3rd person’s POV
The air felt different as we left the Moon Temple. Lighter, cleaner, Dimitri had his hand firmly in mine, as I looked at him. His shoulders were no longer tight with the tension of worry, and his eyes, which had so often been clouded by anger or pain, were now clear, a deep, steady calmness in them.
We had done it.
The curse that had bound him in his Lycan form, was gone. The Moon Goddess had blessed him.
“Ready to head back?” I asked softly, touching his arm.
Dimitri turned toward me, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“More than ready.” His eyes softened as he looked at me
We walked out of the temple together, forgoing all the eventfulness of earlier trials that day.
The first rays of dawn broke through the trees, casting a soft golden light over the forest. I watched the light dance across Dimitri’s face
I couldn’t stop stealing glances at him. It wasn’t that he looked any different-his broad, muscled frame still filled me with a sense of security, his dark hair tousled from our journey-but the energy around him had shifted. He was free.
“Thank you, Kate. I couldn’t have done this without you.”he mumbled
“You don’t have to thank me,” I said, leaning in closer until my head rested against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong, filling me with
“We did this together.”
“How are you feeling?” I asked, squeezing his hand a little tighter as we made our way down the winding path from the temple. The forest around us was alive with the sounds of -bird calls and , leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.
Dimitri turned to me, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, It was rare to see him smile so easily, so genuinely.
“Lighter,” he said, his voice deep and rich. “Like I can finally breathe.”
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a gentle embrace. For a moment, we just stood there, holding each other, the silence between us comfortable
Our bond was far different from what it had been before, it was no longer just something forged out of necessity, but something real, something deep.
I tilted my head up to look at him.
“What do you think it’ll be like now, with the curse gone?”
Dimitri’s eyes darkened, with something more primal than desire
“I think,” he murmured, his voice low,
“I’ll finally be able to live without the fear of losing control. I’ll be able to be the mate you deserve… the Alpha our pack needs.”
A warmth spread through me at his words, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“And what does that mean for us?”
His gaze held mine, the space between us thick with unspoken promises.
“It means,” he whispered, his breath ghosting over my skin,
“that nothing is holding me back anymore.”
Before I could respond, his lips were on mine, slow but deliberate, sending a ripple of heat through me. His kiss wasn’t urgent like before-it wasn’t desperate or filled with the need to keep the beast at bay. This was something more, something filled with the promise of a future we had both fought for.
I kissed him back, sinking into the warmth of his embrace, feeling the connection between us hum with life. When we finally pulled apart, our foreheads resting together, I could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing matching mine.
“Let’s go home,” I whispered.
We walked in comfortable silence for a while, the path winding through the forest, the journey back from the temple wasn’t as grueling as the one back
Maybe it was because we had done what we came for
We walked in comfortable silence for a while, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds the only sounds that accompanied us.
Every so often, Dimitri would glance at me, and I could feel the weight of his gaze, the sun began dipping toward the horizon, casting the sky with a pale shadow of pink and orange.
“Let’s rest for the night,” Dimitri suggested, his hand brushing against mine as we walked.
“We can continue in the morning.”
I nodded,
We found a clearing a little further down the path, nestled between a grove of trees. Dimitri set to work gathering wood for a fire while I spread out a blanket, the cool evening air already beginning to settle in around us.
I looked up to find Dimitri and found him watching me, a pile of wood forgotten at his feet.
I looked up at him, my brow furrowed.
“What is it?”
He didn’t answer right away, just glanced around the clearing before turning back to me, his eyes darkening with a familiar intensity.
“Come here,” he said, his voice low and commanding,
Without hesitation, I stepped toward him, my heart racing a little faster. Even after all this time, the effect he had on me was undeniable it ignited something deep inside me, since the moment we first met.
He pulled me against him, one hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair.
“I need you,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.
“Right here, right now.”
A shiver ran down my spine at his words, a familiar pull of desire, surged to the surface. I gulped looking up at him, my breath catching in my throat.
“Dimitri, we’re in the middle of the forest…” I flushed
“I don’t care,” he growled, his lips brushing against my ear.
“We’re miles from the pack lands. It’s just us.”
And that was all I needed to hear.
” Get the fire going first” I urged and he grinned.
By the time the fire crackled to life, casting a warm glow over the clearing, the stars had begun to peek out from the velvet sky above.
