New Horizons- Non Explicit.

It's been a few weeks now. I was fully healed, and the weight of Alice's dark cloud had finally lifted. She had been sentenced to life in a maximum-security prison designed by pack authorities, and with her gone, the doom and gloom had faded into the past.

Danny and I had just returned from emptying out our old house. We'd made the decision to move back to the pack, where we belonged.

It was strange, in a way. Danny and Alice had been hitting it off, and the kids seemed to get along great. It felt like we were finally finding our rhythm, but we also needed to carve out our own space.

Cam had suggested we move into the pack house temporarily while he worked with some of the members to build us a new home.

Don't get me wrong—the pack house had its charm. The sense of community and support was there, and I had missed it. But we both wanted to spend more time as a family, to catch up on all those years we'd lost.

My parents had they're own opinions too. My dad wanted me to come back home. He had forgiven Cam but was still going to make him work for his kindness. I hope they can go back to being close once more.

"You ready to go?" I heard Cam's voice call out, pulling me from my thoughts.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" I called back. Cam had been teasing me about this "surprise" for days, and now that it was finally here, I had no idea what to expect. He'd told me he'd arranged for Caleb to stay with his dad for the night, and we were going on our first real date in years.

"Are you sure I should be dressed in sweats?" I asked, glancing down at my outfit. Cam had insisted I get dressed up, but in my casual joggers and a cozy hoodie, I wasn't exactly feeling date-ready.

"You look perfect," he said, grinning as he leaned in to kiss me. The warmth of his lips on mine made my heart flutter. "Let's go.".

I noticed he had a backpack as we ran down the 3 flights of stairs. Why when the elevator was there?

"Hop in" he said tossing the ag into the car. I followed suit and jumped into the passenger side of his jeep. "Cam just where are we going"

"It's a surprise" he grinned.

I followed him down the stairs of the pack house, surprised he was taking the stairs when the elevator was right there. We could've avoided the workout, but I didn't complain. There was something about the way he was so excited that had me grinning, too.

"Hop in," he said, tossing the bag into the back of the car. I climbed into the passenger side of his jeep, still clueless about where we were headed.

"Cam, just where are we going?" I asked, my curiosity growing by the second.

"It's a surprise," he grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

The ride was peaceful, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were heading deeper into pack territory. We didn't leave the land, but the roads grew rougher, dirt tracks I wasn't familiar with. I had no idea where we were going, but I trusted him completely. Twenty minutes later, we parked at the edge of the forest.

"Let's go, baby," he called, jumping out of the jeep and not waiting for me to follow.

Still a bit confused but excited, I scrambled to catch up. We hiked through rocky terrain, the air crisp and cool against my skin. The further we walked, the more I felt like something familiar was pulling at me—something I couldn't quite place.

And then I heard it.

The sound of rushing water.

My heart skipped a beat as my steps quickened. I couldn't believe it.

"No way," I beamed, excitement flooding through me.

"So, you remember," Cam said, glancing back at me with a knowing grin.

How could I forget?

I nodded eagerly, and together, we quickened our pace, our footsteps falling in sync. We were getting closer, and I could already feel the pull of the place that had meant so much to us.

It was our spot—our waterfall.

Years ago, when Cam and I were still young and patrolling the territory, we had discovered this hidden gem. We'd come here every chance we got, escaping the weight of the world around us. And it was here, in this peaceful, secluded place, that Caleb had been conceived. The memory still brought warmth to my chest.

As we stepped past the last set of trees, I gasped.

It was even more beautiful than I remembered. The waterfall still roared powerfully, but now the space around it had been transformed. Vibrant flowers bloomed in every corner, their colors bright against the backdrop of the flowing water. The ground had been cleared and flattened, creating a soft path to the new addition—a little cabin nestled between the trees.

Fairy lights twinkled above, wrapping around the trees and casting a soft, magical glow across everything.

"Cam, this is beautiful," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, a mix of nostalgia, joy, and gratitude for everything we had come through.

Cam stepped up beside me, his hand brushing mine, and I looked at him—really looked at him—for the first time that night. His expression was soft, full of love, and a touch of pride.

"I remembered how much this place meant to us," he said, his voice low and steady. "I wanted to bring you back here, make it even better."

I could see the thought and care that had gone into making this spot special again. I could feel the love he had for me, for us, in everything he had done.

"I love you," I whispered, the words tumbling out before I even realized I was saying them.

