Mauve felt her eyes water. Hearing Alaric speak those words brought her to tears—it was certainly what she wanted to hear. She took a deep breath, making sure she was calm and that there was no sign she was on the verge of tears before she slowly turned around.
Alaric was still holding onto his mate, but he looked a little taller and was standing more to the front, unlike when he would usually hang back. His overgrown hair was slightly parted, and for the first time, Mauve got a proper look at his face. He was a beautiful man—that was the only way she could describe him. His green eyes shone brighter than any gemstone she had ever seen, and his jawline was sharp. He had soft features and small, full lips.