#Chapter 234 – One Last Night in the Forest

We troupe out of the cabin about an hour later, headed west through the pines towards where we sense we last made camp. I look over my shoulder one last time at the run-down little cabin sitting alone in the woods, mouthing a little thank-you to it. It’s truly given us so much – fed and protected us when we really needed us. The sunlight gleams prettily off the roof of the little house for a moment, as if in reply – a little wink from the wise woman of the woods, telling me it was her pleasure.

I turn back to my family, where a little argument is breaking out. Ian begs Victor to let him and Alvin turn into wolves and run the distance to our camp, but Victor tells them no, not this time.

“It’s too dangerous to let you wild things out on your own,” Victor says as we step into the embrace of the trees. “And I don’t want to change. I want to walk with your mom.” He takes my hand and gives me a little smile.

“But mom can change too!” Alvin protests. “We can all –“

“Not today, baby,” I say, shaking my head at him. “Let’s all be people for a little bit. I like the look of your cute little faces.”

“I’m not cute,” Ian protests, crossing his arms and frowning at me. “I’m handsome. Like dad.” He looks up at his father with hero-worship in his eyes.

“A complete hottie,” I reply, my voice rich with sarcasm.

Ian just frowns at me. “What’s that?”

Victor laughs and shakes his head. “Seriously, am I never going to live that down?”

“No,” I respond seriously, grinning up at him. “I’m putting it on your gravestone.” My mate laughs harder and puts his arm around my shoulders, pulling me along.

The boys get over their disappointment at not being allowed to run as wolves pretty rapidly, enjoying themselves as little boys instead. They climb over the rocks like little geckoes for hours, exploring interesting new plants and creatures that they find. Victor and I feign a little interest whenever they run back to show us some new treasure, but really, we’ve only got eyes for each other.

I try to work up a little guilt at not paying enough attention to my sons after leaving them alone all night but I give up on that pretty fast. I can’t help it.

apparently,

down my back, coming to rest dangerously

know,” I say, wrinkling my nose as I look up at him. “Overwhelmed with despair, just wracked with

with me. “What do you think of it all, though? The astral

as if I can see the stars behind them. “I mean, happy, of course. It’s lovely to know that you’re my mate, or at least to have it confirmed. She said something, though, at the

curious. “What

it through. “Nothing bad. Just…she said that the children of astral mates are extraordinary,

after our boys. “I

nod, my gaze

gave

him, smacking his belly with my hand. He

you about this?” he asks, growing serious again. “It kind of makes sense –

them to think they have some kind of destiny to fulfill,

contradicting me, just wondering aloud. “If you had a destiny, wouldn’t

at him, letting him know that I value this journey

he agrees, stopping me in the forest and using that hand on my back to pull me close. “We’ll let the figure out their destinies for themselves. It’s their journey,

my face up to his. Victor obliges my silent request by pressing his lips to mine. Our kiss deepens after

and I break apart to see our two

chimes in, his shoulders slumped

us into the pool. “I seem to remember you sneaking out of your dad’s bedroom after tricking me into falling asleep there, so that we’d wake up

but we didn’t know it was going to be gross!” Alvin protests. “We thought it was

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