When my eyes finally fluttered open, I found myself staring up at the familiar ceiling of my guest room. It was a strange sight; ever since that dinner at Ms. Chambers' house, when I'd agreed to truly stay with Kayden, I had barely set foot in here. Aside from ducking in to grab a change of clothes, I had spent every night in Kayden's bed, wrapped in the comfort of his scent and his presence. My mind felt heavy, like it was buried under layers of wool. I tried to piece together how I had gotten here, but the memory was a blank slate. Then, the final image of the night came rushing back: the deafening roar of the helicopter and the sight of Zander's smug face disappearing into the clouds. The realization hit me like a physical blow. I shot upright in bed, my heart instantly racing.
Beside the bed, Lydia was sitting in a wooden chair, an apple in one hand and a paring knife in the other. She was carefully spiraling the skin away, letting the peels fall onto a plate on her lap. Her red hair fell in soft, elegant waves over the shoulders of a sky-blue sundress. She looked entirely motherly—the picture of grace and domesticity, yet the ancient depth in her eyes was the only true indicator that she had lived far longer than her thirty-year-old appearance suggested.
As she looked up and saw me awake, her eyes widened. Her hands dropped to her lap, and she leaned forward with a look of soft concern. "How are you feeling, my dear?" I reached back, my fingers tentatively searching for the jagged wound at the base of my skull. When I felt nothing but smooth skin and soft hair, I frowned and shrugged. "I feel fine... I think."
Lydia nodded slowly, sinking back into her chair, though she didn't take her eyes off me. "That's good to hear. The pack doctor has been monitoring you around the clock. To be honest, when Kayden brought you in, the doctor didn't believe me when I described the state you were in. He said a wound like that—your head being practically caved in—should have occurred days ago to be in the state it's in now." She paused, a flicker of awe crossing her face. "He was even more shocked that you had been awake and fighting after receiving an injury like that. By all accounts, it should have kept you completely incapacitated."
I knew my accelerated healing was the only reason I was sitting up, but I kept that to myself for now. I simply watched Lydia, letting her voice ground me. "You have no idea how worried we have all been," she continued, her voice softening. "When we heard you fainted on the battlefield... it was terrifying. Even more so when you didn't wake for the past two days." Two days? I tried to speak, but my throat was so parched that the only sound that came out was a dry, painful croak. Lydia immediately understood. She set the apple and knife aside and reached for a glass of water on the nightstand. I took it from her with a grateful smile, the cool liquid feeling like a miracle as I drank greedily.
"Yes," she said, answering my unspoken shock. "You have been unconscious for forty-eight hours since escaping that... dreadful kidnapping incident." I caught myself smiling over the rim of the glass. Dreadful incident was a massive understatement for the war we had just fought, but Lydia had a way of making the world feel civilized again. I finished half the glass before my voice finally found its strength. "How long were we actually locked away in that place?" I asked, my voice still a bit hoarse. I took another sip, waiting for the answer.
"Apparently, we had only been there for one day before Kayden arrived and the battle broke out," Lydia replied. I nodded slowly, the timeline clicking into place. It made sense. Zander would have wanted to put as much distance between the pack and us as possible, but he also would have spent time ensuring he wasn't being followed after the initial snatch. He had been arrogant, but not completely careless—he just hadn't counted on how fast Kayden would move to get us back.
"So, what happened after I lost consciousness?" I asked, leaning back against the pillows. Lydia looked up at the ceiling, her brow furrowed as she began slicing the apple she had just peeled. "Well, Kayden's strategy—having three wolves for every tiger—was incredibly effective. Between that and the element of surprise, we managed to sustain very few casualties. We even captured a few of the tigers alive. They're currently locked up in the dungeon and heavily guarded."
She glanced at me, one accusatory eyebrow inching upward. "We even stationed a sentry outside the window of their cell. We wanted to ensure that even if they somehow miraculously managed to slip through the bars, they wouldn't get very far." I bit my lip, my face heating up as I realized she was poking fun at my own escape. I managed to keep my voice calm, though a small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "I see. Wise choice."
Lydia's lip twitched with an amused smirk before her expression soured. "Most of the ones we didn't capture were killed in the fighting. Though, unfortunately, a few managed to flee on those helicopters with that man... Zander." She practically spat the name, her face twisting as if the mere mention of him left a bitter taste in her mouth. I nodded, the weight of his escape settling back onto my chest. But Lydia wasn't finished.
"Since you've been asleep, Kayden has been a whirlwind of activity," she said, her tone shifting to one of respect. "He's been contacting all the neighboring packs. He's arranging a summit here within the next day or so. He wants to see exactly who will stand with us against the tigers. He's determined to build an alliance that will keep you, and this pack, safe from whatever Zander is planning next."
My heart tightened at the mention of Kayden. I felt a flicker of selfishness for craving his presence while he was buried in the work of preparing for Zander's inevitable return, but the silence of the room only made his absence feel heavier. I knew the kind of man Zander was—pathetic and fragile. He couldn't stand it when someone stood up to him, and now that Kayden had defied him, Zander would make it his life's mission to ensure it never happened again. He would try to dismantle everything Kayden loved, piece by piece, just to prove he was the superior power. Guilt settled over my shoulders like a leaden cloak. It became harder to meet Lydia's gaze.
"I'm sorry, Lydia," I whispered, my voice thick. "If I had just left that day like I said I would... none of this would be happening. The pack wouldn't be in danger." Lydia paused, her eyebrow arching as she looked at me from the corner of her eye. "Are you talking about that day in Ms. Chambers' shop?" When I nodded, she let out a long, weary sigh. She set the knife down on the plate beside the neatly sliced apple. "You should probably know that I have been in contact with Amelia since the day you arrived. She has been giving me regular updates, and I must say... I was frankly disappointed in my son. I thought I had raised him better than to treat his mate with such coldness. For that, I feel I must apologize to you on his behalf."
My eyes widened. The guilt was momentarily eclipsed by shock. "What? Lydia, no. You have no reason to apologize for him. It wasn't your fault he acted that way. I expected it—I knew wolf shifters have rigid belief systems. It's only natural to act erratically when those beliefs are threatened by something as 'impossible' as me." Lydia didn't look convinced, but she didn't argue. Instead, she speared a slice of apple with a small fork and held it out toward me. I stared at it, my stomach still knotted with anxiety, but she gave me a pointed, motherly look. "You haven't eaten in two days, my dear. Please. I did go through the trouble of preparing it for you, after all."
