Blake glanced at her to see the depth of feelings she had for him, which went a long way in settling the beast inside of him. He reminded himself that if it got too intense, he’d pack them up and get them out of town and back in their cave.
They turned into his driveway, and he saw that someone had been taking care of it because the grass was cut on both sides of the road, and the gravel was level with no potholes to jar the truck. When the road curved and he got his first look at his house, he felt tears sting his eyes. He never thought he’d be back, and here he was, returning to the house where he’d grown up and would now live with his mate. He imagined all the children they’d have romping around in the yard and him teaching them how to turn into and control their wolves.
“Oh, Blake, it’s beautiful.”
He tried to see it through her eyes and was pleased with her response. The house was two-story, stone, with a wraparound porch. He saw the rockers his parents would sit in all the time and how the porch had been swept clean recently. It was like he’d left only yesterday instead of six years ago. He had someone to thank for taking care of the place for him while he’d been gone.
“I’m glad you like it, mate. I want you to be happy here.”
He pulled up next to the house and parked. When he got to her door, he opened it and lifted her out.
“I can walk,” she said.
“I know. I just feel that this first time walking into our house should be special.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his shoulder.
He opened the front door, and right away, he smelled furniture polish and chocolate. He couldn’t believe how clean the place was when he glanced around.
“Oh, my. That fireplace is beautiful,” she said as he set her on her feet.
“My grandfather built this house decades ago, and my parents added on or renovated it over the years.”
“Where are they now?” she asked.
He felt the grief he knew he’d never get over. “They died in a car accident about ten years ago.”
“Oh, God, I’m sorry.”
“I am, too. I miss them. They would have loved you.”
“You had no siblings?” she asked.
Blake shook his head. “No, unfortunately, my mom was unable to conceive again.”
She cuddled up against him. “I just had a mother who died of a drug overdose.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry, mate.”
She snuggled against him.
“How about I show you around your new home? If there’s anything you want to change, let me know. A few things need updating.”
He took her hand and showed her the living room, office, downstairs bathroom, and kitchen before pulling her into the master bedroom on the main floor.
“This is ours.”
He watched as she moved around the room, touching things.
“Did you ever sleep in here?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. I knew I never would until I brought my mate back home.”
He could say it in his head a thousand times and was still in awe of the fact that he’d found her.
She twirled around in the room. “I love it here.”
He grinned. “I’m glad.” It made things easier for her if she liked her surroundings, and coming from a city, he’d been worried it might be too rustic for her.