Page 64 of Howl For A Kiss
"I love you," she whispered against his skin, the words carrying a lifetime of trust she'd never thought herself capable of giving.
Damon's grip tightened, his voice thick with emotion when he responded. "Say it again."
Elena pulled back just enough to meet his green eyes, now soft with wonder and fierce possession. "I love you, Damon Gray. Former Beta, current warrior, future everything I never knew I needed."
His answering smile transformed his entire face, banishing the last shadows of the stoic mask he'd worn for so long. "Future everything, huh?" His thumb traced the mark on her neck. "I like the sound of that."
"Good, because you're stuck with me now." Elena's fingers mapped the planes of his chest. "Through prophecies and revolutions and whatever chaos comes next."
"I'm more than ready. I've been waiting fifteen years for this," Damon growled, rolling them until she straddled his hipsagain, his hands spanning her waist with alpha male confidence. "Together, we'll build the world our children deserve."
Children.The word sent a thrill of possibility through Elena, painting pictures of blonde-haired, green-eyed warriors who would inherit both tradition and change.
"I can't wait," she breathed, leaning down to capture his mouth in a kiss that tasted like hope and forever.
ELENA
Two weeks after Elena and Damon's mating ceremony, in the crisp early days of December, the scent of roasted meat and spiced wine filled Kieran's cabin mingling with the crackling warmth of the fireplace. The wooden dining table was laden with dishes—platters of venison, bowls of steaming vegetables, and freshly baked bread that Maya had insisted on making herself.
Elena sat beside Damon, his hand resting possessively on her knee under the table. His touch sent a constant thrum of warmth through her, a reminder of the bond they'd forged stronger than steel or tradition.
Across the table, Kieran carved slices of venison, his silver-blue eyes flicking up to meet Damon's. "So, the treaty's holding," he said, passing a plate to Maya. "For now."
"For now," Damon echoed, his voice calm but edged with a growl that made Elena's wolf stir. He leaned forward, his green eyes sharp. "But we've got a problem. The High Council's furious they weren't consulted. They're pushing hard to revoke it."
Elena's jaw tightened. "Revoke it?" she snapped, her fork clattering against her plate. "They can't just undo what we'vebuilt. The pack leaders who witnessed us signing it—they're behind us. They've seen the change it's bringing."
"Not all of them," Logan interjected, his deep voice cutting through the tension. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with calculation. "There's a faction—aligned with High Elder Thorne—that's fighting back. Hard."
Zoe, seated beside Logan, crossed her arms, her hazel eyes flashing gold. "Of course they are. Thorne's been pulling strings for centuries. He's not going to let go of power without a fight."
Elena's fingers curled into fists. "Then we fight harder."
Damon's hand tightened on her knee, grounding her. "We will," he said, his voice low and steady. "But we also need to be smart about this. Thorne's not just some corrupt elder. He's the architect of the Severance. He's the one behind the experiments and the divide. If we take him down, the rest of the Council will crumble."
Kieran nodded, setting his carving knife down. "Agreed. But we need more proof. Concrete evidence that links him to the Severance and the experiments. Without it, he'll just twist the narrative."
"We've got the ancient records," Maya pointed out, her voice calm but resolute. "Zoe's translation points to him. If we can get more—something undeniable—we can expose him once and for all."
Elena's mind raced. "What about the Granite Ridge medical facility? If Thorne's behind the experiments, that's where we'll find the evidence."
Damon's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Exactly." His hand slid up her thigh, sending a shiver through her. "We hit it hard. Soon."
Kieran raised an eyebrow. "How soon are we talking about?"
"As soon as possible," Damon shot back, his dominant presence filling the room. "We've got momentum on our side. We can't let Thorne regroup."
Logan leaned forward, his gaze locking with Damon's. "I'm in. But we'll need a solid plan. Thorne's not going to leave that facility vulnerable anymore. Especially after we successfully rescued those prisoners in the secret underground lab."
"Agreed. Plus, he's already so suspicious of all of us," Zoe added. "And your failed recon mission at his estate certainly didn't help to change his mind."
"Which is why we move fast," Damon said, his voice like granite. "We take the fight to him before he can strike back."
Elena's heart pounded, adrenaline surging through her veins. She glanced at Damon, her mate and her warrior. His green eyes burned with determination, and she felt the same fire in her own soul.
"We'll need a diversion," she said, her mind already spinning with tactics. "Something to draw his attention away from the facility."
Maya nodded. "I can work with that. Zoe and I can handle the diversion. Logan and Damon—you'll lead the strike team."