I felt the guilt clench at my chest at her words. To hide my face, I reached out and took the fork from her hand, bringing a slice of apple to my mouth. The sweetness of the fruit was a shock to my system. I hadn't realized how hollow I truly felt until that first bite hit my tongue, prompting a loud, traitorous growl from my stomach. Lydia didn't say a word, but the soft, pleased smile that touched her lips spoke volumes. She wordlessly handed me the entire plate, and I accepted it with a grateful nod, suddenly ravenous. As I worked through the slices, she leaned back, her expression turning pensive. "When you mentioned our strong belief systems," she started, "does that apply to people like Zander as well? Is that what fuels him?"
The fork in my hand paused halfway to my mouth. I let out a heavy sigh, the weight of centuries of bloodied history pressing down on me. "Yes, it does. It's the root of everything. Wolf shifters have always believed in the existence of their one deity, the Moon Goddess, while tigers have always been adamant about the existence of the other gods. Other species believe in the Pantheon, too, but never to the fanatical extreme that our elders and the tigers push it." I set the fork against the ceramic plate with a dull clink.
"From our history books, I learned that the hatred stems from that very defiance. Tigers have always praised the gods, but when the wolves refused to believe in any deity other than their 'precious' Moon Goddess, the tigers saw it as the ultimate blasphemy. They grew angry and destroyed wolf settlements, killing so many of your people. Ever since then, the animosity has lived on through the millennia. It's a never-ending feud." I looked up at Lydia, seeing the reflection of that ancient war in the quiet of the room. "Tigers look down on wolves as lesser beings for their beliefs, and wolves see tigers as the mortal enemy. It is even why you all refer to yourselves by the human ideology—werewolf. You would rather call yourselves after a mythological monster than be put in the same category as a tiger. To you, 'shifter' sounds too much like us."
Lydia nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on the empty plate. "And it is this fanatical belief in the gods that has led Zander to hunt you." I sighed, leaning back against the headboard. "In some ways you're right, and in others... not exactly." She raised an eyebrow, prompting me to continue. "And that is?" she asked, leaning forward. "Kayden told me everything you shared about your past—the hidden villages and these 'Elders.' Does this have something to do with them?"
I swallowed the last of the apple, the sweetness turning to ash in my mouth. "Yes. Zander is nothing more than the Council of Elders' glorified messenger boy. They've deemed him the strongest warrior among the tiger shifters, and because of that, they have decreed that the two of us must produce an offspring. They want to breed a weapon—a child born from the two of us who they can raise to be the ultimate predator, taking the tiger shifters to heights they haven't seen in centuries." Lydia's expression shifted to one of pure horror. "All this because you are a White Tiger? And he—" I shook my head, cutting her off before she could finish. "No, Zander isn't a White Tiger like me. Being a White Tiger is only half the reason they want a child from my bloodline."
Lydia's eyes drifted to my silver hair, which hung in shimmering curtains around my face. I couldn't stop myself from reaching up to touch the strands. Growing up, I had loved my hair; it felt like a gift. But from the moment I was forced into that village at ten years old, it became a curse. It was a beacon that drew every hateful, hungry stare. I lost count of how many times I tried to dye it—to turn it black, brown, anything to make me blend in. But it never worked. It was as if some ancient magic lived in the pigment; the dye would simply wash out within a few days, leaving me with the same silver crown that marked me as a prize to be claimed.
"I always had to be on my guard," I whispered, the memories feeling like cold iron in my chest. "In those villages, friendship didn't exist. There were only threats. Everyone was stepping on each other to rise through the ranks, never caring who they crushed in the process. It was the absolute definition of survival of the fittest." I could still see the greed in their eyes—the Elders, especially. They tried everything to break me, to turn me into a mindless puppet. If it hadn't been for my mother's teachings and the inner iron she gave me, I would have fallen prey to their tricks a long time ago.
"Once they realized they couldn't control me," I continued, "they stopped looking at me as a person and started looking at me as a vessel. Their desire to monopolize my future children became their sole focus. That obsession is what led us to this." Lydia leaned in, her voice hushed. "Does it have something to do with their belief that you were blessed by the goddess you were named after? Artemis?" I sighed, my fingers gliding through my hair as I began to weave it into a thick braid off to one side. The silky threads felt familiar, yet they were the very thing that marked me. "It's part of it. My hair is a symbol to them—tangible proof that the gods exist and walk among us. To the tigers, I am a living icon of their faith. That alone made them want to possess me, even without my status as a White Tiger."
I pulled the braid tight, my expression hardening. "Then you mix in my battle prowess and their sick obsession with strength, and I become the ultimate prize. But it's a paradox for them. The very strength they crave is the same strength that makes me impossible to lead. I've never been under their thumb like the others, and for people who thrive on control, that makes me the most dangerous problem they've ever faced."
"That was when they shifted their focus to my future children," I said, my voice dropping an octave as the darker memories surfaced. "I lost count of the tricks they used to try and force me into a bed. At first, it was just manipulation and talk. Then it turned into men sent to my room in the dead of night, trying to take what hadn't been given. They tried drugging my food, slipping things into my drinks, hoping I'd be too weak to fight back."
I tightened my hold on the fork, my knuckles white. "When none of that worked—when they realized I would break every man they sent—they finally issued the decree. They demanded I 'strengthen the lineage' by giving Zander an heir." Lydia's eyebrows rose higher with every word, her face a mask of shock and growing anger. "Well," she said softly, "it's obvious you didn't listen to that order, or you wouldn't be sitting here with us now." I let out a short, sharp snort of amusement. "You're right about that. The moment they issued that decree, I decided enough was enough. I left that very night, and I've been on the run ever since."
Lydia nodded, the pieces of the puzzle finally clicking into place. "And that's how you crossed into our territory." I nodded back, stuffing the last apple slice into my mouth, suddenly unsure of what to say. The silence of the room felt heavy until I felt Lydia's hand cover mine. She gave my fingers a firm, comforting squeeze, grounding me. "Artemis, dear," she said, her voice like warm velvet. "You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. None of this is your fault. You have every right to seek your own happiness. The only ones in the wrong are the Elders who tried to break you and the man they sent to hunt you down."
Her forest-green eyes locked onto mine, filled with a fierce, maternal love that I hadn't expected. "I told you before—you are my son's mate. That makes you family. And in this pack, family protects its own. Even if Zander and those Elders send thousands of men our way, we will protect you with our final breaths. No one is taking you from us." She smiled, a small, knowing glint in her eyes. "The gods and the Moon Goddess put the two of you together for a reason, Artemis. We will get through this crisis together. As a family."
