Standing in the middle of a field, I stare at everything around me. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, filling my lungs before releasing it once more. Nico stares at me but doesn’t say a word, allowing me to enjoy the moment.

Deep within my soul, I feel my wolf stir for the first time in years. Maybe Nico was right and I should just give us both the time we need to heal. She isn’t back all the way but knowing she is still there offers me some comfort.

“What do you think?” Nico asks once we reach the waterfall.

“It’s stunning,” I whisper. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

The waterfall pours from high upon the cliff until it reaches the small pool beneath. The sound is soothing and the water beckons me. White and yellow water lilies float on the surface making the entire scene seem like something out of a dream.

“Neither have I.”

When I face him, I find that he isn’t looking at the scenery but at me. I blush, heat creeping across my chest and face. No man has ever paid me this much attention. The Hunters didn’t fraternize with the captives, something I’m more grateful for than words can express. At least I never had to worry about being assaulted in that way. We were all beneath them and I can honestly say I have never been so grateful for other people’s prejudices. I remember when I was first taken, praying I wouldn’t be a victim of sexual assault.

Now, I am more grateful than ever. Of all the things wrong with my mind and my body, at least that isn’t part of it. One less hurdle to get over before I can start my new life.

“I really want to ask you to take a swim with me but I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Nico says before looking away from me.

My heart breaks a little but I don’t tell him that.

“I can feel your sadness, Emmaleigh. I don’t need to be mated to you to know what you are feeling,” he says cupping my face. “Don’t for a second think I don’t want to swim with you, spend time with you, or do dirty things to you. I never want to let you out of my sight again. But my wolf is volatile and wants to get to you and I won’t risk losing control.”

“Oh.”

I am shocked by his blatant honesty. He doesn’t hold anything back and seems to always say what he is thinking. It’s refreshing and scary at the same time. Thinking of this male in any kind of sexual situation has my blood heating and my pussy weeping. If I was a stronger woman I would beg him to take me now, but I don’t. Hopefully I will be able to do that someday soon.

“Could we just sit on those rocks with our feet in the water?” I ask, hoping to change the subject and get my mind of all the dirty thoughts I’m having.

“Anything,” he says placing a kiss on the crown of my head.