I watch Grace as she sleeps, the ring now placed on her left ring finger gleaming in what ever light filters in from the port hole. She clutches the blanket covered in our scent and I smile. This she-wolf is mine and I am hers. Letting out a soft sigh, I think about the future we will have, a future as King and Queen with pups of our own one day. But something bothers me.
We have been able to avoid continuing the Run this time with all the new changes taking place the last six months, but now we have to plan for the next one that is supposed to take place in six months time. I have yet to find a substitute that will prevent senseless raping of she-wolves and allow the women of our nation a chance to actually find love like Grace and I did. We could probably use our engagement as an excuse to cancel the next one, but what about the one after that and the one after that. We need to find a permanent solution and soon.
"Caden?" Her sleepy voice fills the cabin pulling me from my thoughts. Seeing her sleepy gaze and out stretched arms beckoning me to return to her side I walk back to the bed, climb under the blankets and pull Grace on top of me, her hands instantly clinging to me as she buries her face in the crook of my neck. We agreed that the day she moves into the palace we will complete the mating in our home. For now, she kisses the spot her mark will one day be place.
"Sorry I couldn't sleep." I whisper as I inhale her scent, fingers gently combing through her hair.
"Wanna tell me what's wrong?" She yawns half way through her question and I chuckle, placing a soft kiss on her temple. Goddess I love this woman.
"Not right now.” I answer, hearing her yawn once again as she snuggles closer.
“You just go back to sleep my Princess." She nods against my chest after I say this, her breath evening out as she goes back to sleep and I smile again. I am lucky to have met her and now I need to be the Alpha King she believes me to be. I just hope she could handle the stress of the Crown when the time comes.