Warmth woke her before sunlight did.
Not blankets.
Not furs.
Owain.
His arms were wrapped around her body, one under her neck, the other secured across her waist, holding her against the heat of his bare chest.
His breath fanned over her collarbone—
slow, steady, deep.
Kanah stirred.
Owain's grip immediately tightened.
A low, instinctive growl rumbled through his chest.
"Don't move," he murmured, voice raw with sleep and something deeper.
"Not yet."
Kanah froze.
Then slowly relaxed back into him.
"Owain…" she whispered.
He exhaled shakily.
"You're warm," he said softly, nuzzling her shoulder.
"You smell like me."
Her cheeks burned.
Everything was blurry, soft, hazy in her memory:
His hands
His heat
His breath
His voice murmuring her name
The moment his instincts claimed her fully
The moment she accepted him completely
The bond snapping into place like a pulse of light inside her chest
Her throat tightened.
"Owain… are you okay?"
Owain shifted, pressing gentle kisses along her shoulder, as if he couldn't bear to stop touching her.
"Yes," he whispered.
"More than okay."
His lips brushed her jaw.
"I feel whole."
Kanah's breath stilled.
"Owain…"
His voice trembled—
an almost unheard vulnerability.
"Kana… this is the first time in my life I've woken up without fear."
She turned in his arms, facing him.
Owain's golden eyes were softer than she had ever seen—
liquid, open, full of reverence.
"You're safe," he whispered.
"You're really here."
Kanah cupped his cheek.
"So are you."
He leaned into her touch, eyes closing.
"You don't know what it did to me," he murmured, "to feel your breath against me all night. Your heartbeat. Your warmth. Your trust."
Kanah's chest squeezed.
"Owain…"
He kissed her forehead tenderly.
Then her cheek.
Then the corner of her mouth.
Each kiss slow, lingering, aching with meaning.
"I won't let anything hurt you again," he whispered.
"I won't let anything take you from me."
Kanah smiled softly.
"You already have me."
Owain inhaled sharply.
"Kana…"
He kissed her lips.
Not like last night—
not wild, not hungry—
but slow, deep, a kiss that felt like sunrise spreading across her skin.
Her fingers slid into his hair.
Owain groaned quietly and pulled her closer, pressing her fully into his chest.
Their breaths mingled.
Their heartbeats synced.
Kanah felt something warm pulse through her—
The mate bond.
A tether.
A hum.
A warmth under her ribs.
Owain's pupils dilated.
"You feel it too," he whispered.
Kanah nodded.
"It's… soft."
Owain smiled.
"Like you."
She laughed softly—and he kissed her again for it.
His thumb stroked her hip absentmindedly, as if he couldn't stop touching her.
Kanah felt heat stir deep in her belly.
"Owain…" she murmured.
He froze.
Not pulling away—
just stilling, breath held.
"Yes?"
His voice was low. Rough.
Kanah flushed.
"…Nothing."
Owain's lips curved into a slow, wicked smile.
"You were going to say something."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
Owain leaned down, kissing the pulse point beneath her ear.
Kanah gasped.
"Saying nothing," he murmured against her skin, "is also an answer."
Her breath trembled.
"You're teasing me."
"Always," he growled softly.
She swatted his chest.
He laughed quietly and kissed her again—
gentle but deep enough to make her toes curl.
"Owain," she whispered, breathless, "I'm… hungry."
He blinked.
Then grinned, amused.
"For food, or for me?"
Her cheeks burned so hot he laughed again, pulling her into his chest.
"I'll take that as 'both.'"
Kanah buried her face in his shoulder.
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"I dislike you."
"No you don't."
She sighed into his skin.
"…Fine. I don't dislike you."
Owain brushed her hair back.
"You love me."
Kanah's chest warmed.
"Yes," she whispered.
"I do."
He froze.
Then held her tighter, as if he needed to hear it again and again.
THE SUB-MATES KEEP THEIR DISTANCE
When they finally dressed and stepped out of the small shelter, the morning sun cast golden light across the valley.
The world felt different.
Softer.
Safer.
Brighter.
Gerrin stood by a tree—
not approaching,
simply nodding with warm approval.
Kanah blushed.
Yllas, wings half-folded, glanced at Owain with a faint smile.
"Your scent has changed," he said.
"Both of yours."
Owain's arm wrapped around her waist possessively.
"She's mine."
Yllas inclined his head.
"And you are hers."
Helion, lounging on a tree branch above, grinned.
"Well, well, the queen walks today."
Owain growled.
"Helion—"
Helion raised both hands.
"I'm being respectful! Look at me not teasing! Look at my restraint!"
Kanah snorted.
Owain muttered:
"He has no restraint."
The leopard winked.
"I have enough."
Kanah felt a rush of affection for all of them—
their respect,
their warmth,
their acceptance of her choice—
But Owain remained at her side, warm and grounding.
Her mate.
Her husband.
Her heart.
THE QUEEN'S FIRST STEP
Owain pulled her close again, voice low.
"Kana."
She looked up.
His golden eyes held nothing but love and hunger and reverence.
"Today," he murmured, "the world will see you as my mate."
Kanah reached up and brushed his cheek with her fingers.
"And I'll see myself as yours."
Owain kissed her—
slow, deep, claiming—
a kiss that made her toes curl again.
When they broke apart, breathless, he whispered against her lips:
"Then let's show them our future."
Kanah intertwined her fingers with his.
And with the bond humming between their hearts—
she stepped forward into her new life.