I'm so lucky to be here...

I propped myself up into a sitting position as I gazed at my sleeping mate, a wide smile painting my lips. I ruffled his blue locks with my hand, the strands becoming even more messed up.

Chrom usually woke up before me, but he came to bed late last night. Our male friends wanted to take him out in celebration of our mating ceremony - which was a few days ago. Our bond was acknowledged a week ago but it still felt like yesterday. By the time Chrom returned home, it was long past midnight and he was deader than a rock. I briefly awoke when he collapsed next to me, but fell back asleep as soon as he wrapped his arms around me.

Our ceremony was a small affair but certainly more than I could have ever hoped for. Our friends were there to witness as Chrom and I exchanged vows at the Temple of Naga. We couldn't help ourselves by grinning like idiots the entire time Emmeryn was officiating. And we could barely slide the rings on each other's fingers without shaking from excitement. After the ceremony, the whole city rejoiced in celebration. After all, now that I was officially Chrom's mate, I was considered royalty. Emmeryn gave us a little bit of a grace period so we didn't have to worry about our royal duties for a few days. However, as soon as that was over, my duties as a Luna princess would start.

But I didn't need to think about that. Sure, I was excited to start, but right now was time for me and my mate. Nothing else. This was also a good time for me to get used to my new home. All of my things were moved into Chrom's place pretty much the day I decided I wanted to be with him. It was nice living close to all of my friends, and we still are close to them, but Chrom and I needed our own space. It was also a good place to raise a family in. Not that we were planning on starting one anytime soon.

I bent down and kissed his forehead, slicking back his bangs. "Heart of my heart," I mumbled. He didn't stir. Gods, he must have been really tired if he hasn't woken up, yet!

I peeled the covers off of me and slid out of bed, making sure Chrom was tucked in with enough blankets. The February chill wouldn't give up for anyone, after all. I crossed over to his side of the bed and kissed his forehead once more. To my surprise, his eyes slightly cracked open. He weakly growled deep in his throat, tugging the blankets closer.

I giggled, cupping his cheek. "You can go back to sleep, love," I whispered. "I'll be in the kitchen making breakfast in you need anything." I pecked the tip of his nose.

As I got up to leave our bedroom, I saw his eyes flutter shut. My poor puppy. Oh, well. He'll feel better in a few hours.

...

"Morning..." Chrom rumbled as he entered the kitchen.

My ears pricked, surprised at his arrival. "Chrom? I thought you would want to sleep for a few more hours?" I asked. I stopped my work of cutting up a loaf of bread as I focused my attention on my mate.

Our kitchen and dining room were joint together. The whole interior of our home was of a similar layout of my old home; the only differences were some of the furniture, room sizes, and even the number of rooms. Even the base wood furniture and the like were lighter in color.

He shook his head, taking a seat at the table. "I didn't want you to be lonely all morning..." he managed to say, reaching for the teapot and pouring himself a hearty amount. He normally took his tea without anything in it, but seeing him chug an entire mug and then pour some more was almost animalistic. "Plus, I have some things to do."

I sighed, turning back to the bread. "I'm never lonely, my love. Now that our bond has been recognized, I can always feel your presence." It was a strange feeling, being someone's mate. Sharing the soul of your mate is not a figure of speech. We legitimately share souls. I could feel whenever he felt strong emotions. Our bond was truly indescribable, really. "Would you like your bread toasted or plain?"

"Plain," he replied, giving me a wary look. "You know, you don't have to do this. I remember you saying that with the Humans, it's one of the females' duties to cook and I know that you don't want to live the life of a housewife and-"

I set the plate in front of him and sat down in his lap. "I want to." I kissed the crown of his head. "This is the third time this week you've asked me about this. Chrom, I enjoy cooking and baking a lot. I don't do it because it's 'traditional' or 'I'm supposed to do it'. I do it because I genuinely like it."

Chrom released a puff of air. "I know, but...well, can I at least help you with anything?"

I pressed my forehead against his. "You already do your best to help me. I couldn't ask for anything more," I breathed. "I really, honestly do love doing this. It was always a struggle cooking for only myself. And back when I used to cook for someone else, he never appreciated what I did for him." Father just saw my efforts as jobs I was supposed to do. He never thought any of it was special. "You, on the other hand, appreciate every single thing I do. Hell, you basically appreciate when I breathe! And honestly, I'm not even doing it for just you. I want to improve my skills and learn new things for myself. However, having you to try everything I make and seeing your face light up is more than I could ever ask for."

He remained still for a few moments. Then he moved his hands from my hips to just wrapping around me. "You are far too good to me," he sighed. "I am beyond blessed to have you as my mate."

"And I you." I pressed my lips against his, relishing in the sweet taste. Kissing him was still something that felt completely new - something exciting.

I pulled away, staring into his intense gaze. We said nothing for what felt like hours. I could stay right here forever if I wanted. But, instead of extending the moment, I stood up and pushed his plate towards him. "Eat. You said you had to go somewhere, right?"

My prince nodded, eyeing me as he bit into his bread. "Yeah. Lissa asked me to assist her with Naga knows what," he sighed. "I'm sparing you from having to go along. Plus, didn't you want to go hunting today?"

I sat down with my own plate of food, reaching for the jam and spreading it onto the bread. "Oh, yeah. I'll most likely be gone for most of the day, then. We'll have to eat lunch separately. But we'll still have dinner together, ok?"

"Sounds like a plan."

I smiled, looking down to hide my blush. So this is what domestic bliss feels like. I enjoy this dynamic we have. I don't know how we ever functioned without each other for so long... Chrom especially. He really is a hopeless puppy. Well, he's my hopeless puppy.

...

