Willow followed Cage up the rugged mountain path, her breath misting in the chilly Alaskan air. Cage moved with an effortless grace—his massive form navigating the rocky terrain as if it were smooth pavement. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape, and Willow couldn’t help but admire the way the light played over Cage’s muscular physique as they made their way up the mountain.

Having met on the island while her life was endangered meant that the timeline to their love story had been condensed. Willow smiled thinking about how truly awful she had been with him. Granted he’d been keeping a rather large secret, but then so had everyone else there. But in the end, it hadn’t mattered. Willow had found a true and abiding love with Cage—the kind she thought only existed in romance books. She had to admit that she rather liked being the heroine of her own happily ever after. Being bound by destiny didn’t seem so bad when your fated mate was a gorgeous hunk, great in bed and was committed to making you happy. They were all but inseparable, their bond growing stronger each day.

When they reached the mouth of the cave, Cage turned to her, the soft little boy smile that seemed incongruous to the deadly predator he could be softening his usually stern features. He removed ice and snow from over a well-hidden box attached to a spur of rock. Opening it, he punched in a code and a large slab of rock slid open and soft light within the interior came on automatically.

“This is it,” he said, his deep voice resonating with pride.
He stepped aside, allowing her to enter first. Willow walked past him into the cave, her eyes widening in surprise. She had expected, at best, something rustic, perhaps even primitive, but what she saw was nothing short of astonishing. The interior was spacious, with high ceilings and smooth, polished walls. The floor was covered in luxurious rugs, and the space was furnished like some kind of penthouse condo in Seattle, or even London. It was gorgeous.

Cage helped her out of the layers of protective clothing so that she was dressed in leggings, a soft wool sweater and mukluks. She turned around, marveling at the interior, as he divested himself of his outer wear as well.

She shook her head. “This is amazing. How did you even do this?”

Cage grinned. “I didn’t do all of it. This place has been in my family for generations, going back almost two hundred years. Obviously, it didn’t have electricity, running water or some of the nicer amenities in the beginning, but each successive generation has added to it. So, do you like it so far?”

She could hear the concern in his voice. It was these moments of doubt, where he wasn’t as completely confident and certain, that made her love him so much. It allowed her to glimpse past the façade and see the man who—while heroic and a bear-shifter—was truly human and needed her in his life.

Willow nodded. “It’s beautiful.”

And it was. There was a large, rather refined, leather sectional sofa in a rich, earthy tone that dominated the central area. It faced a state-of-the-art entertainment system embedded into the rock wall. To the left, a fully equipped chef’s kitchen gleamed with stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, and custom cabinetry. A dining area with a handcrafted wooden table and chairs sat adjacent to it, illuminated by a rustic lantern that looked like an antique pulled from an Alaskan cabin.

Willow moved deeper into the space, her footsteps muffled by the plush rugs. She noticed a hallway leading to what she assumed were bedrooms and other private areas. Large skylights had been cut into the rock, allowing an incredible amount of natural light into the rooms. The primary bedroom had a door which led out onto a balcony that offered a breathtaking view of the mountains and the valley below, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun.

Cage joined her on the balcony, rumbling softly at her. Willow could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks. It seemed every time they stood on a balcony together, they ended up having sex. Cage stood behind her, close enough that she could feel his stiffening cock behind his fly. He nipped her ear, “That’ll have to wait for just a bit.” Willow shivered in anticipation and not from the cold.

He led her back into the main room of the cave. “I had solar panels installed,” he explained, pointing to a discreet section of the cave wall. “They’re hidden, so they don’t spoil the natural beauty of the place. They provide all the power we need.”

She turned to look at him, admiration in her eyes. “This place is kind of mind-blowing. I never imagined it could be wonderful.”

He shrugged, a hint of bashfulness in his smile. “It has always been my home and I feel connected both to my ancestors and to the land. But I have to tell you, after having lived as a Ranger for so many years, I wanted my creature comforts. I tried to make this the best of both worlds.”

Willow walked over to the kitchen, running her hand over the cool marble. “You did an amazing job. It’s like something out of a dream.”

Cage leaned against the counter, watching her with a feral, possessive expression. “I’m glad you like it. I don’t think I could ever think of anywhere else as home. If you don’t want this to be where we spend most of our lives, we can talk about alternatives, but I wanted you to see it. To see… part of who I am.”

She looked up at him, smiling. “Thank you for that. I can see what this place means to you. It’s incredible.”

“For the most part, bears are loners by nature. But bear-shifters have evolved to find their place within a community and with other bears. We tend to stick to our own kind, but after I was injured, Colby got me back to Windsong and I found I liked being part of something bigger than myself. I suppose it’s the reason I joined the Rangers in the first place.”

He showed her to another balcony, offering a majestic view of the valley below.

“I love this, but why didn’t I see these balconies?”

“When my father built them, he ensured that unless you were level with and directly in front of them, the terrain fools the eye and they’re hidden.”

For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the view of the Alaskan wilderness stretching out before them, a testament to the harmonious blend of nature and modern luxury. In that quiet space, high in the mountains, surrounded by beauty and serenity, Willow felt a profound connection to Cage, to the land, and to a future that seemed a little brighter and a lot more promising.

Cage stepped closer, his large hand gently tilting her chin up so their eyes met. “I love you, Willow,” he said simply.

It was one of the things that made her love him so deeply. As gruff and taciturn as he could be, he had no trouble telling her that he loved her and what she meant to him. For a woman who had been trapped in a loveless marriage to a soulless man, it meant everything to her.

“I know you love me, and we’re committed to each other, but I was a bit concerned about showing you this place. It’s a big part of who I am, or at least the man I aspire to be. I guess it was my way of asking you if you’ll stay with me. Not just until we’re absolutely sure the League has been put down once and for all, but for always.”

Willow’s heart raced, the weight of his words sinking in. She felt a mixture of shock and joy, the realization that this powerful, enigmatic man saw her as his future. “Cage, I love you. I don’t remember much from the church teachings I was forced to endure, but the one thing that did catch my imagination and stay with me was the line about wither thou goest, I will go. I remember when I was married to Frank, I saw that as a kind of death sentence. Now it feels like a promise not just from me to you, but to a future I never could have imagined. Being with you feels right, like I’m where I’m meant to be, and wherever that is physically in the world is my home.”

A slow smile spread across Cage’s face. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a gentle yet passionate kiss. Willow responded, wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling the warmth and strength of him envelop her.

The kiss deepened, a promise of a bond that went beyond words. When they finally parted, both were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other.
“Stay with me, Willow,” Cage murmured, his voice a soft plea. “Be my mate, my partner, my love.”

Willow smiled, her decision clear and unwavering. “I will, Cage. I’ll stay with you, now and forever.”

Cage’s eyes shone with emotion as he embraced her, holding her close. “Welcome home, Willow.”

Together, they stood by the window, watching the last light of the day fade into twilight. The stars began to twinkle in the night sky, a silent witness to the beginning of their new life together, high in the mountains, in a place where love and nature intertwined.