The tension I had been carrying began to dissolve under the weight of her kindness. Unshed tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but before I could find the words to thank her, a light, polite knock echoed through the room. Lydia gave my hand one last reassuring pat before standing up to answer the door. A petite girl stood in the hallway, carefully balancing a silver tray. Lydia thanked her softly, taking the burden and using her foot to nudge the door shut behind her. As she approached the bed and set the tray across my lap, the savory aroma wafted upward, making my mouth water instantly.
When she lifted the silver dome, a perfect, light golden omelet was revealed, steam curling gently from the plate. Beside it sat a glass of chilled orange juice, the bright color a sharp contrast to the sterile white sheets. "Go on, eat," Lydia encouraged, her eyes warm. "I figured something light and easy on the stomach would be best after a forty-eight-hour fast." I didn't need to be told twice. I picked up the fork and took a small bite. The eggs were fluffy and perfectly seasoned; the second they hit my tongue, I couldn't help but let out a small, involuntary moan of appreciation. Lydia chuckled at my reaction, watching with quiet satisfaction as I worked through the meal. Once the plate was cleared and the juice was gone, she stood to retrieve the tray. "Good. It's a relief to see your appetite hasn't suffered."
"Thank you, Lydia," I said, feeling a slight heat creep into my cheeks. "I genuinely appreciate everything." She shook her head dismissively. "It's no trouble at all, dear. We were all truly worried when you didn't show signs of waking—especially Kayden. He refused to leave your side for the longest time. Mia and I practically had to threaten him to get him out of that door. We had to promise, on our lives, that we wouldn't leave you for a single second just so he would go shower, eat, or try to handle the mountain of work on his desk. It's been quite the sight, seeing him so... undone."
A small, shy smile crept onto my lips. It was a strange, warm feeling to know that Kayden had stayed so close, even if it took his mother's interference to get him to care for himself. "In fact," Lydia added, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "he was so protective these past few days that he refused almost every offer of help. Watching him so gently bathe the dried blood from your scalp while we were still in the doctor's office... it was truly one of the sweetest things I've seen in a long time." My face went hot, a flush of embarrassment burning across my cheeks. I instinctively reached up to touch the back of my head, imagining his large, calloused hands being so incredibly careful with me. Lydia's grin widened, clearly savoring my reaction.
"Anyway," she said, picking up the tray with a graceful strength, "I should probably go let him know his mate is finally back with us. I'm sure he's dying to see you. He's been worried sick." Before I could find my voice to protest or ask her to stay, she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her. The silence that followed was heavy. My heart began to clench, but not with hunger this time—it was a knot of pure anxiety. What do I even say to him? After everything that happened, after the danger I brought to his doorstep, would he blame me? Would he regret the day I ever crossed his border? I didn't have time to spiral.
The door didn't just open—it burst inward, hitting the stopper with a crack that echoed through the room. I felt the air leave my lungs as Kayden stood in the threshold. He looked like a man who had been holding his breath for two days and had finally found oxygen. His steel-gray eyes were a storm of raw emotion—concern, overwhelming happiness, and a relief so deep it looked almost like pain. I opened my mouth to speak, to apologize, to say anything, but the words never came. He crossed the room in three long, predatory strides and engulfed me in his arms. He pulled me against him so tightly I could feel the frantic thrum of his heart against my own.
A smile broke across my face as he immediately buried his nose in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent as if it were the only thing keeping him alive. My arms wrapped tightly around his broad shoulders, my fingers instinctively finding their way into the thick, dark hair at the nape of his neck. I opened my mouth to finally speak his name, but the words were stolen as Kayden pulled back just enough to claim my lips with his own.
The moment our mouths met, I felt my entire body melt against his. The kiss was desperate and possessive, and a second later, his tongue began to mingle with mine in a feverish dance. My senses were completely overwhelmed; the air in the room seemed to vanish, replaced by the crackling electricity of the mate bond that erupted into sparks wherever his skin met mine. I let out a sharp gasp as I felt his large, warm hand slide up my ribs to encircle my breast through the thin silk of my white nightgown. I arched my back into his touch, a soft cry escaping into his mouth when he pinched my hardening peak between his fingers.
The heat between us was reaching a flashpoint. My fingers tightened in his hair, tugging him closer as he began trailing a path of fire down my neck with his lips. He moved lower and lower until he could claim me through the silk. The second the rough rasp of his tongue brushed over my nipple, a violent shiver raced down my spine, and a broken moan escaped my throat. Kayden let out a low, guttural growl, pushing me back against the pillows to give himself better access to my body. As he moved over me, his weight pinning me into the mattress, I felt his knee slide firmly between my open legs, pressing against the center of my heat and sending my heart into a frantic, spiraling rhythm.
The connection between our minds flared to life, our mutual hunger intertwining until I couldn't tell where my desire ended and his began. The physical pull was unbearable. I tugged sharply on his hair, needing the taste of him more than I needed air. He groaned into my skin, reluctantly releasing my breast to allow me to drag his head upward. I claimed his lips in a bruising, desperate kiss, and he met my intensity fold for fold, his hands moving with a frantic rhythm as he toyed with and squeezed my breasts through the silk.
The heat pooling in my lower stomach turned into a demanding ache. My hands left the silken strands of his hair, wandering down the hard, muscled planes of his back before finding the waistband of his pants. The second my fingers brushed the material, I felt a surge of boldness. With trembling but determined movements, I unhooked them, pulling them down just enough to find what I was looking for. As my fingers slipped inside and wrapped around his thick, pulsating member, Kayden stiffened, a sharp, ragged breath hitching in his throat.
The second I felt her hand slide upward, I let out a sharp, ragged hiss of pleasure. My hips buckled instinctively against her palm, and a groan ripped from my throat as the sensation surged through my mind, doubling in intensity the moment her consciousness intertwined with mine. I forced myself to pull back just a fraction, looking down at my mate's beautiful face. Her eyes were hooded with desire, her cheeks flushed a deep, tempting rose. Seeing her like this, completely undone by me, made her look more breathtaking than ever. A small part of my mind screamed that I should stop—that she had only just woken from a life-threatening injury—but my wolf was drowning out the logic. Especially when she started moaning my name with such desperate urgency, her voice a siren song I couldn't ignore.