Cam's smile softened, and his eyes glimmered in the warm glow of the fairy lights. "I love you too, more than anything."

We stood there for a moment, wrapped in the magic of the place and the unspoken understanding between us.

"Come" i heard him say. "Lets go put our stuff in the cabin.

We stood there for a moment, wrapped in the magic of the place and the unspoken understanding between us. The only sound was the soothing rush of water cascading over the rocks and the soft whisper of the wind through the trees. It felt like time had slowed, the world around us fading into the background. In this quiet space, it was just Cam and me, with everything that had brought us here.

"Come," I heard him say, his voice low and inviting. He turned towards the cabin, his hand reaching out for mine. "Let's go put our stuff in the cabin."

I nodded, a soft smile pulling at my lips, and followed him, my heart still fluttering from the beauty of the moment. The path to the cabin was lined with lanterns that seemed to glow brighter as we drew closer, creating a path of light that felt almost dreamlike. The little wooden cabin stood nestled between the trees, warm and inviting, with smoke curling from the chimney into the cool evening air.

As we stepped inside, I was struck by how perfectly it matched the magical aura outside. The cabin was simple, yet warm, with soft lighting and a cozy atmosphere. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls. A plush rug lay on the wooden floor, and the scent of fresh pine filled the air.

Cam turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You like it?" he asked, his hand gently pulling me further inside.

I couldn't help but laugh softly, my eyes welling up once more with emotion. "Like it? I love it." My voice was full of awe, and I stepped closer to him. "You did all of this... for us."

Cam's grin widened, but there was something deeper in his gaze. "I just wanted to give you something that was ours. Somewhere we could escape to, whenever we needed it."

I stepped forward, my hand reaching for his, intertwining our fingers. The warmth of his skin against mine sent a shiver through me. "This is perfect," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

With a tender smile, he pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm glad you think so," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "I knew you'd love it here. It's our place now."

He tossed the bag on the small couch taking out some swim wear and a towel.

"So do you to have dinner first or swim?"

Was that even a question? Swim first definitely.

With a tender smile, he pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm glad you think so," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "I knew you'd love it here. It's our place now."

He tossed the bag onto the small couch, rummaging through it for a moment before pulling out some swimwear and a towel. The sight of him holding them up made my heart skip a beat, and I couldn't help but laugh softly at the question that followed.

"So, do you want to have dinner first or swim?"

Was that even a question? The answer was obvious.

"Swim first, definitely," I grinned, already feeling the excitement rise in my chest. The thought of slipping into the cool water beneath the stars, with nothing but the sound of the waterfall and the night air around us, was too perfect to pass up.

Cam laughed, a low, rich sound that echoed in the space between us. "I was hoping you'd say that," he teased, pulling his shirt off over his head and revealing his strong, toned body. The sight of him never failed to leave me breathless.

I quickly grabbed my own swimwear, the anticipation building as I got ready to change. The simple act of preparing to step outside with him, to do something as carefree as swimming together, felt like the kind of moment we hadn't had in far too long.

"I'll step outside and give you some privacy," he said, his voice hushed. "Take your time."

I gave him a small, appreciative smile. The last thing I wanted was to rush anything, especially not after everything we had been through. "Thanks, Cam," I replied softly.

He smiled back, the warmth in his gaze lingering as he stepped outside, closing the door gently behind him.

I stood there for a moment, taking in the solitude. Changing into my swimwear felt different now, more intimate.

We agreed we'd take things one step at a time and he's been so patient, so understanding. I'd be lying if i said there weren't a few times i wanted to push things further. Maybe tonight will be that night?

As I adjusted my suit, I couldn't help but smile at the thought.

Once I was ready, I stepped outside, the cool night air wrapping around me as I made my way toward the water. Cam stood by the edge, his back to me as he gazed out at the waterfall, giving me the space I needed. The sight of him there, so relaxed and in his element, made my heart swell.

I took a deep breath, feeling the breeze through my hair and the warmth of the water calling me. Cam turned at the sound of my footsteps, his eyes softened with something unspoken. A smile tugged at his lips, and his gaze lingered a moment too long, like he was savoring the sight of me.

"You look amazing," he said softly, his gaze lingering on me for a beat too long. But it wasn't just the compliment—it was the way his eyes held mine, full of affection, like I was everything to him.

"Thanks," I whispered, the blush rising to my cheeks. "So do you."

