Hebert's POV
The golden light spilled across Ashley's face, highlighting the faint fuzz on her skin in the backlight. She looked like an angel who'd accidentally stumbled into the mortal world.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. On the hike up earlier, she had clung to my neck out of fear, like a terrified koala glued to me. That soft, delicate sensation still lingered on my chest, like a small flame, burning me from the inside out.
I loved it when she trusted me so completely.
Inside me, the wolf was going wild, pacing and growling with an almost primal joy. It wanted this moment to last forever, wanted to keep running even if my lungs gave out—as long as she stayed in my arms.
But Ashley had been so scared, and I couldn't bear to keep her in that state.
She turned her h