I felt a primal growl vibrate in my chest as her hand slid the full length of me again, forcing a simultaneous groan from both of our lips. "Artemis, wait," I rasped, though my body wanted the opposite. I caught her wrist, gently but firmly pulling her hand from my pants despite her soft sounds of protest. I couldn't take another second of the restriction. I hooked my fingers into the waistband of my underwear and trousers, shoving them down with a rough, impatient energy. She didn't hesitate for a heartbeat, her hands reaching out to help push the material over my hips until I finally sprang free. I barely had a second to kick the pants away before her fingers were back on me, gripping me with a possessiveness that made my head snap back, and my breath hitch in my throat.
I felt Kayden's entire frame buckle as I slid my hand from the base of his cock to the very tip. His eyes snapped shut, his head falling back slightly as the wave of pleasure hit him. That same intensity rolled over me through our bond, settling into a heavy, pulsing ache between my legs that made my breath hitch. I felt him shift, his muscles tensing as if he were about to pull away again—likely to protect me or regain control—but I wasn't having it this time.
Before he could even process the movement, I shifted my weight. Using the element of surprise, I lunged forward, catching him off guard and forcing him flat onto his back. He let out a huff of air as he hit the mattress, his steel-gray eyes widening in shock as I pinned him there. I didn't give him a second to protest or try to flip the positions. I slid down the bed, my silk nightgown riding up my thighs as I positioned myself between his legs. I looked up at him for one fleeting, defiant second, seeing the raw hunger and disbelief on his face, before I leaned forward and took him into my mouth.
My body jerked, and a sharp, ragged hiss escaped me as Artemis's mouth finally wrapped around the head of my cock. She was warm, velvet-soft, and inviting, welcoming me deeper with a confidence that nearly shattered my resolve. I was barely holding onto the edges of my sanity, especially when I felt her tongue begin a slow, torturous swirl around my swelling length. My toes curled against the sheets, my hands instinctively tangling into the silk of her silver hair to anchor myself. The pleasure wasn't just physical; it was a psychic roar in my mind, a tidal wave of gold and heat. I let out a low, guttural groan, knowing that if I didn't take control now, I would hit my limit in a matter of seconds.
Reaching down, I hooked my hands under her arms and hauled her upward as I sat up. My member slipped from the heat of her mouth with a soft, wet pop. Before she could voice her protest, I silenced her with a bruising kiss, my hands guiding her until she was straddling my hips, her legs locked firmly around mine. I didn't wait. I gripped her hips, my fingers digging into her soft skin, and plunged myself deep into her moist, welcoming center.
The sensation was so intense we both cried out into the kiss, our moans mingling. Artemis didn't hesitate; she immediately began to roll her hips against mine, her movements rhythmic and demanding, driving us both toward the edge. In the heat of it, her hands found the hem of my shirt, dragging the fabric up my chest. I pulled back just enough to let her whisk the shirt over my head and toss it aside. The moment I was free, I reached for her, hooking my thumbs into the neckline of her white nightgown and dragging the silk down to her waist. Her breasts were bared to me, and I leaned in, my tongue circling one dark, hardened nipple as I drove upward into her again.
I felt my nails dig into his shoulders as his tongue glided over my nipple. When his teeth scraped across the sensitive peak, a broken moan left my lips. His hand shifted from my hip to the small of my back, crushing my body against his. Sensing he was about to move, I acted on pure instinct, locking my legs around his waist before he could slip out of me.
We both let out a wrecked moan as I pulled him deeper, and he used the momentum to roll us over, pinning me into the mattress with his powerful frame. He let my nipple slip from his mouth, his breath coming in hot, ragged hitches.
With every thrust, he drove us both deeper into a primal madness, each movement more powerful and possessive than the last. I held on for dear life, my nails carving tracks into his back as the pressure behind my eyes built to a breaking point. When his fingers slipped between our bodies to find my clit, a sharp cry of pleasure escaped me. In that same heartbeat, a searing, white-hot pain exploded at the crook of my neck.
Kayden's canine teeth sank deep into the junction of my neck and shoulder. The agony lasted only a second before a flood of liquid, supernatural pleasure took its place—an intensity that surged just as his final thrust pushed us both over the edge. Stars erupted behind my eyelids. This was unlike anything I had ever felt; the orgasm was so violent, so all-consuming, that I could practically feel his emotions bleeding into my own. I felt his bone-deep relief, his terrifying love, and his raw need to keep me safe. Through the haze, the truth hit me with the weight of a lead weight: He just marked me. The bond was now permanent, vibrating through my very soul. But as the darkness of exhaustion began to consume me, one stinging thought remained: He just marked me without my consent.
*
When I first drifted back to consciousness, everything felt perfect. I could feel Kayden's strong arms wrapped securely around my waist, the steady, rhythmic warmth of his chest seeping into my back. A small, involuntary smile began to form on my lips, and I snuggled closer into his heat, feeling more at peace than I had in years. Then, the memories came rushing back. The heat, the madness, and the sharp, searing sting of his teeth in my neck. He had marked me. Without talking to me about it and without gaining my consent in the least.
The peace shattered instantly. I bolted upright, the sudden movement causing the sheets to tangle around my legs. I turned to look at Kayden; he looked so peaceful, so content in his sleep, that a hot wave of irritation washed over me. Without a second thought, I planted both hands on his chest and shoved him. With a loud, startled thud, he hit the floor.
He scrambled up instantly, looking dazed and lethal, his eyes darting around the room as if expecting an assassin to be lunging from the shadows. When his gaze finally landed on me and saw my livid expression, the "Alpha" persona crumbled. His eyes dropped immediately to the fresh, angry mark residing on my shoulder. His eyes widened with realization, quickly melting into an expression of deep regret. He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't give him the chance. I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him; it caught him square in the face with a satisfying whack.
He pulled the pillow away, standing up and holding his hands out in a gesture of total surrender. "Look, I know what I did was wrong—"
"Oh, really? Do you now?" I snapped, cutting him off, my voice trembling with rage. "And yet you did it anyway!" He let out a heavy sigh, running his fingers through his hair, looking more like a scolded boy than an Alpha. "I know, and I'm really sorry. I just—" He trailed off, unable to find the words. My nostrils flared as the frustration bubbled over in my chest. "You what, Kayden? What could have possibly made you think that it was okay to take that choice away from me?"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, looking everywhere but at me. "It's...it's not like that, Artemis." "Oh?" I scoffed, dragging my fingers through my hair in pure frustration. "Then please, tell me how you thought this was okay. Did you even stop to think about how I would feel when I woke up? Did you think I'd just roll over and accept it because I told you I loved you? Did you even have a single coherent thought before you decided to claim me?"