He grinned, stepping closer, his hand outstretched toward me. "Ready to get in?"

His hand was outstretched, his fingers slightly curled waiting for me to take them.

I placed my hand in his, the connection between us immediate, he squeezed my hand gently, his eyes flicking down to where our fingers intertwined, then back to my face, full of quiet intensity.

"Come on," he murmured, his voice low as he tugged me closer, pulling me towards the water.  We waded in slowly, the temperature of the water just perfect. The soft rush of the falls filled the silence between us, the water lapping against our bodies as we moved deeper.

I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh "This is perfect,".

We swam around for a bit, the coolness of the water mixing with the warmth between us. Every time our bodies brushed, a spark of electricity seemed to pass between us. Playful splashes turned into stolen glances, lingering touches, and quiet smiles. We were in our own bubble.

Cam pulled me closer, his hands resting lightly on my waist as he gazed at me, his eyes dark with something I couldn't quite place. He wasn't just looking at me—he was seeing me. And in that moment, I felt more exposed than I ever had, but strangely, it didn't make me want to pull away.

I reached up, my fingers lightly tracing the edge of his jawline, feeling the roughness of his stubble beneath my fingertips. His eyes fluttered closed for a second, a soft shudder running through him.

"You're incredible," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

I smiled softly, my heart picking up pace as I leaned in closer, barely able to keep the space between us. "I could say the same about you," I whispered, my voice breathy.

He leaned forward then, his lips brushing against my forehead, then my temple, before his eyes locked onto mine. A moment stretched between us—silent, almost electric, the sound of the waterfall and our shallow breaths filling the air.

And then, without another word, his lips found mine in a slow, lingering kiss. The world around us seemed to disappear. It was just us, the waterfall, and the warmth between us as our bodies moved together.

His lips were soft but deliberate, moving against mine with a tenderness that made my chest ache. I felt the weight of his hands on my waist tighten ever so slightly, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The cool water lapped at our skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat radiating from where our bodies pressed together.

I let my hands slide up his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palm. It matched the wild rhythm of my own, a silent conversation between us. His kiss deepened slow, searching, as if he was memorizing the feel of me, the taste of me. I sighed against his mouth, my fingers tangling in the damp strands of hair at the nape of his neck.

When we finally broke apart, it was only by a breath. His forehead rested against mine, our noses brushing as we both struggled to steady our breathing. His eyes were still closed, his lashes dark against his skin, and I couldn't help but smile at the way his lips curved upward, as if he was savouring the moment as much as I was.

"Cam," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of the waterfall.

He opened his eyes then, and the intensity in them stole my breath all over again. There was something raw and unguarded in his gaze, something that made my stomach flutter and my chest tighten. He didn't say anything, just looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.

And then, as if he couldn't help himself, he kissed me again. This time, it was different—hungrier, more urgent, but still achingly tender. His hands slid up my back, pulling me even closer, and I melted into him, my body responding  without thought. The water around us seemed to fade away, the world narrowing to just the two of us and the way we moved together.

When he finally pulled back, his lips lingered near the corner of my mouth, brushing against my skin as he spoke. His fingers lightly brushed across my cheek, as though memorizing the feeling of my skin under his touch.

"I've missed you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "More than you know."

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting his words wash over me. My heart ached with a mixture of love and relief. "I've missed you too," I whispered back, my voice barely audible.

I pulled away just enough to look at him, the intensity of his gaze still holding me captive. For a long moment, we said nothing, letting the silence speak for us. The waterfall's constant roar seemed to fade into the background as I focused on him—on the way his chest rose and fell with every breath, on the steady warmth of his hand still resting on my cheek.

"I never thought we'd get here," I said, smiling. The memory of him declaring his claim on me when I first arrived in town flooded my mind. I couldn't resist. "You will be mine," I mocked him playfully, imitating his words with a teasing grin.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Wasn't I right?"

Before I could respond, he lifted me effortlessly, hoisting me up as my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. His grip was steady, and I felt the familiar spark of heat between us as he whispered with a smile, "You're mine."

I grinned, leaning in to press my lips softly to his. "I guess I am," I murmured back.

"Avery no matter what the future holds—what storms, what challenges—we will face them together. We'll keep going, side by side." His smile was soft, tender, and full of promises. "Together, always."

And in that moment, I knew it was true. No matter what came next, no matter where life took us, we would continue forward—together, forever.