Chapter 284 Utter Warmth

TESSA

The sun was already warmer in Montrose.

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It spilled across the broken streets and crumbling stones like it was trying to kiss the scars of war away. I stood on the steps of what used to be the Rose Pce. The people around us were tired but hopeful as they continued to tear down the pce that once housed horrors.

We found that it was actually made with precious metals like gold and silver. There are also a lot of rare stones embedded within it. We decided to tear it down and sell the pieces to the humans so we could rebuild the houses of the citizens brick by brick. The market for such metals and stones in the human world are actually insane right now! The money would be enough to rebuild every house here.

Ingrid was the one spearheading everything, stating it was her duty as a citizen who left when she was young. Rowan was right beside her, hauling crates and nks along with the citizens of Montrose.

He didn’tin. He didn’t even make a sound when Cade teased him on the phone this morning about paying the price for hurting me over four years ago.

Cade said he wouldn’t be able to help as much because he was busy as a “new father.” I understood, of course, but I thought Rowan would give him a hard time and tease him to join us. However, he didn’t.

Elias was here, too. But, he was deep in the forest to help the isted witches and wizards.

I tried to keep myself useful too, carrying baskets of food, making sure the little ones were fed before the workers.

“Miss Tessa!” a small voice called out.

I turned just in time ito /iisee /ia iboy /ie running up to me with something in his hands. His clothes were patched together from scraps, his hair sticking up in tufts, but his grin could’ve lit up all of Montrose. He held out a ne–a thin string with a shard of tourmaline at the center. He must have picked it up from the ruins of the pce.

“For me?” I asked softly, crouching down to his height.

He nodded, cheeks red. “Mommy said we’ll have a bigger house because of you. So… thank you.”

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Chapter 284 Utter Warmth

Slowly, I took the ne from his small hands and let it dangle against my palm.

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“That’s not true,” I told him gently, brushing his hair back with my fingers. “You’re going to have a big house because your mom endured so much for you. We’re just helping.”

His smile only widened. “Thank you!” he eximed, before darting off, leaving me holding his gift like it was made of diamonds.

I exhaled shakily, fastening the ne around my neck. It wasn’t perfect, but it was more precious than any jewel I’d ever worn.

“He got to you,” a voice murmured at my

side.

I looked up and saw that Rowan hade up next to me, his broad frame blocking the sun. He was watching the boy disappear into the crowd, his lips curved in the smallest smile.

I nced back at him and couldn’t help but grin. “Cute, right?” I said.”

Rowan didn’t look at the boy. His gaze stayed locked on me. “Yeah. Cute.”

I clicked my tongue. He didn’t even look at him! “Not me, idiot. The little boy.”

“Yes,” he said simply, still looking straight into my eyes.

My cheeks warmed, and I pursed my lips, rolling my eyes in an attempt to cover it.

“It would be cute for us to have a son, right?” he asked then, his voice quieter.

My heart stuttered, but I blew out a sigh and shook my head at him, lips twitching despite my best efforts. “Get back to work, you horndog.”

***

Just hours ago, we had been surrounded by the hopeful faces of Montrose. Now, we were back in Fenra.

I sat on the edge iof /ithe bed, tugging my hair into something presentable while Rowan moved around the iroom/i. He had just finished pulling on his shirt, and my eyes, traitorous as ever, wandered to his frame. He wasn’t the same man he’d been months ago. His body had changed -he had broader shoulders, and his chest and arms were more defined. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I’d been making sure he ate properly.

My lip caught between my teeth before I realized what I was doing. Heat pooled low in my stomach, but I shook my head quickly, forcing my eyes awayi. /iGosh, Tessa, get ia /igrip.

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Chapter 284 Utter Warmth

“You were staring,” Rowan said suddenly.

“I was not,” I said, too quickly.

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He smirked faintly, turning toward me as he brushed a hand through his hair. That simple movement was unfair!

“You knew, right?” he asked suddenly, catching me off guard.

I frowned. “Knew what?”

“That this would happen,” he said, gesturing vaguely toward the window. We couldn’t isee /iit from here, but I knew he was talking about my pack members from rc who were already packing their belongings to go back to their original home.

I exhaled, nodding slowly. “Yes,” I admitted. “But I didn’t think it would be this fast. It’s barely been a month.”

He winked at me, brushing his hair back again, and my face went hot. Saints above, why was he so damn sexy right now? I felt myself heating up, fighting the pull to just push him down the bed. Instead, I shook my head hard.

“Your mate ispetent, right?” he asked after a second.

I looked at him, then sighed. “You are,” I whispered, before my feet carried me forward without my permission. My arms slipped around his middle, hugging him tight.

He froze in surprise, his body stiffening for just a second before rxing under my touch. And oh, his scent–it washed over me, rich and warm and entirely him. I closed my eyes, breathing it in until I could almost drown in iit/i.

“Thank youi, /ilove,” I murmured against his chest. “I love you. So, so much.”

Before I could lose my nerve, I tilted my head up and pressed a kiss against his lips. Just a brush, but enough to make him gulp like I’d stolen all the air from him.

His hands hovered uncertainly at my back, not quite holding me but not quite letting go. His eyes were wide when he whispered, “I can’t take it, Tessa. Don’t do this to me.”

My brows furrowed in confusion. “What?”

“I can’t take your love. I’ll die. It’s too much.” fn4506 ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find(?)ovel/fn4506

Augh escaped me before I could stop iit/i. “So dramatic,” I teased, shaking my head as I rested

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Chapter 284 Utter Warmth

my forehead against his chest.

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