Chapter 30: 30

Word Count: 1988

~Hunter

A hand gently shaking my shoulder wakes me.

My eyes open drowsily, trying to make out the figure looming over me. My spark of panic is immediately quelled as I realise it's no one I need to fear.

"Kaan?" I ask groggily, rubbing my eyes as I sit up.

"Good morning," he greets.

I frown, looking through the gap in the curtains. It's pitch black outside, and I'm struggling to comprehend exactly what time it is.

"Morning? Are you sure?"

"Come on, let's get you packed." He backs away, scanning the room for a bag. When he finds one, he starts sifting through my dresser, tugging out random articles of clothing I've been borrowing off Tay.

I scramble out of bed. "You're kicking me out?"

This is it. Vinn told Kaan's parents about me, and they are willing to have me sent back to rid of me. I knew this was coming...

"No, of course not." Kaan shakes his head, laughing roughly. "I'm taking you away for a couple days."

Oh.

"Like a honeymoon?" I ask softly.

I've been so busy thinking about Vinn that I didn't consider the very normal tradition. This hasn't been the average union, so I didn't think Kaan would want to leave his post as Alpha to take a brief break with me.

"You could call it that. Pack warm clothes," he instructs, handing the bag back to me. Looking in it, he hasn't packed much that will actually be practical for me.

"Okay..." I can't help the smile that plays at my lips.

This is the first time I've felt excited for something in a while. The only thing hindering it is the nerves knowing Kaan and I are going to be alone for the first time for days at a time.

"I'll see you downstairs, wife." He gives me a wink before vanishing through my door.

I waste no time packing everything I think I may need plus some extra before I rush downstairs. With every step I take, I shed off any tiredness I once had.

Kaan is standing in the foyer, his bags by his feet, Tay standing in front of him with crossed arms, wearing a fluffy pink robe.

"Please can I come," she begs.

"It's a honeymoon, Tay. Of course not," he snaps back, his eyes drifting up to see me descending down the stairs.

He smiles softly, like my presence is a relief.

"Just pretend I'm not there." She's pouting, looking at me for help. I shrug my shoulders.

I'm not surprised she's asking to come, but I really want this time alone with Kaan. Now that we are married, I need time to get to know him.

"It's supposed to be romantic," Kaan hisses through his teeth, giving Tay a sharp look.

"I thought you two hated each other." Tay points between us. "I thought you would be desperate for someone to ease the tension."

Kaan rolls his eyes. Tay is obviously baiting us for more information about what she knows is transpiring between us. Unfortunately for her, neither of us are going to indulge that information yet.

"We won't be gone for long, sis." He pats her shoulder, which she brushes off irritably. "Get the parents to take you somewhere."

"Oh please, as if that will happen," she grumbles.

"I'll see you when we get back, okay?" I assure her.

"Alright," she groans, backing off toward the steps. "I'm going to lobotomise myself so I don't have to think about what you'll be doing on this trip that you don't want me to witness."

I flush, avoiding Kaan's gaze, trying not to think about the promise he made to me about giving me an orgasm when we were done with Vinn.

He holds the door open for me, a sensual look simmering in his eyes. "Come on. It's a long drive."

Kaan didn't lie about the long drive. About five minutes in I fell asleep on his shoulder and when I woke up again when it was early afternoon.

When I looked out the window all I could see was the flurry of snow, and when I glanced over, Kaan was sleeping too, his head pressed against the other window.

Now snow crunches under my feet as I step out of the transport, taking in the beautiful log cabin before me.

"I can't believe you've taken me to the snow," I note, glancing at Kaan who grabs our backs from the back of the transport. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I was hoping for the beach."

In other words, I was hoping to see Kaan amongst the waves, utterly shirtless and ready for devouring.

"I thought being shacked up in a hut with you, in front of a fireplace sounded pretty nice." His grin is wicked. "Especially after everything that's happened recently."

I let out a breath that fogs in front of me. I don't know what I should spend more time admiring. Him, or the cabin.

The cabin is one story tall, stretching wide out to the edge of a cliff face that drops down into more snow. On the other side of the house are frosted trees with massive trunks and an eeriness about them that makes me want to get inside the house to relax with my mate right away.

Kaan, on the other hand, suits the snow.

His dark hair is already flecked with snowflakes, and his deep green eyes look vivid against the white. If only he were wearing slightly less clothes, but that thick black jacket he wears and matching gloves suits him just fine.

"You know what, it does sound nice," I tell him, grinning with excitement.

