A few weeks had passed since I last saw Jasper. I missed him terribly and was worried sick. At least this time, I received word on him. The last I heard, Jasper and his company had been on the front lines.

The passage of time had only exasperated the war. The Orruk continued to control the border, but supplies were beginning to run low now that we were nearing the end of fall.

Even though the Orcs were massive in size and had an edge because of their sight and hearing, the humans still had nearly double the numbers due to my father dragging other kingdoms into his mess.

I wondered how many of them knew the truth and still fought for the sheer fact that they unjustly despised the Orc race. Surely no one could be that evil, but there was no telling at this point. Us humans and been fed lies our whole lives by those before us.

All I could do was continue planning for Jasper's return. I wanted to be more excited about our wedding. I was so worried about him that I couldn't focus on anything else but him coming home to me.

I was at Helena's mercy when it came to planning. According to her, it was going to be a big affair due to Jasper's status. I thought her feet would catch fire. She hurried around day after day to plan all the fine details.

I couldn't blame her. Jasper was like a son to her, so she couldn't help but be excited. I wondered about Jasper's parents. He hadn't spoken about them much. I only gathered they had long since passed.

All the emotions and thoughts continued to whirl around inside me, but I couldn't do anything but wait for Jasper to come back and for this war to end.

I wiggled my bare toes in the cold grass. I closed my eyes and exhaled the crisp autumn air. The noise of the waterfall engulfed me and shielded me, reminding me of Jasper's embrace.

I pulled out the stone I had found in the water when Jasper was missing. I rolled it around my hand, admiring it and thinking of him. As soon as you're home, we will be promised to one another forever, I thought. I pressed the stone to my lips to feel its hard cold surface.

Suddenly, a squawking voice shattered the peace, causing me to flinch. I turned quickly to see Helena marching across the field to me.

"What am I gonna do with you, dear? Don't you know there's a wedding to be planning?" Helena fussed.

"I was only taking a rest," I called back to her.

"Jasper could be back any day now, my lady. We have to get things in order." She said with her breasts heaving from walking the distance out to me.

"You don't need to make this much fuss, Helena." I laughed. "Jasper and I are simple. It doesn't need to be lavish, just... traditional." I protested.

"Well, you should have thought of that before you went and fell head over heels for the Chief Missy. Come on now, we have work to do." She said

I took her by the arm and let her hurry us back to the castle. There was no telling what she wanted to sew on me, or do to my hair, or have me taste now. I didn't enjoy being fussed over, but I didn't plan to stop her. She was enjoying herself far too much.

She wasn't wrong. Once Jasper returned, we would wed two days following his return. Helena was also right about it being any day now. He could be here within the hour.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, we heard a commotion begin to echo in the mountains. The ground began to vibrate softly at first but grew with each passing second. Helena and I looked at each other. We didn't need to say anything. We both knew what it meant.

A company of Orc was coming back to the mountains. Helena took off like a mad woman dragging me through the castle to get to the front entrance to see if Jasper had come home.

A sick feeling crept into my gut. I wanted so badly to see Jasper... to be in his arms. I was also nervous about our wedding... Well, the consummation of it.

As I was pulled along, I thought about the information I now knew about lovemaking. I felt bewildered by it, excited, nervous, and afraid it would hurt but through it, all the desired to have Jasper fully.

She and I burst out of the front entrance just as the gates drew open. I began chewing my lip as I waited to see if he was on the other side.

My heart was pounding in suspense. The gate lurched open inch by inch. Finally, my eyes locked with Jasper's. Suddenly I felt at peace. Jasper was finally home.

He sat tall atop the elder warg he had ridden into the battle with Leif by his side. He was totally shirtless and wore thick animal skin pants and boots. His chest was bare and glistened with sweat despite the cool air.

Of course, he wasn't totally unscathed. I was so entranced by him I nearly didn't notice the bandages around his waist. He stared into my eyes unwavering as his company began to march forward.

His body thrust with every step of the warg. He gripped tightly onto the reins causing his muscles to ripple and his veins to bulge.

There it was... that feeling. Jasper stared at me with this hunger in his eyes. Once they were all passed the gates, he dismounted.

He swung a large hammer over his shoulder with ease. He never took his eyes off me. He was looking at me like prey. I didn't realize it, but I was nearly crushing Helena's arm from my nervousness.

His boots thudded with each step. As he came closer, a sly smile crept across his face. The dark circles around his eyes, and dried specs of blood spray on his skin told of his exhaustion. Nonetheless, he seemed happy to see me. He closed the distance between us. The world seemed to fade away around us.

"So... are you ready to tie the knot, little warrior." He said confidently. He brought his hand to my face and caressed my bottom lip with his thumb.