My heart skipped a beat as Alexei's hand appeared in front of me, taking the stalk of celery from my hand. I watched as he placed it carefully across the kitchen island.

His hands brushed my shoulders before sliding down my arms, leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake. He tangled our fingers together. "Did you mean it?" He asked quietly against the back of my head.

I struggled to give him an answer because this wasn't exactly the way I wanted him to find out that I had long fallen for him.

"Penelope." His voice was solemn when I spoke nothing.

He scared me.

"Turn around and look at me." He pleaded roughly against the back of my neck. I felt his lips slide across my skin, awakening the butterflies in my belly.

When I didn't move, I heard him sigh. However, I soon felt his fingers dance along my back.

I stiffened when he began to draw one line down my spine. My breath hitched when I felt his fingers slowly make a heart shape. When I felt his fingers make a curve, to form the letter 'U', I gasped, turning around so I could see his face.

Alexei still had his finger in front of him, as if he wasn't finished drawing on my back.

"Y-you-" I stuttered, shooting an accusing glare at his finger. "You knew!"

Alexei studied my eyes, that were now wet with tears.

He nodded slowly. "I know you love me."

I gasped again, choking on my words. I didn't know what to say. My heart was beating a thunderous tune in my chest. "I-I-" My heart felt like it was going to detach and skip away.

Alexei took one step closer until he was in my space, cornering me against the counter. Without breaking eye contact, he tore me in half. "I have never loved anyone the same way I love you Solnishko."

Tears ran down my cheeks like continuous rivers.

Those golden brown eyes were killing me.

I felt his gaze intently track the tears as I cupped my mouth, stifling the noise rising in my throat.

"I love you Penelope Rivers. I claim you for the rest of my life baby."

It could've been my eyes, but I was almost certain Alexei's own were wet with tears as he erased the few inches between us. "You're the Anastasia to my Lev." He took my hand, holding it so it pressed against his chest where I could feel the rapid pace of his heart.

I cried into his chest as he held me close, stroking my hair gently.

When I could gain my words, I eased slightly back. He bent his head, watching me closely. He pressed his forehead against mine, planting a kiss upon my nose, the corner of my lips and my chin. I closed my eyes, relishing the way his body folded over mine, giving me warmth. His heart still pounded out a rapid beat against my palm where my fingers slightly skewered the material of his shirt.

"If it wasn't clear before, I love you Alexei." I held his gaze. "Like, a lot."

He smiled boyishly, running a hand across his jaw as his eyes sparkled. "Hmm, a lot you say."

"Stop teasing me- "

He abruptly lifted my weight onto the counter where he proceeded to kiss me breathless without warning. I instantly melted into his touch, tugging him closer by the sides of his shirt. He smiled in approval against my lips as he dipped his tongue into my mouth.

My hands gripped the buckles of his belt-

Alexei let me go, whipping his head around where Babushka stood, dabbing beneath her eyes.

I immediately shoved Alexei away and straightened my shirt. Heat stained my cheeks. Alexei ran his fingers along the stubble of his chin, quiet. Even with the distance between us, I could feel his desire for me like a soft, taunting caress.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

I slid off the counter, shaking my head. "No, it's fine."

Babushka glanced between us, her gaze lingering and all knowing.

Alexei cleared his throat. The rough sound shattered the silence. It took me a minute to realise that he had adapted to his mother tongue. Babushka still had her focus trained on me, but she was responding to Alexei's smoky voice. She nodded in turn. When Alexei ceased speaking, Babushka turned to me, smiling. The smile startled me, because it reached her sorrel eyes, transforming her entire demeanour.

"I'll wait for you both in the lounge room. There's something I want to share with you both."

When she left the kitchen, I shared a look with Alexei, who looked equally confused but inquisitive.

"Do you know what she wants to share?" I asked my mate.

Alexei came back to my side, "No idea."

Alexei and I returned to the living room, where Babushka sat, holding something between her fingers. She had been so enraptured by the item; she didn't even hear us enter the room until I called out to her.

She perked up, gripping what I could see was a letter, in her hand. She blinked rapidly and gestured to the modular opposite her. "Please. Sit."

"Are you sick?" Alexei asked, his words heavy with worry.

Babushka shook her head instantly, banishing the concern from Alexei's face. Relief settled across his features as he stared at the slim stationary in her hand. "What's that?"

"A letter from your parents." Babushka revealed as we both took a seat.

I felt Alexei stiffen. "W-what did you say?" His voice broke into a whisper.

Babushka extended the envelope between us. Alexei made no move to take it.

"Penelope, would you please hand this to Alex?"

I took the paper into my hand and placed it across Alexei's lap. He still made no move to touch it. He was busy staring at Babushka. "A letter? What is this letter? Why are you giving this to me now?"

"It is time."

"Time? They died a long time ago. Does Tatiana or Sascha have a letter?"