As I spoke, Kayden began to pace. He was completely naked, powerful, and moving in a tight, restless line between my bed and the closed door. "I just... I wasn't thinking," he admitted, his voice low. I rolled my eyes, staring at him in flat disbelief. "And you think that's a good enough reason? Seriously? 'I wasn't thinking' is your defense for a life-altering decision?" He let out a sharp sigh, his pacing becoming more frantic. "No, that's not what I meant."
"Then for the love of the gods, Kayden, tell me why!" I shouted, the irritation rising like a tide in my chest. "Marking someone isn't something you do on a whim! Do you even realize the gravity of what you've done?" He stopped mid-stride, running his fingers through his hair again until it stood up in messy tufts. "Yes, I know what marking you means."
"Obviously, you don't," I countered, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because if you did, you wouldn't have done it without my consent. You didn't just mark my skin, Kayden. When you mark a shifter of my lineage, you are binding the very essence of their soul. Our souls are interconnected now. We are 'one' whether I like it or not. I'm forced to feel your every emotion, to communicate on a level I never asked for. You've anchored me to you, and you didn't even have the decency to ask if I wanted to stay."
"Sure, it sounds like some fairytale romance bullshit," I snapped, my voice cracking with the sheer weight of the intrusion I felt in my own head. "The kind of story children tell about finding their fated mate. But that only works if both people choose it. Do you have any idea what it's like when only one side forces it? It's overwhelming. It's enough to make someone go insane, Kayden!" I stood up, the sheets pooling at my waist as I stared him down. "It's hard enough to regulate my own emotions, but now? I have to manage yours, too? I can feel your regret, your heat, your heartbeat—and I have no way to shut it out. So tell me, why in the gods' names would you think this was remotely a good idea?"
The fire in my words seemed to finally drain the frantic energy out of him. Kayden stopped pacing. He looked smaller somehow, despite his massive frame, as he sank onto the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. "I wasn't thinking," he whispered, his voice thick and raw. "These past few days... they've been hell, Artemis. I failed. I wasn't there to protect you when you were taken. And even when we tracked you down, I still wasn't enough."
He let out a hollow, self-deprecating laugh that vibrated through the bond, tasting like bitter salt in my mind. "I'm the Alpha. I'm supposed to be strong enough to protect this pack from anything. But you and Zander..." He looked up, his eyes bloodshot and filled with a crushing sense of inadequacy. "You're both so much stronger than me. I'm no match for either of you. I've fought tigers before, and my men and I always held our own—but watching you two fight? We couldn't even touch a hair on your heads unless you let us. Watching that... it made it painfully clear how useless I am against your kind."
The anger that had been fueling me only moments ago began to flicker and die, replaced by a dull, heavy ache in my chest. Hearing him lay himself bare like this—stripping away the Alpha title to reveal the terrified man underneath—was almost harder to handle than the mark itself. I wanted to reach out. I wanted to pull his head to my chest and tell him he was enough, but the words felt like they would turn to ash in my throat. We weren't just two people in a room anymore; we were tethered, and I could feel the jagged edges of his defeat cutting into my own spirit.
"And to make matters worse," he continued, his voice cracking, "I couldn't do anything while you lay there unconscious. I haven't been able to do a single thing for you that you haven't already been doing for yourself for years. I couldn't even control my own pack—I couldn't stop them from betraying one of their own for a petty vendetta." He looked up at me, and the sheer weight of his self-loathing hit me through the bond like a physical blow. "I know I'm unworthy of being your mate," he whispered, the admission sounding like a death sentence. "But I can't stop myself from wanting to be. I know marking you without your approval was wrong, Artemis. I know. But the fear of losing you... It took over. I couldn't stop it."
He reached out, his hand hovering near mine but not quite touching, as if he feared I'd flinch away. "At least this way, if something happens, I'll be the first to know. I can be at your side in minutes. If they take you again, I can track your soul to the ends of the earth. No one would ever be able to keep me from you again." My heart swelled, a painful, complicated warmth spreading through my limbs. I could feel the raw sincerity of his words vibrating through the mark. His execution had been desperate and flawed, a panicked reaction to a power he didn't understand, but his heart... his heart was entirely mine. He hadn't marked me to chain me; he had marked me because he was terrified of a world where I didn't exist.
I let out a long, weary sigh. "Kayden, I know your heart is in the right place, but that doesn't change what this is. I appreciate that you care, and I know that admitting someone is stronger than you takes more courage than most people I've met in my two hundred and eight years—but there were better ways. Did you even consider the toll a one-sided mark takes on the person who gave it?" He shrugged, a stubborn set to his jaw. "I'll be fine. I'm not just physically strong, Artemis. Mentally, I can handle the weight of it." I shook my head slowly, my frustration softening into a dull ache. "That's not the point. I don't think you truly grasp the danger of the situation you've put yourself in."
Suddenly, he reached out, grasping my hands in his. He squeezed them firmly, his touch grounding me and forcing me to look up into the storm of his gray eyes. "I'll be fine, Ari. You don't have to worry. I'm okay with this, and I don't expect you to mark me back—not yet. You only just decided to stay. I know you won't be fully certain until this threat is dealt with, until you know for sure if this is the life you want. Only then will you need to decide if you want to claim me, too."
"It's not that simple, Kayden, and you know it," I whispered, my voice trembling. "We both know a one-sided mark like this only lasts about three weeks. When that bond starts to dissolve because it isn't reciprocated, it doesn't just fade—it turns into physical agony. It will feel like your soul is being shredded." He shrugged again, his expression unwavering. "I'll be fine. Just let me do this. Let me have this one way to watch over you while the world is trying to take you away. After this is all over, we can complete the mating ceremony if you wish, or whenever you feel ready. No matter what you decide, I will stand by it. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. You are my one and only, and I will love you until my last breath. I am prepared to put my life on the line for yours, and I will never regret marking you. You have nothing to worry about." Tears well up in my eyes, blurring his face. The sheer, reckless devotion of this man was overwhelming. "Kayden, I—"
He leaned forward, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss to my forehead. When he pulled back, he used his thumb to swipe away a stray tear before cupping my cheek in his large, warm palm. "Just let me handle everything for once," he whispered. I closed my eyes, a long, shaky sigh escaping me. When I looked at him again, my heart clenched with a bitter mix of love and sadness. I knew he was right; I couldn't relieve him of the burden of the one-sided mark without marking him in return—and I wasn't ready to do that. Not because I didn't love him, but because the cost was too high to pay while a war loomed on the horizon. I couldn't bear the thought of marking him, only to watch him fall in battle and be left with a soul forever scorched by his absence.
