*Kael's POV*
Hazel's scent filled the camper, wrapping around me like a vise. Sweet vanilla mixed with something uniquely her—a fragrance that clawed at my restraint. My wolf, Lykos, paced frantically within our shared consciousness.
*Mate. Claim her. Now.*
I gripped the edge of the small countertop, my knuckles white from the strain. Six centuries of ironclad control, yet this slip of a human woman threatened to unravel me completely.
"What's wrong with me?" I growled, more to myself than to Lykos.
*Bond unstable. Need to complete it.*
The primal urge hammered at my temples. Every inch of my skin felt too tight, too hot. The tattoos across my chest and neck writhed beneath my skin, responding to the chaos of my power.
"Not like this," I ground out. "Not with her."
Memories of my past—of blood and screams—flashed behind my eyes. I couldn't risk losing control. Not with Hazel.
"Kael?" Her voice floated from the small living area. "The kids are asleep. Do you want some tea?"
