~ASHTON~

Ariel leans into me, her arms looped loosely around my neck. Her scent wraps around my senses the way it always has, familiar, soothing, right.

Having her here again, pressed against my side in this damn cave, should feel like the world snapping back into place. For a moment it does. My wolf settles, because his mate is finally where she belongs.

Then the guilt hits. Not the guilt I was braced for. No. This is sharper, an uglier feeling.

Guilt that every time I brush my ...