Page 31 of Wolf Marked

“How do you know we’re close?” she asked him. “How can you tell?”

“Svanna Rock is a hard place to forget.” He pointed to the crystal-like rock jutting out of the snow ahead of them. It gleamed a pinkish purple. “See that there?”

She stared ahead. “That pink thing?”

“Those are the stones that make up Svanna Rock.”

“How is it glowing pink like that?”

“It’s something embedded in the stone,” Erec explained. He’d visited this place many times over his years of traveling. “They absorb the light during the day and then release it at night. Wait until the sun goes down. It’s quite a sight.”

The biggest grin appeared on Astrid’s face. “That’s amazing.”

The closer they got to Svanna Rock, the thinner the forest became and the more pink stones peeked out from the mounds of snow. Excited whispers fluttered back and forth between the survivors.

The woods opened up to reveal hundreds of massive crystal pillars, each one standing over twenty feet tall and shining a soft pink. Naturally, they had formed a circular wall, protecting anything that was inside from outside threats. Like the west-side pack from Jerrick’s men.

Erec heard Astrid’s sharp intake of breath beside him.

“You’re telling me it looks better than this at night?” she gasped, her gaze full of innocent wonder. “It’s beautiful!”

“Oh, yes. Much better.” He chuckled, enjoying her reaction. “Welcome to Svanna Rock.”

When Astrid turned to him, with her cheeks tinted pink and her green eyes sparkling, all the air seized in Erec’s lungs. The snowflakes collected in her red hair shimmered, and her smile radiated. Svanna Rock was a breathtaking sight, but it was nothing compared to the woman standing next to him.

Something brushed against his palm. Erec looked down to see Astrid’s fingers sliding in between his.

She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Welcome home.”

Chapter Eleven

Home.

It felt like it this time to Astrid. After her mother’s death, her father had moved the pack so many times that the word had begun to sound like another language to her, foreign, vague, and just out of reach. But now, as she stood in front of the pink stone fortress of Svanna Rock with Erec’s hand in hers, a peaceful calm washed over her, bringing back all the sensations and memories of family and belonging that she missed.

This was where they were supposed to be. She could feel it in her bones.

Astrid glanced over at Erec, who was staring at the crystal wall, too. His expression, though, read conflicted and unsure. The skin between his brows was pinched, and Astrid wondered what plagued his thoughts. Was he thinking about what they had spoken about before—how they might be destined for each other and made to break the curse? Even she had to admit that when Erec first suggested the idea she hadn’t been sure what to do or say.

It had crossed her mind as a possibility, but wasn’t finding a mate supposed to be unquestionable? Wasn’t there supposed to be some kind ofzinga person felt after finding their true mate? She hadn’t gotten anything like that. Nothing overly romantic or dramatic like she fantasized about growing up, but there were some things about Erec she still couldn’t quite understand. Like the strange pull she had toward him whenever he was near, or the sinking in her gut whenever he was in danger. Not to mention that when he kissed her, her mind turned to mush.

Although there was no certainty in those things, Erec could still be her other half. It was a possibility. Astrid had never been in love before. She didn’t know what it was like.

What if this is it?

If only there was a way to be sure. Standing under the Blue Moon, hoping not to die, was nerve-racking. She had a chance at a future, at least, and that was more than she hada few days ago.

Excitement buzzed inside her at the thought of Erec by her side, running through the forest on a warm spring night, their wolves finally free to take their form whenever they wished. They would chase the river like she and Filip used to do as children until the ground ended and the water spilled off the side of the earth into the large ravine. She couldn’t know for sure what life with Erec would be like, but it wouldn’t be boring.

Astrid gave Erec’s hand another light squeeze, wishing the connection between them could somehow transmit her optimism into him, but his grip remained loose. She wanted to tell him she was afraid of what was to come, too.

Erec’s shoulders fell, and he expelled a loud sigh.

“Home…” he whispered, his tired gaze still roaming over Svanna Rock. “Is this what a home looks like?”

All the joy Astrid had been feeling drained away, leaving her chest empty and aching. She hadn’t even thought about how Erec might feel when she had uttered the word. He didn’t know what home was; besides his brief time in Mikel’s pack, he’d never had one. Not really.

Erec would have a home now. Her father would make him pack after everything he had done to rescue the survivors and protect their people. Not forgetting that he also saved her life from Claus and Jerrick’s other two scouts. Her father had to welcome him. Had to. Especially if they were going to be mates. Father would overlook Erec being a rogue and accept him. He would allow all the others to stay.

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