The winter morning frost stung my paws, the ground hard and unmoving beneath me. I had to be careful and silent. My exhales came out as foggy clouds and hushed heaves. Controlling my volume was much more difficult as a wolf, but hunting in this form was better. Plus, my human form does not have a warm layer of fur.

Due to my transformation being so late in the year, my fur did not grow into its cold-season coat like the others. I was still reasonably warm, but not as much as I would like. On the bright side, I would be way ahead of the others with my warm-season coat; no need for weeks of sheading and being unbearably hot.

In the past, winter hunting was something I was unable to do. Father forbade it and there was not much to catch, anyway. Our town even had strict rules against it: only licensed hunters could take advantage of the cold-season hulls. However, those rules did not exist with the Luna. I was free to hunt whenever and wherever I wanted.

I kept all of my weight off of my toes as I stalked the forest, using my pale brown coat to blend into the bare trees and muddy landscape. I would definitely need to bathe after this.

The coo of a pheasant snatched my attention. It was distracted with clawing at the ground and barely noticed me. Perfect. I held my breath as I crept closer to it, waiting for the right moment to pounce.

3...

2...

1...

The wind whistled as I pounced and the frantic sound of ruffling feathers came to a silent close. The sweet taste of blood filled my mouth, its neck limp in my jaws.

I looked up towards the sky, bowing my head. Thank you for the life of this pheasant, Mother Naga. It will not be taken for granted.

...

"Anna, the pheasant is de-feathered." My mate said to me, setting the bare bird down on the counter next to me.

I finished up cutting a potato and turned to Chrom. "Did you save the tail feathers?"

"Yes, I did."

I smiled and bent over to kiss his cheek. "Good. I can repurpose those into quills."

He didn't let me pull away, wrapping an arm around me and grinning playfully. "How resourceful you are, my love." He kissed my hairline. "Because of you, I'll never have to buy quills again."

I quickly set the knife down and placed my hands on his chest. "Maybe we should quit the Shepherds. Go into selling quills for a living."

"Now that is a very tempting offer," he hummed. "But if we do that, then other quill businesses will die out."

The playful look in his eyes warmed me more than any fire could. I love these moments where we can just joke around and be our normal selves. "You're right. We would be too powerful."

He held me in his arms for just a little longer, neither of us wanting to pull away. But, he eventually said, "Is there anything else you need help with?"

I nodded, stepping away and returning to the potatoes. "Yes. Can you put a pot of water on the stove to boil?"

He began to rummage through the cabinets. "Sounds easy enough."

I rolled my eyes. "Didn't you and Lissa find a way to burn water once?"

"Hush."

...

"Gods...I have to say, this may have been your best meal yet!" Chrom exclaimed, helping me gather up the plates and clear the table.

"You say that about everything I make!"

"Well, it's true!" He laughed as he handed me the plates.

I giggled. "You're such a dork." In truth, I believed him. Honey glazed roast pheasant with seasoned potatoes may be my new favorite thing. "I'll have to make it again, then." I turned to put the dishes in the sink.

As soon as my back was turned, he wrapped his arms around me and held me close. "Thank you for cooking dinner," he breathed into my hair.

My heart was racing a million miles a minute. "Thank you for helping," I replied. Why am I getting so flustered?!

I felt his smirk on the back of my neck. "You know I can hear your heartbeat, right?"

I placed my hands on his but made no effort in prying him away from me. "Rude. Didn't they teach you manners growing up?"

"Spent a whole term on etiquette," he chuckled. "But it's nice to know that I can still make my mate flustered."

I swiftly turned and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Oh yeah?" I smirked. "You think you're the only one who can make their mate flustered?"

"Try me."

...

A few hours later, we retired to bed. I was still wide awake, so I chose to stay up a little longer and read a book. Chrom didn't mind this at all. He was not even bothered by the soft light of the fairy lamp as he tried to sleep. He just took his position, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his head in my lap. I used one hand to hold my book and the other petting his hair.

"I'm sorry if I'm disrupting you, love," I muttered to my mate, untangling a knot in his hair. "I hate to say this, but I doubt this will be the only time I do this. I'm quite an avid night-reader."

Chrom shook his head. "Don't worry about it." His voice was quiet and laced with sleep. "It doesn't disrupt anything."

I leaned down and kissed the crown of his head. "I promise that this won't be every night. I enjoy sleeping, too."

He chuckled, tightening his arms. "Do what makes you happy, love."

My face flushed. "Well...you make me happy just by saying that."

"I'm very glad."

About an hour later, my eyes could hardly stay open. I set my book down and extinguished the fairy light. Chrom had already fallen asleep, given his light snoring and loosened grip.

I shimmied my way underneath the sheets and into Chrom's arms to the best of my ability. The February chill was definitely present, wanting to get as much warmth as possible.

I leaned up to press a soft kiss to the corner of Chrom's mouth and whispered, "Goodnight, my love."

To my surprise, strong arms pulled me in closer, tucking me into his warmth. "G'night..." my mate mumbled.

I smiled warmly, nuzzling my way into the crook of his neck. My love...the schedule of everyday life still seems too surreal! It is still hard to believe that this is now our life! I wouldn't trade it for the world...

*****
WHOLESOME LOVES. WE ALL NEED A BIT OF THIS WHOLESOMENESS IN OUR LIVES RIGHT NOW. LIKE REALLY. AHHHH. And they really need these moments before shit hits the fan. I mean what. Oh, and in that section where Chrom tests fate by being flustered? Just know Anna reduces him to a puddle within seconds. He's a very easy man, that one. Thank you so much for reading and look forward to reading more!

Link: https://youtu.be/Fs4m71gPkJI