In the lore of the shifters, the mark was the ultimate gamble. Once two mates marked one another, their souls became a single, intertwined entity. If one half of that bond was torn away by death, the survivor's soul would be left jagged and bleeding. It was said to be an unfathomable agony, a slow internal fire that withered the body and spirit. Most who lost a marked mate followed them to the grave not long after, their very life force fading without their other half. It was because of this terrifying reality that so few truly marked one another. Most packs chose the safety of marriage or the tradition of the mating ceremony—ways to declare their devotion without risking the literal death of their souls. To choose the mark was to say, I will never live a day without you. Kayden was willing to risk that agony for me. But as I looked into his eyes, I knew I couldn't risk it for him. Not yet.
I could see the lingering reluctance in her eyes, the shadow of her fear of what this mark truly meant. But beneath that, I saw the undeniable depth of her affection for me, glowing like an ember in the dark. We both knew the truth—there was no undoing what had been done. The bond was anchored, and I could tell by the way her shoulders finally slumped that the fight in her had been spent. She wasn't surrendering to me; she was accepting us.
With the anger finally dissipating, I leaned forward. This wasn't the hungry, desperate kiss of a few minutes ago. I pressed my lips to hers with a soft, reverent tenderness. I poured everything into that touch—the depth of my love, my silent apology for the choice I'd taken from her, and my vow to keep her safe. I wanted her to feel, through the thrum of the bond, that she wasn't just my mate. She was my heart, and I would spend every day proving that I was worthy of the soul she had just shared with me.
I felt my body melt against his, the last of my resistance dissolving like mist. His tongue swept out, tracing the curve of my bottom lip as if trying to memorize the taste of every inch of my skin before he slipped inside my parted lips. The kiss was deep, slow, and devastatingly thorough. As we kissed, I felt his large hands slide beneath the hem of my silk nightgown, urging the fabric upward. He only broke the contact when the silk was bunched at my neck; he pulled back just long enough to whisk the garment over my head and toss it carelessly off the bed.
Once I was bare before him, he didn't rush. He began to trail slow, worshipful kisses along the line of my jaw and down the column of my neck, savoring the moment as if time had stopped. But the second his lips brushed the mark he had carved into my shoulder, the world tilted on its axis. It wasn't just the familiar mate-bond sparks anymore. It was a soul-wrenching wave of pleasure that vibrated through the very marrow of my bones. My breath hitched, caught in the back of my throat, as a shiver raced down my spine. When he glided his tongue over the mark, my back arched off the mattress instinctively, a cry of pure, unadulterated pleasure escaping me.
The intensity was staggering—far beyond anything I'd experienced before the bond was sealed. My body responded instantly, my core throbbing with a demanding ache that begged for the relief only he could provide. I wasn't the only one affected. Through the bond, I felt the tidal wave of desire hit Kayden with the force of a physical blow. He suddenly went still, his muscles locking as he squeezed his eyes shut. I could feel him fighting for control, his breath coming in ragged, heavy bursts as he tried to keep from being consumed by the wildfire the mark had just ignited between us.
I traced the elegant line of her collarbone with my lips while my hands found her breasts, my thumbs rhythmically grazing her pebbling nipples. Artemis let out a series of soft, broken mewls that echoed in my ears, her back arching to press her curves deeper into my palms. Watching her body shudder and twist beneath me was a sweet torture; the tether between us was vibrating so hard I could barely maintain my focus.
I replaced my hand with my mouth, circling her nipple with my tongue. The moment I tasted her, a jolt of her pleasure surged through our connection, hitting my mind and then doubling in intensity as my teeth grazed lightly over the sensitive peak. I let out a low, guttural groan. Every touch was a ripple in a pond, waves of ecstasy rolling from her to me, mixing and magnifying until I couldn't tell whose heart was thundering against whose ribs. I moved lower, raining worshipful kisses down the slope of her stomach. I watched her muscles clench and jump under my lips, her skin humming with a frantic energy. Her hand tangled in my hair, her fingers tightening as if she were trying to anchor herself—or perhaps stop me—but I was far beyond stopping.
I buried my face between her thighs, and the scent of her, combined with the psychic pull of the mark, nearly brought me to my knees. The second my tongue swept into her dripping, moist center, my cock jerked in a violent response. Ari let out a piercing cry, her back lifting completely off the bed as the sensation shattered her. Her legs instinctively tried to clamp shut, a reflex to the sheer overwhelming intensity, but I caught her thighs, holding her open as I continued to explore and taste every part of her. I wanted to drown in her; I wanted the bond to bridge the last remaining gap between us until there was nothing left but this fire.
I could feel my self-control fraying like a worn rope. Wave after wave of her pleasure crashed into my mind through the bond, a relentless tide that threatened to drown us both. Even as I tried to hold back, wanting to stretch out every second of her ecstasy, the shared sensation was becoming too much for a human—or even a wolf—to bear. Her nails scraped across my scalp, her fingers tightening in my hair as she pulled with a desperate strength. Her breath came in short, jagged pants, and I could feel the rhythmic tightening of her walls against my tongue as we both spiraled toward the edge.
"Kayden... I need... you," she gasped. I didn't need the words. Through our connected minds, I felt the shape of her desire, a raw and aching void that only I could fill. Without a second thought, I lifted my head from between her thighs. She immediately used her grip on my hair to haul me upward, her eyes wild and unfocused with need. I gripped her hips, my fingers digging into her skin to anchor us both as I positioned myself at her entrance. The moment my lips crashed against her eager ones, I plunged deep into her warm, moist center.
That single motion was the spark that hit the powder keg. An earth-shattering climax exploded between us, a supernova of white light and shared sensation that made the room disappear. I felt her nails carve into the muscles of my back, her cries of pleasure vibrating in my throat as they joined my own guttural roar. It wasn't just a physical release; it was our souls fusing together in the heat of the mark. The intensity was too much for the senses to process. As the waves of pleasure peaked and broke, the all-too-familiar darkness rose to meet me, and I felt us both slip away into a deep, bond-induced slumber.
