As the Alphas dispersed, I felt a lingering sense of unease. Aiden must have sensed it too because he gently squeezed my hand and said, "Come on, let's head back to our room."

I nodded my head and followed him in silence.

Once we reached the sanctuary of our quarters, Aiden turned to me, his eyes softening. "I know there's a lot to process right now. How about we take a break from all of this?"

I smiled, feeling the weight of the day beginning to lift slightly. "What do you have in mind?"

Aiden smiled back, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. "Wanna run?"

I nodded my head enthusiastically as we quickly shed our clothes, leaving them neatly folded on a nearby chair. Moments later, the familiar sensation of transformation washed over me, bones shifting, muscles realigning, until I stood on four powerful legs. I glanced at Aiden, now in his wolf form, his beautiful fur shimmering under the soft light of the room.

With a shared glance, we bolted out the door and toward the dining room. Thankfully there was one of the butlers able to open the door for us.

"Do have a good run, Alpha," the man said as we bounded out the door.

I motioned toward the territory between Silver Moon and Dark Moon. Aiden cocked his head to the side but I just rolled my eyes and ran. The forest around us became a blur as we sped through the trees, the cool night air filling our lungs and invigorating our spirits. The moon hung high above illuminating the path before us.

The rhythm of our run brought a sense of calm, each stride helping to untangle the myriad of thoughts in my mind. We weaved through the trees, leapt over fallen logs, and splashed through shallow streams. Eventually, we found ourselves at the same small clearing where we met, the moonlight shining bright over Silver Lake. We slowed to a stop, panting lightly, and lay down side by side on the cool grass, looking up at the sky.

Aiden nudged me gently with his nose, his eyes filled with warmth. I nuzzled him back, feeling a surge of affection. My wolf whined slightly as we lay side by side.

For a while, we stayed there, soaking in the tranquility of the moment. I shifted back to my human form and stood. Aiden studied me, puzzled, for a moment until he watched me wade into the lake.

The water was cold. Much colder than I anticipated it would be.

I gasped as the chill embraced me, sending a shiver through my body. Despite the cold, I continued in further until my feet couldn't touch the bottom. Aiden remained at the edge, his wolf eyes watching me intently, reflecting the moonlight.

"Come on in," I called, my voice echoing slightly over the still surface of the lake, my teeth chattering only a little bit.

Aiden shifted back to his human form, laughing as he watched me. He stood tall and strong against the backdrop of the forest. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the water, wincing at the cold.

He reached me quickly, wrapping his arms around me. The warmth of his body contrasted sharply with the icy water, creating a cocoon of heat. He pulled me a bit closer to the edge of the lake so our feet could touch the bottom again.

"You're crazy, you know that?" he murmured, a smile tugging at his lips.

"I needed this," I replied, resting my head against his chest. "To just be here with you, away from everything else."

Aiden nodded, his chin brushing the top of my head. "I understand. It's hard being in charge."

We stood there in silence, the gentle lapping of the water against our bodies the only sound. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, feeling a sense of peace I hadn't felt in days. The moon cast a silver glow over everything, making the world seem almost magical.

"It's too bad this can't last forever," I said.

Aiden's grip tightened around me. "I know," he murmured. "But that's what makes moments like this so special. We appreciate them more because we know they're fleeting."

I sighed, letting his words sink in. "I guess you're right. It just feels like everything is moving so fast. Sometimes I wish we could just pause time and stay in moments like these. I mean just a few weeks ago I was still in Dark Moon and now we're trying to decipher prophecies, find mysterious stones, and having our marking ceremony."

Aiden kissed the top of my head, his lips warm and reassuring. "We'll make it through, Elara. It won't always be crazy times. I'm sure we'll have some peace eventually."

I looked up at him, meeting his steady gaze. His confidence was infectious, and I felt a flicker of hope reignite within me. "I believe you. As long as we're together, I believe we can handle anything."

Aiden smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get back to the shore before we turn into ice sculptures."

