Michael slowly walked over and lay down next to Alex. She brushed her muzzle against his and breathed in his scent. Their fur mingled, raindrops beading and sliding down their bodies.
You found me.
In wolf form, they didn't need words—thoughts alone were enough.
This is one of your favorite places, he replied.
Alex smiled. Once, a comment like that would have irritated her—being predictable, having someone who knew her so well and came looking for her. But now, gazing at the wolf beside her, she felt nothing but gratitude: that he did know her this well, accepted her as she was, and loved her regardless.
They were perched atop a hill near the villa. From there, their home was clearly visible—its windows glowing like small stars against the dark. By day, the view stretched across snow-dusted ridges, patches of heather, and a small pond nestled in the valley below.
This place brought her peace and serenity. It was her retreat whenever she needed time alone. Though she had grown attached to every member of the large family in the villa, solitude still called to her now and then. After all, she had lived alone for so long as a human.
Michael knew her boundaries well and always respected them—but he also understood when it was time to cross them. A few moments later, Alex rested her muzzle on her paws beside his, and Mick did the same. They lay there quietly, occasionally twitching an ear to shake off an errant raindrop, content just to be near each other.
Alex briefly wondered whether this peace would last—but left the question unanswered. She chose instead to live in the moment, free of expectations.
She had been a fighter long before becoming a werewolf, and her mate was the beta of a pack. She had chosen him knowing exactly what it meant, and she had no regrets. What truly mattered was right there beside her—and not far off, within the villa.
She had a partner, a family, trusted friends, a place to call home. More than she had ever dared hope for.
Even her werewolf nature had become something she cherished. She loved that wild, primal part of herself so connected to the land. Whenever she could, she wandered the nearby hills, free and untethered.
To fight for all this—that was a price she was more than willing to pay.