*
When I finally drifted back to consciousness, I was enveloped in a familiar, steady warmth. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by the ornate ceiling of my bedroom, bathed in the soft glow of the sun. I shifted, turning my head to find Kayden watching me. The moment our eyes met, a slow, lazy smile spread across his face, and his arms tightened around my waist, pulling me back into the curve of his body. I gave him a sleepy smile in return, my muscles protesting as I began a long, feline stretch to shake off the remnants of the bond-induced slumber. Kayden's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, a low chuckle vibrating against my back.
"Is it just you, Ari, or do all tigers have such a difficult time waking up?" he teased, his voice husky with sleep. "I've noticed you never stir before noon, and even then, it seems like a monumental struggle to get you on your feet." I shrugged, my eyes still heavy. "I don't know. This is just how I've always been." He began to draw slow, lazy circles on my arm with his fingertip, the light touch sending a pleasant shiver racing up my spine. "What about your parents? Were they the same way?"
I paused, the question catching me off guard. For a moment, I was going to say I wasn't sure, but then the memories began to surface—distant but clear. I thought back to my childhood in the village, to the quiet mornings and the late, moonlit evenings. "Actually," I murmured, "I don't remember a time my family or I ever got up before noon, even when I was small." Kayden's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. "What about your school days back in the tiger village?"
"Schooling didn't start until then either," I said with another shrug, leaning my head against his shoulder. "But training... training always went late into the night. Sometimes until the sun started to peak over the horizon." His shocked expression turned into a small, fascinated chuckle. "Well, it's probably safe to say that it's a tiger shifter trait, then, and not just you being stubborn." "Perhaps," I agreed, closing my eyes for a moment longer. "It likely has something to do with the feline gene. We're built for the hunt under the stars, not the morning sun."
The orange light of the setting sun filtered through the sheer white curtains, painting the room in a warm, amber glow. I watched the colors dance across the walls, a peaceful smile tugging at my lips; I had always felt a deep connection to the golden hour, the time when the world transitioned from the harsh light of day to the mystery of the night. "I'm so glad I met you that day," Kayden's voice broke the silence, deep and husky right against my ear. "Even if we didn't meet under the best of circumstances."
I turned toward him, my heart skipping a beat at the raw honesty in his gaze. I reached up, cupping his stubbled cheek with my palm. "I feel the same way, Kayden," I whispered, the weight of the last few days making the admission feel even more significant. He leaned in, playfully kissing the tip of my nose. The simple gesture sent a wave of warmth through my chest, making me giggle softly in amusement. But as his eyes locked onto mine again, the playfulness vanished, replaced by an intensity that made the air feel thin. "I don't feel I tell you enough," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "But no matter what happens, I love you so much, Ari. More than I ever thought possible."
My eyes blurred with sudden, happy tears. "I love you too." He smiled, leaning forward to press his forehead against mine, anchoring us together. "I promise that no matter what happens, I will always be on your side." I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent of sandalwood and forest rain. I opened my mouth to tell him that I felt the same devotion, that I would fight the world for him, but he spoke before I could get the words out.
"I know," he murmured. I blinked, momentarily confused by his certainty, until I felt his thumb glide over the raised skin of the mark on my shoulder. A jolt of electric pleasure spiraled through my spine, making me shiver in his arms. "I can feel what you're feeling right now," he added, his voice filled with a sense of wonder. "I know exactly how much you care about me. I know you feel the same. It's truly incredible, Ari... to know without a doubt. It's almost like I can feel your heart beating right against my own."
He closed his eyes as he spoke, leaning into the connection, but when he opened them again, the wonder had been replaced by a familiar shadow of guilt. He cupped my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin with a tenderness that felt like an apology in itself. "I'm truly sorry I was such a royal jerk to you when you first showed up," he murmured, his voice heavy with regret. "I should have believed you about everything, but I was too stubborn to listen. And I know you've already long since forgiven me, but even if I spent a thousand years apologizing, it still wouldn't feel like enough."
I sighed, the old frustration bubbling up. I opened my mouth to tell him to let it go, but he cut me off before I could get a syllable out. "I know you think I don't need to," he interjected, his eyes searching mine. "But I still feel like a complete ass, and I'll never truly forgive myself for how I treated you." My jaw clenched. The bond was a two-way street, and I could feel his self-loathing bleeding into my own chest, heavy and suffocating. I didn't want his guilt; I wanted him. Without thinking twice, I leaned my head back, breaking the contact of our foreheads. He started to speak again—likely about to tell me he could sense my irritation—but I moved faster.
I pressed both of my hands firmly against his cheeks, framing his face and effectively silencing him. "You're right. You were a jerk," I said, my voice firm and leaving no room for argument. "And you're right that I've forgiven you. But if you dare bring this up every day for the rest of our lives, it is going to annoy me to no end. Do you really want to spend our eternity stuck in a loop of 'I'm sorry'?" He blinked, surprised by my bluntness. "So, instead of telling me you're sorry all the time," I continued, a small, challenging smirk playing on my lips, "just show me with your actions instead. Make sure you never doubt me like that again, for one. And as for the apology? Just treat me even better than you already do. That's all the 'sorry' I need."
The tension in the room shifted instantly from electric heat to the cold reality of duty. As my words settled, I saw his lips twitch, the guilt vanishing to make way for a wicked, predatory grin. "Oh, what an excellent idea," he murmured, his voice dropping into that dark, gravelly register that always made my toes curl. "Why don't I show you just how sorry I am with my body instead?"
Before I could even breathe, his hands slid upward, his palms heavy and possessive as he squeezed my breasts. He pulled me flush against his chest, and I could feel the hard, unmistakable evidence of his desire pressing against my hip. A pleasure-filled sigh escaped me, my body betraying me the second his fingers gripped my chin to tilt my face up. He claimed my lips with a bruising, hungry kiss, his tongue invading my mouth while his other hand began a slow, torturous descent down my stomach. My senses were beginning to blur again, the world narrowing down to the feeling of his fingers sliding through my slick folds to find the bud of my excitement.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
We both bolted upright, the sudden sound like a gunshot in the quiet room. Our heads snapped toward the door in unison, the fog of lust clearing instantly. "Normally," Amelia's voice rang out from the hallway, sounding both amused and apologetic, "as much as I wouldn't mind you staying cooped up in there all day—especially since Ari just woke up after being injured—I can't let it slide. Unfortunately, seeing as tonight is the full moon, I don't have a choice." Kayden let out a heavy, frustrated sigh that seemed to vibrate through the entire mattress.