Laughing softly, I nodded, and we made our way back to the edge of the lake. The cold air hit us as we emerged from the water, and we quickly shifted back into our wolf forms, shaking off the chill. Running back through the forest, I couldn't wait to climb into bed.

Once we reached the warmth of the house and the safety of our room, we transformed back into our human forms and wrapped ourselves in thick, cozy blankets.

"Feeling warmer?" Aiden asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Much better," I replied, snuggling deeper into the blanket. "Thanks for that. I needed it."

The fire in the hearth filled the room with warmth and comfort. We settled onto the bed and Aiden's hand gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his touch tender and affectionate. "You're amazing, you know that?" he said softly.

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. "I'm just trying to keep up with everything."

"And you're doing wonderfully," he whispered, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

He leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that was both sweet and passionate. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in this moment. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.

Aiden's hands traced gentle patterns on my back. I melted into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. The connection between us was undeniable, a blend of love and passion that made everything else seem insignificant.

We pulled back slightly, our breaths mingling as we gazed at each other. "I love you, Aiden," I whispered, the words carrying all the emotion I felt in my heart.

"I love you too, Elara," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity and warmth.

Under the soft glow of the fireplace, Aiden and I lay there wrapped in each other's arms. The night was wearing on, and we had only a few hours before the sun would rise yet again. Aiden's touch became more insistent, his hands exploring my body with a blend of tenderness and urgency. Our kisses deepened as the fire crackled softly in the background. We lost ourselves in each other. The outside world faded away, leaving only the warmth of the fire, the rhythm of our breathing, and the intoxicating closeness of our entwined bodies.

"You're so beautiful, Elara," Aiden murmured. "I've been wanting to have you all day."

"I've wanted you too, Aiden," I replied, my fingertips tracing the outline of his muscular chest. "I can't believe we finally have alone time together."

Our bodies moved in sync with one another, every touch sending shivers of pleasure through every fiber of my being. Aiden's lips found my neck, his teeth gently nibbling on my earlobe as his hands slid down to cup my bum.

"I need you, Elara," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the crackling fire.

"Take me, Aiden," I replied, my voice trembling with anticipation. "I'm yours."

Aiden's hands began to wander lower, tracing the curves of my hips and the sensitive skin of my inner thighs. His eyes widened with desire as he took in the sight of my body. He pulled me close and in that embrace, time seemed to stand still. The outside world faded away, leaving only the two of us entwined in our shared ecstasy. Every touch, every kiss, was a testament to the bond we shared, a bond that transcended the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead.

We lay there for a while, our bodies intermingled and our hearts beating in sync. It was a perfect moment, one that I would cherish forever.

As we lay there, basking in the afterglow of our intimate embrace, a soft knock on the door interrupted the tranquility of the night. Aiden and I exchanged a surprised glance, our bodies still intertwined beneath the warmth of the blankets. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the room.

Aiden sighed softly, his forehead resting against mine as he brushed a strand of hair away from my face. "I'll see who it is," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips before reluctantly extricating himself from our embrace.

I watched him move across the room, the play of firelight casting a golden glow over his features. He pulled on a robe, loosely tying the sash around his waist, before padding over to the door. With a slight hesitation, he opened it to reveal one of the house guards, a young wolf named Lucas.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you. A message from Dark Moon."

Aiden sighed heavily and took the note. "Thank you."

He closed the door and turned towards me, opening the paper. "It seems your Father discovered that two of his three children are here. He's going to be coming to our marking ceremony on Friday."

I shook my head. "I don't know why Harry thought that his camping lie would work forever. What was he going to do when he didn't show up for a few more weeks and just reappeared with a mate?"

"I don't think he was thinking," Aiden chuckled. "At least you'll have your parents here."

"Yeah, I suppose that's a good thing. My mom is going to be a paranoid freak the entire time."

"Sorry," Aiden whispered.

"For what?"

"Making your life a mess." He sat on the edge of the bed and held my hand.

"Love, my life was a mess before you. You've given me sanity," I chuckled. "I'm just glad to be here with you."

He leaned down and kissed me deeply before falling over onto his pillows.