Page 225 of The Heart of Winter

After that, Winter finally sat down to read the interview with me in East Times. I discreetly went out to the terrace to give him some space, as I could sense him, almost like his nervous system was attached to mine, slightly trembling, deeply touched as he read how I told our story to the world. He saw himself through my eyes, and he knew, without a doubt, what he meant to me.

Later, we, of course, made love again, gently and tenderly, and there were moments where I could even see a hint of wetness in his eyes.

But all this didn’t stop the inner, impatient energy that was gradually building in Winter.

With every passing hour, I felt the change spreading through him like ripples on water, widening with time.

During our dinner, Winter would pause mid-motion and smile to himself.

Then he’d burst into a sudden chuckle, as if the irony of it all had just struck him.

A moment later, he’d freeze again, staring into space with a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were visualizing the future and running through scenarios in his mind.

Seeing him like that was what made me suggest we skip the phone call, pack a few essentials, and visit his family right away.

His reaction was pretty enthusiastic, and it landed us back in bed for half an hour.

After a quick shower, we were ready.

As we headed down to the parking lot, Winter was beaming. I could tell he was trying to compose himself, aiming for the classic, impassive Winter, but his happiness showed through in tiny gestures and fleeting microexpressions.

This version of him, buzzing with secret excitement, felt younger, more energetic. I had the strange sense that we were suddenly the same age, as if ourBondhad quietly reshaped him from the inside out. Maybe it wasn’t just a feeling. The magic of True Mates could rejuvenate partners, so who knows, maybe it had done exactly that.

In any case, something in him had finally let go. Something that had quietly weighed him down, that subtle low-key depression I’d sensed in him before, had lifted.

On the drive over, Winter talked a lot. About our future, how we’d divide responsibilities, how we’d balance parenting and careers, how we’d raise our kids. He even went on a rant about his decision to buy such a big, luxurious apartment, despite being a beta and having no plans for a family at the time. Still, he’d chosen a place roomy enough to fit one.

I listened, smiling, kind of amazed. For the first time since I’d met him, his words were spontaneous, almost chaotic. Like the joy inside him didn’t care about the details. He just let the ideas flow. He let himself be happy.

And it wascontagious.

When we arrived, Winter shot out of the car like a firecracker. I nearly burst out laughing and followed after him as he raced through the backyard and into the living room through the patio doors. I hurried to catch up, eager to see what would happen next.

His dad was in the kitchen with some older beta. When he saw Winter, he turned quickly, just in time for Winter to grab him and lift him clean off the floor, spinning him around.

"Winter, baby, what is it now, more spinning? Put me down! I told you, you’ll throw your back out!" his dad said with a giggle.

But Winter gave a completely unexpected reply.

"It’s fine, Dad. I can regenerate in a day!"

A thick silence fell.

His dad stared at his face for a long moment, then slowly turned his eyes toward mine.

I gave him a wide, helpless grin. He smiled back, and it was the most beautiful smile. Not that I was objective, Winter had definitely inherited those lips from him.

"Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?"

"Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying, Dad. Something amazing happened, something unbelievable, impossible… and yet, here we are!"

"Well, I guess I owe Storm five hundred bucks," came another voice from deeper inside the house.

A tall alpha stepped into view, and I recognized him as Winter’s father.

He walked up toward us… actually toward me, then suddenly opened his arms and pulled me into a bear hug.

"Welcome to the family, Sariel! I have to admit, I had my doubts when Storm saw your photo and said, ‘That’s Winter’s True Mate,’ but… he wasn’t wrong."

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