No Vinn, no parents of his. No one is here to interrupt us.

"Not to mention, there's a natural hot spring around the other side of the house, and I thought it would help you with your back," he adds, slinging my bags over his back, using his hands to carry his own before trudging toward the house.

I fall into step beside him. "That's really sweet that you've considered all that."

The thick wooden door opens with a creak, revealing a beautiful yet chilly open space interior. Kicking our snow dusted boots off, we wander inside.

"I'll light the fire and you get something warm to drink. Later we can go for a walk around a frozen lake down the hill, then come back to the hot spring."

He leaves the bags near one of the doors, not bothering to separate them to different rooms. I smother my smile, heading toward the kitchen.

"You've thought of everything." I start searching though cupboards for some tea.

When I turn to look back at him, he's smiling as he gathers wood from the basket, setting it into the fireplace. "Oh yes I have."

****

I lounge back, basking in the warmth of the spring water.

My back was once hurting from our dusk walk through the snow, although the pain has now vanished completely. Not only was the walk peaceful, but it was the perfect time to start telling Kaan more about my past, my home life and well...everything.

Now that I have no more secrets to tell, the words just fell from my lips with ease. Kaan listened intently, his brows furrowing at every dark detail I share about my past.

Unfortunately that occurred most of the time. My childhood hasn't been very pleasant.

"My back has never felt better," I breathe, tilting my head up to look at the stars glistening in the sky.

We ate together by the fire about an hour ago. Turns out Kaan is a decent cook, and put together a meal that has me wondering what it would be like to live together, just us.

I can't let my thoughts go that far. Not yet.

He sits opposite me in the pool, his muscled arms braced against the rocks as he stares me down. "Good, I'm glad."

I've gotten my wish of seeing him shirtless, and it's just as satisfying as I thought it was.

"This is exactly what I needed," I admit, drawing my hand in circles under the water. "I've never felt more relieved in my life. Vinn is gone, he can't bring me back with him and he can't force me to marry him."

Kaan's eyes darken at the mention of his name. "You shouldn't have given him that antidote."

"I wasn't about to cause a war."

Killing Vinn was never part of the plan, as tempting as it is. There is a chance he's going to retaliate, and there's nothing I can do to stop it until it comes.

For now, I can only hope he's too stupid make a move again so soon.

"No one would have known." His smile chills me to the bone. I would hate to be Kaan's enemy, although I suppose in the beginning I was, and I'm still alive.

"We don't know that. People were aware of what he was doing," I remind him. He said so himself, and Vinn wouldn't do anything without someone knowing his whereabouts.

Kaan shifts across the pool so he is sitting next to me. My entire body stiffens, unable to avoid reacting to him whenever he is near.

"It doesn't matter now," he murmurs, sweeping his hand through his thick, damp hair. "We are married. Can you believe it?"

"It doesn't feel like that big of a deal when I think about being mates with you," I admit, looking down at my hands because I fear that if I look at him, I'm going to do something like kiss him...

He turns his whole body to face me, the steam wafting up around him.

"So you're not going to run off on me? Even when your back is healed?"

"No...although at some point we should discuss getting away from your parents. I don't like how much they know about me, how willing they are to manipulate me." I shudder. I know at any moment they could turn against me, and I'm sure they are already cooking up a plan.

At this point, I'm convinced the moment I'm not of use to them, they'll kill me off.

He reaches over, brushing his fingers through my hair. "I'm working on it. I promise."

"Then I suppose I have nothing to worry about," I turn to him, wanting to concentrate on our time here together. "My mind can stay on...other things."

His stare devours me, dipping down to my lips. "Oh yeah?"

"Uh huh."

He shifts closer and I savour that look. The raw, powerful hunger directed right at me.

I don't pull away as he leans closer, his breath brushing against my ear. "I think there's something I promised that I still owe you."

I bite down on my lip. As nervous as I am to experience this with him, I'm more so excited. I've wanted him for a long time now, and I'm tired of denying it.

"I guess so. You better get to it," I taunt against his lips.

His hands grasp the undersides of my thighs at the same time his mouth presses against mine. He pulls me onto his lap, seating himself against the rocks, the water bubbling around us.

I almost groan with relief having him so close, his tongue brushing against mine, his fingers digging into my flesh like he can't get enough of me.

He tastes like mint and fire and darkness, and I can't stop. My hands grip his wet strands tightly, not wanting him to go anywhere. It's not as if he will.

There's only one way this ends.

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