Babushka nodded slowly, "They do, but yours is a bit different. You have two in there. Tatiana and Sascha have not received their letters yet because it isn't their time. On the other hand, it's indeed your time to have yours. Lev and my Ana wrote these for you before they went away. They advised me to only give this to you once you found your mate."

Disbelief coated Alexei's features.

"You don't need to open it now. You are free to decide when and where that would be. I think you need to read what they have to say to you. You know you were their precious first-born. You were their heart Solnishko."

Alexei took the letter with quivering hands.

There was no writing on both sides of the envelope. It was still crisp, without any wrinkles too. It looked as if the letter had just been sealed recently.

"Penelope and I will give you some time alone so that you can have a read through the letters."

Alexei nodded, "Thank you." He whispered.

I followed Babushka outside.

"Let's take a walk." She suggested, pulling her cardigan closer to her frame to ward off the frigid breeze. I obliged the woman. She set off a reasonable pace, taking measured steps North. She didn't inform me where she planned to go. I didn't mind. I remained abreast of her, taking in the view ahead, recognising it for what it was- home. I figured I wouldn't be able to feel this sort of warmth and comfort anywhere else. It was an empowering thing knowing I would be able to plant my roots here and not go sowing seeds aimlessly until I would settle at some random place, knowing perfectly well that that place wasn't my place to call home. If I needed a place to collect myself and feel safe, I would come here to the Shadow Hunters. They were my people, my family, my tribe, and my army.

"I must apologise to you." Babushka spoke first, "I know I was being hard on you."

"I get it. You love Alexei fiercely."

"But it was wrong of me to come onto you like that. I apologise Penelope."

"You can call me Pen. No on really calls me Penelope unless it's Alexei being bossy."

"Then let me offer you my name. You can call me Mariya, or Babushka."

I had a feeling that the woman beside me did not easily offer her name to just anyone. "Thank you, Babushka."

"I think I know why Alexei didn't tell anyone about you." She whispered, pausing in her steps, so she could look up at me.

I hadn't even asked Alexei about this. I was curious to what she had to say.

"It's because he was scared."

I raised my brow. I was surprised. If anything, I didn't think Alexei's reason for being tight lipped stemmed from fear.

"Alexei treasures the people he cares about. That's why it made me so angry when I found out what Lev asked of him to do. Alexei loved his papa. He would do anything the man asked of him. When he took care of Lev and Ana, that boy killed himself in the process."

"I think with you, knowing that you were real and his, it made his protective instincts flare. It's almost like a child with a favourite toy. When they get something and want it treasured, they don't want anyone touching it. They don't want to share it either. They want to keep it away and safe. That's what Alexei did with you. He wanted to keep you to himself for a while. Eventually, we would've found out, but my boy wanted to keep those first moments with you before we entered the picture."

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you or the girls." Alexei had caught up with us.

Babushka smirked, "Of course you did. I know you. I used to change your diaper and you would vomit milk all over me when I held you. I'm still recovering from PTSD."

Alexei laughed, pulling the slender woman into his chest. She couldn't deny him a hug.

I took a long glimpse of Alexei.

He felt different.

His gaze met mine from over Babushka's head.

My lips parted from what I saw.

The shadows that he carried around were...gone. Expulsed.

His lips moved, forming voiceless words. I barely caught what he lipped, but I watched the movement of his lips as he repeated the words again.

I love you Solnishko.

I blinked.

Alexei knew how to destroy me with nothing but a string of carefully formed words.

"Is everything ok?" Babushka asked.

Alexei grinned. I noted his eyes were rimmed red, but he appeared to be more than fine. He looked like the shadows inside him had been purged, leaving nothing but serenity and tranquillity in its place. There was finally peace in his soul.

Babushka rubbed her eyes, releasing Alexei. "I'll get lunch ready."

"Pen and I will join you soon." Alexei agreed.

Before Babushka departed, she took two long strides towards me. Her lean arms fell around my shoulders, squeezing. "You are a gift wild wolf." She whispered against my ear so quietly, I knew she only meant the words for me. "Welcome to the family."

Her words made my throat tighten with emotion.

Before I could respond, she twirled away and left with a small beam hanging from her lips.

When she was out of sight, Alexei approached me, seemingly timid.

I examined his expression, enthralled by the minor changes in his face.

"Mariya has given me the impression that you might be her favourite grandchild." I informed my mate as closed the remaining distance between us, curling his fingers around my hips.

"Mariya? She disclosed her name to you?" Pure amusement coloured tone.

"She loves you so much." I tugged him down by the collar of his shirt. Alexei didn't resist. He came willingly, grinning.

Now, why did I find that sexy?

"Hmm. I might be the favourite grandchild." He murmured.

When the tip his nose brushed mine, I curled my fingers into his hair. "How are you feeling?"

Alexei shuddered, closing his eyes. "Good. Better. At peace."

I breathed his scent deep into my lungs, holding him close. "I love you."

"Not more than I do my wild wolf."