The "Alpha" responsibilities were calling, and the full moon was a deadline no wolf could ignore. He loosened his hold on me, the loss of his warmth making me shiver, as he slid out of the bed. Once he was on his feet, he cleared his throat, trying to regain his authoritative tone. "Okay, Mia, I understand. I'll be there shortly." We listened as her footsteps faded down the hall. Kayden stood there for a moment, naked and magnificent in the fading orange light, looking back at me with a mixture of longing and annoyance at the timing.
I watched as Kayden gathered his clothes from the floor, but the moment he looked up, his expression crumpled into one of sharp concern. Through the bond, he must have felt the sudden, icy spike of my panic. "What's wrong? Ari, is everything okay?" His voice broke the spell of the last few hours. The warmth and the pleasure vanished, replaced by a cold, driving necessity. I launched myself off the bed, snatching the top sheet and winding it around my body as I bolted for the balcony. I threw the double doors open and stepped out into the cool, crisp evening, the orange glow of the dying sun washing over me.
I ignored the chill, my eyes frantically scouring the horizon. I couldn't wrap my head around Amelia's words. The full moon? Tonight? I needed to see it for myself. But the sky was a stubborn haze of fire and gold, the sun's parting rays still strong enough to veil the moon from my sight. Behind me, the heavy, frantic thud of footsteps neared. Before I could turn, Kayden's hands gripped my upper arms, spinning me around to face him. "What's wrong? Talk to me—what happened?" his voice was ragged with worry.
I looked at him, and for a split second, the gravity of his panic hit me. He was still clutching the bundle of clothes he'd just picked up—denim and cotton pressed uselessly against my skin by his grip—but he hadn't put a single thing on. He stood there on the open balcony, completely naked and utterly exposed to anyone in the courtyard who might look up, but he didn't care. His Alpha pride was gone, replaced entirely by his need to make sure I was still breathing.
I ignored the chill of the evening air and his lack of clothing, my mind fixed on a single terrifying thought. "It couldn't possibly be true," I said, my voice tight with disbelief. "What Amelia said... about tonight being the full moon." I watched as a wave of visible relief washed over Kayden's face, smoothing the sharp lines of worry. "Was that why you rushed out here?" I rolled my eyes, feeling a spark of impatience at his calm. I gave a sharp nod, and his shoulders sagged as he let out a long, heavy sigh. He draped his arms around my back, pulling me into the solid heat of his chest and tucking my head under his chin. "God, Ari... I was worried something was seriously wrong when you suddenly took off like that." He rested his chin on the top of my head, rubbing my back with his clothing-free hand.
For a second, the urge to pull free and demand he answer my question almost took over, but he finally gave me the confirmation I was looking for. "Yes, tonight is the night of the full moon," he murmured, his voice vibrating through me. He pulled back slightly, his brow furrowing. "Is that a bad thing?" I shook my head, though my mind was still spinning. "I just... I can't believe that so much time has passed."
Kayden's chest rose and fell as he chuckled softly. "It is surprising when you think about it. It's hard to believe it's only been twenty-two days since you first arrived here. But at the same time," he paused, his gaze deepening with an intensity that made the world around us fade, "it feels like I've known you for years instead of just a few weeks. Time is truly a strange concept when you're with the person you're meant to be with." I felt a smile of genuine amusement curve my lips. "I guess when you put it like that, it does kind of make sense." He smiled back, a sweet and tender expression, and leaned forward to press his lips against my forehead. The kiss was lingering, a silent anchor in the middle of my confusion. As he pulled away, his arms dropped from mine, and he took a step back, the cool air rushing into the space between us.
"As much as I'd love to stay right here," Kayden said, his voice regaining some of its Alpha authority, "if I don't hurry and get ready, I'll miss the chance to start the full moon ceremony properly." I nodded in understanding, the sheet still clutched tightly to my chest. "I'm fine. Go, do what you need to do." He gave me a final, lingering smile and turned to walk back into the bedroom. I began to follow him, stepping off the balcony and back into the warmth of the room, but he suddenly stopped and turned back to face me.
"You're more than welcome to join us, Ari," he said, his expression hopeful. "I'm sure the pack would love the chance to run with their Luna—and so would I." The offer was beautiful, and for a moment, I pictured myself running beneath the stars with him. But the thought of being a tiger among a hundred wolves during their most primal night made my survival instincts prickle. I smiled at the thoughtfulness of the gesture, but slowly shook my head. "As nice as that sounds... perhaps another time." He nodded, accepting my answer with a grace I didn't expect. But then, before I could even blink, his arm lashed out, snaring my waist and hauling me flush against his bare chest. He lowered his head and claimed my lips in a kiss that was a far cry from the tender one on the balcony. This was demanding, possessive, and hot.
I melted against him instantly, my body igniting at his touch as if we hadn't just spent the day in each other's arms. But just as I reached up to deepen the contact, he pulled back. His silver eyes were swirling with a dark, predatory heat that told me he wanted me just as much as I wanted him. In a deep, husky voice that sent a vibration straight to my core, he whispered, "I plan to hold you to that promise." It took my brain a few seconds to catch up, the fog of the kiss clouding my thoughts. I replayed my own words—perhaps another time—and realized exactly what he was implying. He wasn't just talking about a run through the woods; he was talking about the next time we were alone, without a pack or a ceremony waiting for him.
I chuckled, the sound light and airy as I reached out to give his shoulder a playful shove. "You'd better go before you're late, Kayden. Your pack members are waiting for their Alpha, not a man standing around naked in my bedroom." He flashed me a wide, boyishly charming grin—a stark departure from the brooding, guarded man I'd first met—and leaned in to press one last, lingering kiss to my cheek. "Don't miss me too much," he teased, before finally turning around to head for the door.
He was still clutching that bundle of clothes in his arms, his powerful back muscles rippling with every step. I found my gaze dropping, unable to look away from his bare behind as he sauntered across the room with a confident, effortless stride. I didn't even try to hide my appreciation until the heavy click of the door finally blocked my view. Once I was alone in the quiet room, the only sound the distant rustle of the wind outside, I let out a soft laugh and shook my head in disbelief. After two hundred years of life, I thought I had seen everything, yet here I was—marked by a wolf who was as reckless as he was devoted, and apparently comfortable enough to parade through his own hallway without a stitch of clothing on. The amusement lingered for a moment, but as I looked back toward the balcony where the orange sky was rapidly deepening into a bruised purple, the weight of the night began to settle back onto my shoulders.