Elara POV

Stunned, I watch Mason walk away. This conversation was weird. He went from no way to fine in two seconds. I can never tell how he will react.

“Are you okay?” Axel asks behind me, and I swing around in fright.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he chuckles, holding his hands up defensively.

“Are you spying on me?” I narrow my eyes, looking at him suspiciously. “Don’t you trust me alone with Mason?”

“Relax, Elara,” he scoffs, pointing towards a heap of logs. “I’m here to get wood. Mom insists that she wants a fire.”

“Oh,” I reply, deflated.

“But,” he continues, strolling closer to me. “I did hear everything.”

“Okay,” I nod slowly, while rerunning our conversation. “So, you know he’s going to help us.”

“I’m more interested in the part about running away with him,” he replies, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“Do you think I would ...”

“No, Elara,” he softly interrupts me with a smile. “Even if you do go with him, I still trust you.”

“I ... I don’t understand,” I frown, confused.

“When you were mated to us, Kane and I were young, arrogant and stupid,” he explains, stroking my cheek. “We didn’t know what love was until you came into our lives. Horrible things happened to us, but they forced us to grow up. And with true love comes complete trust. I trust you, Elara. Whatever you do or don’t do with Mason, it will be because you’re doing what’s best for everyone.”

My heart weakens, and my knees buckle. It is the kindest and most heartwarming words anyone has ever said to me.

Axel kisses me softly, and my heart expands as an overwhelming urge to be with him takes control of me. I tug at his shirt, and he unbuttons my jeans.

We toss our clothes aside, and he gently pushes me back onto a hillock of soft grass.

Axel POV

When Elara opens herself to me, it feels like heaven itself. She and I have not been alone like this ... ever, and it is glorious.

I nuzzle the insides of her things, one at a time, revelling in my mate’s sweet scent.

Elara arches into my mouth as I let myself taste her. I let my tongue slide along the tight knot of her clitoris, and when I slip a finger into her hot, tight cavern, her muscles clench me.

Her fingers dig into the dirt as I continue my onslaught. I want this moment to last forever. It is not only about her pleasure, but it is about showing her how much I love her. That her needs come before mine, or anyone else’s. Her toes curl, and she cries out softly as her entire body shudders.

I slowly glide my tongue over her stomach, navel, until I reach her perfectly rounded breasts. I take a nipple into my mouth and gently suck on her. My hand reaches her other breast, and I playfully pinch her nipple, making her gasp.

“Axel,” she breathes my name, arching closer to me.

My lips move to her neck, finding that sweet spot that I am so desperate to mark. And that will happen once the timing is right. Kane and I have forced her so many times in the past; this time, she will have a choice.

I take my erection in one fist and position myself between her legs, teasing her with the tip of my cock, wetting it before sliding in the first inch and withdrawing.

“Oh, this is torture,” she groans. “Don’t stop.”

I capture her lips, slipping my tongue into her mouth as I settle myself again at her entrance. My body pressed her into the soft grass as I thrust into her, hard and fast.

With every thrust, I push her closer and closer to an orgasm. She thrashes beneath me, mindless with pleasure.

Her joyous reaction urges me to do better. To give her more of myself, and faster. I am being consumed alive by desire. As if I am in a fire, burning, I am exploding into a million tiny points of light.

“Axel,” she screams my name as her orgasm hits her.

With a grunt, I bury my face against the side of her neck. My hips pump faster, and she rakes her nails down my back and wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me closer.

Finally, I reached my relief. Hard and fierce. It is like fireworks exploding around us. Gold glitter surged and mingled with orange and crimson luminescence radiating off her.

My body convulses against her until I am an empty shell.

As the glow fades, leaving us in darkness, I roll onto my side, pulling her with me and onto my chest. She nestles her face in my neck, finds my hand and intertwines our fingers.

Breathless, we stare up at the night sky and the moon.

“Your mother is going to become impatient about her fire,” Elara murmurs against my chest.

“I don’t care,” I grin, holding her closer. “She has another son to keep her warm.”

“Yeah,” she giggles. “And when he finds us here like this, he’ll want to join.”

“You’re right,” I sigh contentedly. “And Stella’s not old enough to fetch wood.”

“Come on,” she laughs, standing up. “I’ll help you with the wood.”

“You don’t have to,” I say, reaching for my pants. “I’m big and strong enough to do it on my own.”

“I know exactly how big and strong you are,” she smiles mischievously, grabbing my crotch. “But I want to help.”

“Then you can carry the big ones,” I smirk, handing her a log.

“This is what I want,” she murmurs. “Peaceful evenings at the fire with the people I love.”

“And we’ll get there,” I lean over and kiss her softly. “We have a plan, and we’re going to fix things.”

“I hope you’re right,” she sighs, as we walk home.

“I am,” I say confidently, but truthfully, I am terrified. Anything can go wrong, and dying is not my worst fear.