“Is this…?” I trailed off, unable to find the right words.

“I thought if we’re going to pretend to be together, we ought to do it right,” Sinclair smiled, his obvious pleasure at my reaction taking the sting out of his words. This wasn't because he felt anything for me, but he was happy that I liked the gift—and that’s worth something, right?

“It’s beautiful,” I sighed. “But I feel… I haven’t gotten anything for you, Dominic.”

His dark brow furrowed, and the next thing I knew, he was turning me toward the mirror behind me. His reflection towered over mine, so dark and sexy in his black dress shirt and trousers. His size and strength were daunting, his vibrant bronze skin a stark contrast to my porcelain complexion and slender limbs. I was wearing deep purple that night, and his hand found my tummy with practiced ease. “How can you say that?” he demanded, gentle but fierce, his lips moving against my ear as his eyes pierced me through the glass. “Ella, you’re giving me everything.”

My own hand slid to where our baby rested, stopping just above his. A moment later, his palm was over mine, pulling our hands just over my belly button. “I wish you could feel what I do,” he said solemnly. “You’ll understand when he quickens, when you can feel his movement and moods.” For the first time, Sinclair’s reflection pulled his gaze from mine, allowing the real man to turn his head and look at me. My heart stopped as I turned my face to his, eager to hear what he had to share about our baby. “You’re his whole world—he’s never happier than when he hears your voice.”

“Really?” I squeaked, tears flooding my eyes.

“Really,” Sinclair confirmed, and I was surprised and impressed to see there wasn’t even a hint of jealousy in his expression. “Everything I care about is right here,” he continued, pulling me closer, in a way that made my delusional mind think he might be talking about me as well as the baby. “You are making all my dreams come true.”

I shook my head, tears flowing freely. “Don’t you get it?” I asked hoarsely. “You gave me a miracle, too,” I reminded him. “It doesn’t seem fair that you should get me so many other gifts.”

“Then it’s a good thing you aren’t in charge,” Sinclair chuckled, kissing my neck at the shoulder and finally turning me around. He wiped away my tears and slid a ring onto my finger. “Now everyone will know that we’re taking vows before the Goddess.”

Sniffling, trying to regain control, I asked, “But I thought the mating ceremony was just an excuse for… Roger?”

Sinclair shook his head. “As I said, it’s time to make it official. Now come on, we’re going to be late.”

I was in such a whirlwind of emotion as he guided me out the door that I could barely think straight. Sometimes I felt like Sinclair and I were going around in emotional circles, getting carried away with excitement and joy about the baby, then pulling back when reality set in. Still, I’ll be damned if I knew how to escape the maelstrom—let alone how I got into it in the first place. My brain scrambled to figure out what this all meant, what had changed, and why this was happening now. Part of me wondered if it was my rejection the other day; however, I didn’t really have a chance to think it over because the next thing I knew, we were heading into the oldest part of the city.

It was a glittering maze of frozen canals, and I could see hundreds of vendors set up on the ice. I’d love to go down and explore them, but ice skating had always been for rich people—not the likes of me.

“In another hour the canals will be full of people for the procession,” Sinclair told me as we looked down on the wintry scene. “The procession will start here and weave through the old town until dawn, putting up greenery and decorations to transform the city for the holiday and giving gifts to the residents.”

“That’s so lovely,” I said genuinely. I’d never known a holiday as magical as the solstice, and it was only just beginning. “But if it doesn’t start for an hour, then why did we come so early? You said we were going to be late!”

“I padded the time a bit—I thought we could take advantage of the peace and quiet and skate a little,” Sinclair suggested, keeping one arm protectively looped around my shoulders.

“But I don’t know how to skate,” I whispered nervously. “And what about the baby—is it safe?”

Sinclair shook his head, as if I should know better than to ask such a silly question. “I won’t let you fall, sweetheart.”

Strangely enough, I believed him. I believed he was fast and strong enough to keep this promise, and I knew he meant it with every fiber of his being. He was as good as his word, too. Before long, I was zooming around the rink, unable to stop smiling. Sinclair had stayed glued to my side all night long, never letting me out of arm’s reach and holding my hand more often than not. Of course, the more confident I became, the less I wanted to be leashed to him, and I found myself taking every opportunity to get far enough away to test my wings.

Shifters constantly approached him, saying hello, congratulating us on the baby, or commenting on the campaign. The media also started to arrive after someone tipped them off about our early arrival, and it was as Sinclair shook hands with a constituent that I began to skate away.

Naturally, I didn’t make it five feet before he caught me. “Not so fast, you,” he scolded warmly.

“I swear it’s like you have eyes in the back of your head,” I complained.

“My wolf has special Ella radar,” he joked. “So you just keep on trying to get away, trouble. I’ll catch you every time.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, and flames burst to life in his vibrant eyes. “Are you sassing me, little mate?”

My heart pulsed when he called me his mate, even though I knew it was only for our audience. “So what if I am?” I challenged.

“Is that really how you let your woman speak to you?” A new voice drawled behind us.

Sinclair’s expression hardened, but he didn’t look surprised to see the Prince hovering over my shoulder. I instinctively leaned closer to Sinclair, remembering what he’d told me about the other man’s desperation to take the crown.

“A true Alpha isn’t threatened by strong she-wolves,” Sinclair growled, emphasizing the first part of his sentence in a way that made me think they’d debated what makes a “true” Alpha before.

“There’s strength and then there’s insolence,” the Prince replied snidely. “And everyone knows that a wolf who doesn’t discipline his mate properly isn’t fit to lead.”

“You and I have very different ideas of discipline,” Sinclair rumbled. For the first time, I realized we were drawing a crowd.

“If your mate thinks it’s appropriate to challenge you in public,” the Prince scoffed, “then I don’t think you know the meaning of the word at all.”

“My mate feels safe enough to test her limits with me, no matter where we are,” Sinclair bit back. “That’s a far better sign of a caring Alpha than one whose Luna cowers away from him in fear.”

The Prince’s face scrunched up with fury, but he glanced at the reporters around us and clearly bit his tongue. “Then again, you aren’t true mates yet. You haven’t even claimed her yet.”

There was a sudden murmur through the crowd. I looked up at Sinclair in shock. How did the Prince know? And why didn’t Sinclair look surprised? In fact, Sinclair looked positively triumphant, as if he’d been hoping this would happen when the argument began. “Well, thank you for giving me the opportunity to announce the date of our mating ceremony, Your Highness.”

The Prince blanched, and I felt my own confusion grow. What on earth was happening? I tried to keep my emotions off my face, even managing to smile up at Sinclair when he beamed down at me.

“Ella and I will be mated one month after we welcome our son.”