Rachel’s POV
The morning sun painted golden streaks across the meadow as I watched Mateo play. His tiny legs carried him with surprising speed as he chased after a butterfly, his delighted giggles warming my heart.
Nathan stood nearby, his protective gaze never leaving our son, while Victoria and Apollo sat on a nearby bench, taking a rare moment of peace in what had been weeks of chaos.
I sensed Carter’s approach before I saw him.
“Uncky!” Mateo called out, abandoning his pursuit of the butterfly to wave enthusiastically at Carter.
A genuine smile spread across Carter’s face as he approached, kneeling down to kiss Mateo’s chubby cheek. “Hey there, little warrior.”
“Mower!” Mateo demanded, pointing toward the swing set at the edge of the garden.
“More swings? Is that what you want?” Carter asked, ruffling Mateo’s dark hair.
Victoria stood up and walked over to us. “Come on, little prince. Uncle Apollo and I will take you for some swings.”
She scooped Mateo up, throwing a meaningful glance my way before heading toward the playground with Apollo following behind.
Once they were out of earshot, I turned to Carter. “You look better now,” I observed, noting the healthy color that had returned to his face.
Carter grinned. “Of course! Not many people get fed the precious blood of a woman chosen by the Moon Goddess herself for an entire week! My God, my body is full of energy. I feel ten years younger!”
“Your intelligence level reflects that too,” Nathan commented dryly.
“I take that as you being jealous of my youthful vigor, brother. Not brave enough to face the challenge?” Carter replied with a smirk. “Why don’t we run through the woods to the river? We can watch the sun finish rising there.”
I studied Carter’s face, sensing this wasn’t just a random suggestion. Something about the way his eyes lingered on the horizon told me this meant something special to him.
“Sounds like a good idea,” I said softly.
Nathan nodded. “You’re asking for it.”
I quickly prepared a change of clothes in a small backpack, and within moments, the three of us shifted into our wolf forms. The cool morning dew dampened our paws as we raced across the expansive grounds.
The forest welcomed us with winding paths bordered by towering pine trees and bright berry–laden bushes.
I ran just behind the two brothers, watching with amusement as they pushed and shoved each other, trying to gain the advantage.
Despite their mutual antagonism, there was something undeniably playful about their interaction now–something that hadn’t been there before.
After about thirty minutes of running, the sound of rushing water reached my ears.
I inhaled deeply, catching the fresh scent of the river, feeling invigorated by the crisp morning air.
Nathan reached the riverbank first, turning to give Carter a smug look. Carter responded by shoulder–checking him, sending Nathan tumbling a
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Chapter 350
few feet into the cold water.
Nathan burst from the river, shaking his fur vigorously and spraying water all over Carter. I couldn’t help but giggle at their antics
I ducked behind some bushes to shift back and change into my clothes, then handed the backpack to Nathan and Carter so they could do the
same.
Soon, we were all sitting on a large rock overlooking the water as the sun finally crested the horizon.
In the distance, Emerald City gleamed in the golden morning light, like something from a fairy tale or a dream.
“Remember when we were kids back in Ironjaw territory?” Carter said suddenly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. ‘We used to race to the river all the time.”
“I remember, Nathan replied. “I always won.”
“Hey, you were much bigger and stronger than me,” Carter said, a hint of the old resentment in his voice before it softened. “You were my big brother. The toughest guy in the world. I thought… you could do no wrong.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Summary & Review: By Werewolf