(Hazel POV)
I did not sleep.
How could I?
I was engaged.
To Ryan.
The terrifying, impossible, maddening Alpha who somehow looked more dangerous asking me to be his wife than he did killing rogues.
The moonstone ring on my finger kept catching the light.
And every time it did—
my heart betrayed me all over again.
But it was not the engagement keeping me awake.
It was what Lucifer had said.
The mating mark.
Even thinking about it made my face burn.
Especially because Veronica had found me before breakfast.
Which meant—
I was doomed.
She sat me down in the sunroom with Bella, Sera and Klara present.
Which should have been illegal.
Because they were not helping.
They were enjoying this.
Veronica folded her hands with royal calm.
"Hazel, before marriage, mates may complete the ancient marking rite."
I swallowed.
"Yes…"
Bella leaned forward far too eagerly.
"Tell her the biting part."
"Klara!" I hissed.
Klara grinned wickedly.
"She should know."
I wanted the floor to swallow me.
Veronica, traitor that she was, continued serenely—
"The Alpha marks his mate at the mating gland."
I nearly died.
Bella made a dramatic choking sound.
Sera laughed.
And my cheeks felt on fire.
Veronica went on—
"The mark seals recognition between wolf, demon, bloodline… and soul."
"It is sacred."
Then her expression softened.
"And intimate."
That word did things to my pulse.
I whispered—
"Does it hurt?"
Bella answered before Veronica could.
"Probably in a fun way."
"Klara!"
Now even Veronica was hiding a smile.
I was being tormented.
By my future in-laws.
Wonderful.
Then Veronica leaned close and whispered—
"And Ryan has likely imagined it already."
I made a noise that may have been a scream.
As if fate hated me—
that evening Lucifer summoned Ryan and me to the old ceremonial grounds beyond the pack forest.
Moonlight silvered ancient stones.
Witch fire burned blue.
Aurora stood there.
So did Liam and Nick as witnesses.
I turned to Ryan.
"You knew about this?"
His expression was suspiciously innocent.
"Some of it."
Liar.
Lucifer lifted a hand.
"The rite tonight is symbolic only."
I blinked.
Relief.
Then he added—
"For now."
Ryan coughed to hide amusement.
I planned murder.
The ceremony began.
Ancient words in a language older than wolves.
Aurora blessed my Eclipse heir blood.
Lucifer invoked infernal protection.
Veronica called lunar witness.
Then Ryan stepped toward me.
Everything else vanished.
Just him.
His dark eyes held mine.
His hand slid into mine.
Warm.
Steady.
Mine.
Aurora bound our wrists with silver thread.
And Lucifer spoke—
"Do you choose this male freely?"
I answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Ryan's voice came next—
"Do you claim this female beyond death?"
His answer shook me.
"I claimed her long before tonight."
Even Aurora looked impressed.
Then came the vow.
Ryan leaned down, speaking so only I heard—
"When I mark you…"
His voice lowered.
"It will not be ritual."
"It will be because I can no longer survive not doing it."
My knees nearly betrayed me.
The bastard knew exactly what he was doing.
Then—
he pressed his forehead to mine.
And in place of the full mating bite—
his mouth brushed the side of my neck.
Only a touch.
A promise.
But electricity shot through me so violently I gasped.
His three subordinates stirred inside him.
I felt it.
He felt it too.
His eyes darkened.
Dangerously.
Lucifer coughed.
"Perhaps enough for one night."
Veronica muttered—
"Agreed."
Because even they noticed.
Ryan stepped back with visible effort.
And suddenly I understood—
the real marking would be something far more consuming.
Far more intimate.
And maybe…
I was beginning to want it.
Which was terrifying.
Later, walking back toward the mansion, I slipped my hand into Ryan's.
Quiet.
Moonlit.
Peaceful.
I whispered—
"When were you planning to tell me your bite nearly killed me?"
He smirked.
"That was not a bite."
I looked at him.
"No?"
He leaned near my ear.
"That was restraint."
I nearly stumbled.
He caught me.
Laughing.
And for one impossible moment—
everything felt perfect.
But as we reached the mansion doors—
Lucifer's voice stopped us.
"One final thing."
We turned.
His red eyes gleamed.
"The wedding shall be in three days."
Bella screamed from somewhere inside.
And chaos erupted again.
I looked at Ryan.
He looked at me.
And we both realized—
there was no slowing fate now.
We were racing toward forever.