{"For the strength of the Mate is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Mate."}
I barely remember saying it. "Can we… go inside?"
It came out more like a breath than a sentence. I did not even say the words aloud. But Spark heard me. And the next thing I knew, his arms were around me and he whispered, "I've got you," he murmured. My body melted into his as he lifted me, bridal-style, like it was nothing. And even though I was still flushed with the after-heat haze, too weak to walk properly, too sore to shift, he did not flinch. He just carried me like he had been waiting his whole life to do it.
Through the back door. Up the stairs. Into our room and he set me down on the bed like I was breakable porcelain, tucking a pillow beneath my head, smoothing back my damp hair. "I'm going to grab a warm cloth," he said quietly. "Then food. Do not move unless you must."
