Page 62 of Once You Go Pack
“Every surface will be touched tonight,” he growled, his hands already roaming her body again.
She grinned, pulling him closer. “Good.”
Their passion was relentless, a whirlwind of want and love that left no surface untouched. The kitchen counter, the bed, the bathtub—each location a new chapter in their night of unbridled desire. Cade’s wolf reveled in the primal connection, their bond stronger than ever, and Mila met him with equal fervor, her laughter and moans music to his ears.
Hours later, they collapsed on the fur rug by the fire, their bodies intertwined. Cade traced lazy circles on her skin, his heart full in a way he’d never experienced.
As they settled deeper into each other’s arms and she started drifting off to sleep, his wolf hummed with contentment. This was joy, happiness, and pleasure all wrapped into one—a promise of their beautiful future together. Cade closed his eyes, savoring the moment, knowing this was only the beginning.
TWENTY-THREE
MILA
The scent of pine and woodsmoke drifted through the cabin as morning light peeked through the curtains, casting everything in a golden haze that felt almost magical. Mila stirred against the warmth of Cade’s body, her muscles pleasantly sore from their marathon of passion the night before.
Every surface,she thought with a secret smile, remembering how they’d christened the dining table, the kitchen counter, even the bathtub. Her body hummed with contentment as she traced the new luminescent mark that glowed faintly on Cade’s chest, right over his heart—proof of their bond sanctioned by ancient magic.
This was peace. Real, honest-to-goodness peace.
No council politics breathing down their necks. No pack expectations weighing on their shoulders. Just them, wrapped in each other’s arms in this cozy retreat deep in the Ice Mountain wilderness, where the only sounds were the crackle of dying embers in the hearth and Cade’s steady breathing beneath her cheek.
For a few blissful moments, Mila let herself believe everything was finally settled. They’d survived the Moonfire Trial with flying colors. The council had given their blessing formarriage. She would become the High Sovereign Queen, and together they’d restore the human-shifter alliance that had been destroyed.
We’re unstoppable,she thought, her fingers dancing over the warm mark on his skin. The connection between them felt stronger than ever—electric and profound, like their souls had finally clicked into perfect alignment.
A sharp, piercing buzz shattered the morning tranquility.
Cade’s communicator vibrated insistently on the nightstand, its blue light flashing in urgent patterns that made Mila’s stomach clench with dread.
Of course,she thought bitterly.Why wouldn’t duty call and ruin this perfect moment?
But even as frustration flickered through her, Mila understood the reality of loving a king. Cade’s responsibilities didn’t take vacations, no matter how much they both needed this respite. He’d been doing an admirable job balancing duty and desire this past week, but that balance was precarious at best.
Can I really accept this?The question whispered through her mind like a cold wind.A life where quiet moments like this are rare treasures instead of everyday occurrences?
If she actually became queen, her own duties would multiply exponentially. Building bridges between humans and shifters, making Nova Aurora welcoming to Earth visitors, convincing three proud wolf packs to embrace change—it was a tall order. Maybe even impossible.
Cade groaned, his arm tightening around her waist as he buried his face deeper into her hair. “Ignore it,” he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
The communicator buzzed again, more insistently.
“You need to answer it,” Mila said softly, though every fiber of her wanted to throw the damn thing out the window. “They won’t stop calling.”
“Fine,” Cade growled, his green eyes flashing with alpha irritation as he reached for the device. “But only if we can have sex again after the call.”
Despite her growing unease, Mila couldn’t help but smile at his priorities. “That sounds good to me.”
Cade’s expression darkened the moment Lyra’s face appeared on the screen. His sister looked frazzled—none of her usual bubbly energy in evidence. Her dark hair was disheveled, and her green eyes were wide with something that looked suspiciously like panic.
“Cade, I’m so sorry to interrupt your celebrating with Mila,” Lyra said, her words tumbling over each other in her haste. “But you need to be at the council building for an emergency meeting. Now.”
Mila’s blood went cold. The contentment of moments before evaporated like mist, replaced by a creeping dread that made her skin crawl.
“What happened?” Cade’s voice carried a sharp edge, his alpha instincts snapping fully awake.
Lyra’s expression twisted with disgust and fury. “Zarik is claiming Mila cheated during the Moonfire Trial. He says the council’s blessing should be revoked because she manipulated the ancient magic with her ancestral blood—some kind of spell to sway the Moonfire energy in your favor.”
What?Mila’s mind raced wildly. The words didn’t make sense.How could she have cheated?
