Northwood

Adline scarcely understood what the young man said as her head began spinning. The flame in Harvey’s hand falling to the lush green grass just short of the pyre. The flame licked at the blades of green and charred them with the intensity of its heat before dying.

“What?” Adline questioned the young man quickly. “What did you say?” She couldn’t help but question him as the disbelief she felt clouded her entire being.

“Alpha Kane.” The young man repeated. “He’s walking this way!” The young man was quite sure of what he had seen, of what they had all seen. It was his mother who instructed him to run to the center pyre and inform them of what was happening.

“Is that what the bright light was?” Adline asked almost frantically. How was he alive? How was he walking towards them? Where had he gone in the tie he’d disappeared?

There were many questions to be answered as the young man nodded his head slowly. “Yeah it was him. There was a bright light then he was just standing there.” The young man looked utterly confused and quite a bit frustrated. “It was like an alien spaceship just dumped him there. It was really weird.”

The group turned to hear someone walking towards them. In the darkness illuminated by the stars and moon Kane stepped from the shadows effortlessly.

Everyone gasped at the sight of him. The color had returned to his cheeks and as Adline let her eyes wander over his naked body she noted that wounds he’s sustained in the fight had disappeared. There weren’t even any scars.

“How,” Harvey whispered in disbelief as the atmosphere became tense for everyone but Kane.

“That is a long story better left for a bottle of whiskey.” Kane smiled through his words as everyone around him held their breaths.

“I don’t think it can wait that long Kane,” Taylor said as he remembered to breathe.

Adline however was rooted to the spot. Her eyes stung with a thousand tears as Kane addressed his men. Had he forgotten about her. “Do you mind if I do that?” Kane motioned towards the funeral pyre as his cousin Harvey stepped away and nodded slightly.

Before long another flame was produced and Kane touched it to the pyre. As the flames crept up the side he stepped back and said a few words for his mother. He prayed to the Moon Goddess to take her spirit and reunite it with his father and he prayed for Luce to find peace.

All the while Adline watched on. There was something incredibly different about Kane. Besides being alive he seemed relaxed. His muscles weren’t bunched like they usually were and he wasn’t wearing a scowl, in fact all crease lined on his face had disappeared and he had a more youthful appearance.

He turned to Adline and her world stopped spinning. His grey eyes swept along her entire body as if it was the first time he had ever seen her. She held her breath as he walked towards her. His torso bare as a blanket covered his lower body. She was thankful for she knew had he been completely bare her gaze would have lingered elsewhere.

Kane scooped Adline up in his arms and just held her. Everything in that moment was perfect. It was everything they had both been dreaming of. Kane inhaled her scent deeply and found that she smelled like him.

Pulling back he saw that her eyes were completely dilated and full of hunger. “Tonight I make you mine,” he whispered seductively as Adline nodded her head obligingly. She was in a trance like state and still in awe of Kane.

He pulled away from Adline slightly and just held her as the heat from the burning pyre intensified. Soon after the light from the outer pyres died and families moved towards the middle.

Word had spread quickly that Kane was alive and many of those that had gathered were skeptical but as eyes landed on his familiar form many of them dropped to the ground and prayed to the Moon Goddess. Many others sent their thanks to her, including Adline.

When finally the burning ceremony was over the air was filled the the many scents of those gone and it gave hope to those left that their loved ones would not wander into the afterlife alone.

Kane found himself surrounded by his loyal pack. They smiled, they cried and they were thankful for his return. None of them bitter that their loved ones had not been revised.

Kane and Adline returned to the Northwood mansion alone. It seemed so strange, so surreal but it was happening, they were together.

An expectant feeling filled Adline. She didn’t know what exactly to expect but she knew Kane would take care of her.

As soon as they were alone Kane turned to Adline and pulled her to him as a sensual smile pressed itself against his lips. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you,” Kane whispered in her ear as he brushed dark strands from her face. She was a vision of beauty even if she didn’t know. “Since I first lay eyes on you all I’ve wanted to do was make you mine.” The sudden hunger that filled him was terrifying for Adline to see but she couldn’t move.

“How are you alive?” She questioned him as she placed one of her hands on his cheek. “I must be dreaming still,” she sighed feeling his stubble cheek beneath her fingers.

“You aren’t dreaming,” Kane smiled as he lowered his face towards Adline. His thumb brushed her lips before he closed the small gap between them. His lips pressed lightly against Adlines as one of his hands wound its way through her hair, the other resting on her back and pulling her closer. Adline couldn’t help but arch backwards.

Kane’s grip only tightened further as Adline wrapped her arms around his neck. Kane broke away and smiled down at his mate. “If you don’t want to do this we can wait.”

With a shake of her head Adline pulled him in again for another kiss. “I don’t want this to stop,” she breathed as she pressed her lips to Kane’s again.

Adline found herself swept up in the intensity of the connection she felt with Kane and before she knew it he was placing her gently on to his bed.

Removing the covering from around his waist Kane stood in all his glory and Adline’s nerves hit a new high.

Kane lowered himself next to Adline and just watched her. She seemed hesitant but curious.

Adline removed her shirt and rolled towards Kane. Everything she felt was completely foreign to her body but it felt wonderful.

As she and Kane came together in the most intimate way the pain she’d expected to feel didn’t even register as the love and pleasure she felt at finally being with him overrode every other emotion she could have possibly been feeling. Laying in his arms that night she fell into a deep, comfortable slumber. Everything would be alright.

Waking the next morning she found herself alone, the spot Kane had occupied cold and empty. Was it all a dream? Had she really thought it all in her head? Rubbing her eyes she sat up groggily and looked around the room. She was in Kane’s room just like she had been every other morning since his death.

Looking about the place she found her clothing discarded at the side of the bed but the covering Kane had worn was not there.

A strange sense of panic began welling up inside her as she sat there feeling the walls of her world caving in. She had imagined it all! Her face crumbled as the tears began falling down her cheeks freely. A heavy sob racked her entire body as her long hair fell around her face.

In her despair she failed to hear the bedroom door open and close but soon felt herself pulled in by a pair of strong, familiar arms.

“What’s the matter Kitten?” She heard his voice as he ran his fingers through her hair. “I’m right here, I’ll always be right here.”

Pulling away from him Adline stared up into familiar grey eyes that looked down on her full of sorrow. Throwing her arms around him greedily she pulled herself to him as her tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy. “Where did you go?!” She scolded him angrily as she pressed her face against his neck. “I thought I dreamed it all,” she breathed deeply as she clung to him as if her life depended on it. “Where did you go?” She questioned him curiously as she pulled away.

The smile that rested against Kane’s lips annoyed Adline but before she could say anything he pressed his lips to hers lovingly, “I thought you would have worked up a hunger from last night so I wanted to make breakfast,” he smiled warmly. Seeing her in such a state distressed him but he also found it amusing. “It’s probably burned now but if you want to put some clothes on and come with me?” He questioned her gently wit a smile on his face.

Adline nodded her head as she pulled away, “that sounds nice.”