I sat beside the fire, watching as Dimitri joined me, his presence a comforting weight beside me.
“You know,” I said after a long moment of tortured silence,
“I never really thought we’d make it this far. There were times when I didn’t think we’d break the curse.”
Dimitri’s eyes flicked to mine, his expression softening.
“I had my doubts too. But I knew that as long as I had you by my side, we had a chance.”
I smiled, leaning against him, my head resting on his shoulder.
“It feels like a dream, doesn’t it? Finally being free.”
He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer, his thumb tracing slow circles over my arm.
“It does,” he murmured, his voice deep and steady.
I reached up, my hands sliding over his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms.
He leaned down, capturing my lips in a kiss that was fierce and hungry, the kind of kiss that made everything else fade away. His hands roamed my body, possessive and demanding, and I melted into him, losing myself in the heat of the moment.
As the fire crackled softly, I felt Dimitri shift beside me, his fingers gently lifting my chin until I was looking up at him. His eyes by the firelight, were dark and intense, filled with a hunger I hadn’t seen before-at least, not like this.
“Kate,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion,
” Dimitri I ”
His gaze darkened, and before I could say another word, his lips were on mine again, more insistent this time, more demanding. The kiss was deep, raw, filled with every ounce of passion we had held back for so long.
Dimitri pulled me down to the soft grass, his body pressing against mine as he kissed me again, his hands exploring every inch of me like he was memorizing the feel of my skin.
I arched into him, a soft moan escaping my lips as he trailed kisses down my neck, his teeth grazing my sensitive skin.
“I love you,” he whispered against my throat, his voice rough with emotion.
“I love you, Kate. I always will.”
I gasped, my heart swelling at his words, and I held him tighter, my hands fisting in his shirt as I whispered back,
“I love you too, Dimitri. Forever.”
I melted into him, my fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer as the fire between us burned hotter. His hands roamed over my body, gentle yet possessive, as though he was claiming me all over again.
And in that moment, nothing else mattered-just the two of us, together, with no more curses, no more barriers. Just love.
Morning came with a gentle breeze, rustling the leaves above us as we lay tangled in each other’s arms. I woke first, blinking at the soft light filtering through the trees and then I just lay there, watching Dimitri as he slept beside me, tracing my fingers lightly over his jaw, marveling at how different he seemed now.
As if sensing my thoughts, Dimitri stirred, his eyes fluttering open.
“Morning,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
“Morning,” I whispered back, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips.
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer, and for a long moment, we just lay there.
“Do you think they’ll be surprised when we return?” I asked my head resting on his shoulder as we watched the fire crackle one night.
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Odette might be. ”
“Ryan though is a toss up, he’s probably convinced we’re never coming back and that he’s in charge for good.”
I laughed at that, imagining Louis trying to keep order among the pack. He was capable, sure, but I knew he wasn’t cut out for long-term leadership. Dimitri knew that too
“He’s going to be disappointed.”
Dimitri’s hand slid into mine,
“I don’t care what anyone else thinks. All that matters is that we’re together.”
I looked up at him, my heart swelling with love for this man.
“Together,” I agreed, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips.
The Bloodmoon Pack was waiting for us.
We reached pack borders while the sun was high in the sky,
“There it is,” Dimitri said softly, his voice filled with a quiet satisfaction.
“Home.”
I nodded, squeezing his hand. “Home.”
As we approached the pack house, the guards on duty spotted us and immediately were on alert, pulling the gates open
” Alpha, Luna welcome” the guards said and he nodded .
It wasn’t long before Ryan appeared, a mixture of relief and annoyance on his face.
“About time you two showed up,” he grumbled, despite the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“I was starting to think I’d have to run this pack forever.”
Dimitri clapped him on the shoulder, his expression filled with laughter.
” You’d have done it anyway why the complaint” he asked hugging Ryan, Ryan pulled back and laughed
“I’m going to kill your mate” he muttered and I smiled
” It would be with your right” I replied and Dimitri howled
” Hey”
“Thanks for holding down the fort.” I muttered
Beta Ryan shrugged, his grin widening.
“Someone had to do it.”
” Let’s get you both inside and fed ”
We were home. The curse was gone. And together, we were ready to rebuild the Bloodmoon Pack.