging his temples.

"Please tell me you're not actually considering this." I shifted slowly towards the door. By the time my boots paused at the threshold, Jude gently tugged me back to the balcony rail and turned me around. I croaked in surprise as I felt Jude cage me in from behind against the wooden rail. I felt the scruff of his chin settle against my head as he inhaled a long steady breath.

"For someone who reminds me of an angel most days, you have a disturbingly dirty mind inside that head of yours." He chuckled, slipping his cold palms beneath my shirt. I shivered into his touch and took in the splash of colours across the sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight, just pastel pinks, oranges, and violets painting the skyline as the brilliant glow of the sun dimmed between the mountain heads.

The smell of pine and earth surrounded us. I fell more into Jude's body and craned my head back until we were lost in each other's sight. His lashes casted a shadow across his cheeks. His dark locks caressed the edges of his face and I moved them away from his gaze. "It's beautiful. I love it."

His lips dipped and I moved until our lips brushed in a feather-like touch.

One of his hands came to rest on the pulse of my neck while the other remained sprawled across my flat stomach, stealing warmth.

I nipped his full lower lip. He responded with a sensual flick of his tongue against mine. My name rolled off his tongue like a prayer and I had no choice but to devour his lips until they were bruised and tender.

Our kiss slowed as Jude left a small space between our lips. Air stirred between us. I was tempted to pull his mouth back on mine, but I didn't.

"I saw this. I saw us here." He spoke so quietly; I barely heard his soft confession. "I didn't think I'd ever feel this." He slowly turned me around until we were face to face. He captured my hand into his and placed my palm flat against his chest where the rhythm of his heart played a strong but sure song against my fingertips. "I never saw you coming Aella until it was too late."

I shook, touched and completely and maddeningly in love with this man with the stormy grey eyes.

"You're stuck with me Jude. I'm not going to let you go." Was there a crack in my voice?

"Promise me that." He demanded.

"Promise. You're mine Jude Slater." I gripped his shirt in my hand. I could still feel his thunderous heart hammering against my hand. "Heart and Soul." I whispered.

"I love you Aella Spades." His nose bumped into mine as he pressed his forehead against mine. "Not because the Moon Goddess says we're mates but because I love every piece that makes up all of you, even when you're defying my orders."

"I'm learning so much about you Jude. Now I have to add sweet talker to the long list of perfection I've already written down?"

"Did you also add in how extremely good-looking I am?"

I smacked his shoulder, "I knew it! I always wondered if you were aware of how you looked. This just confirmed it."

"I'm not blind Aella. I'm aware of how I look like." I felt his self-assured smile against my temple.

"Don't sound so smug. You're not the only hot guy in the Pack."

"Is that so?" Jude abruptly slipped away, leaving cool air between us. "Well, if that's what you think, I'll be heading off so you can speak with the other hot guys in the Pack that supposedly exist."

I erupted into a fit of laughter, "Come back here."

Jude continued to the sliding doors, slipping through the opened gap. I trailed behind him, enjoying the hell out of his charm and wits. He rounded the bed. He suddenly took off his boots, sliding on the bed until his back was pressed up against the headboard. I followed his actions and shifted beside him. It was only then I noticed the pink and baby blue socks strapped comfortably on his feet. Sensing where my attention landed, Jude explained. "Daisy gave them to me."

"She's so sweet. I forgot to tell you, but you did a great job with the kids in this Pack Jude. They have some serious hero-worship for you because they know how much you do for them in protecting the Pack."

"Thank you. I want that for them."

"You'll make a great Dad someday."

He stiffened and caught my curious gaze.

"What is it?" I asked, worried.

"We've never discussed kids before." He noted quietly, shifting on the bed as if unsure of bringing the sensitive topic to light.

I recalled the women in the Pack who herded me in their little group, flinging the same topic at me with nothing but eager curiosity.

Then, I had been unprepared but these days, I pondered more on it.

"How many kids do you want?" I asked instead.

"Maybe three or four? I would be satisfied with what we have." He spared a wary glance my way. I would have laughed at his expression if my vagina didn't shrivel up from the idea of pushing not one but three or four heads out of there.

But the thought of Jude holding our baby outweighed the attached concern. I wanted to give him that. I wanted it for myself too. I wanted everything with Jude. I had an epiphany then that whatever Jude asked, I would most likely concede because I couldn't say no to his brooding, grey eyes.

I pretended to think it over as I tapped the corner of my mouth. With a casual shrug, I grinned in his direction. "Okay, I'll be the baby mama to as many babies we make."

"That's a lot of babies."

"Well I'll sic you with diaper duties."

"Of course, you would." He laughed, not surprised.

"Any of our kids that are precious angels would have obviously gotten their temperament from me so it's only fair if I let the naughty ones go to you-"

"You're insufferable." Jude tackled me onto my back, pressing my wrists into the mattress. I was not proud to admit that I squealed like pig, which resulted in Jude collapsing on top of me in a series of husky laughter that made my wolf preen from making her mate happy.

When our laughter faded, I was aware of the little space between our lips and the way his gaze traced the features of my face. One of his big hands massaged my head. I moaned, closing my eyes as his fingers sifted through the locks. I felt him brush my hair out, fanning it out on the silk pillow tucked beneath my head. "I heard something interesting when I was patrolling the borders."

I sighed in total bliss when his deft fingers circled a spot that made my body thrum with delight. "What was it?" I asked, distracted by the sure movements of his hand now at the base of my nape, squeezing it with expert fingers that loosened the tightly bunched muscles there.

His lips slid across my cheek. "The kids here in the Pack call you the Alpha's Prized Enforcer."

I opened my eyes. They must have closed when he began conjuring his magic in loosening the tightness in my muscles. "They're really calling me that?"

"They know it's true."

"Wow. That's pretty cool."

"They weren't wrong. You're the biggest prize I've ever received."