Under the full moon

He pulled my hand slightly closer.

I quickly snatched it away and turned my back to him.

“I’m…tired”

His quiet laughter followed me through the darkness.

And despite everything I had planned, despite the escape bag still waiting somewhere outside his chamber, I fell asleep with the faintest smile on my lips.

When I woke the following morning, the other side of the bed was already cold.

For a few seconds, I simply stared at the empty space beside me, wondering if I had imagined everything that had happened the night before.

But then I noticed the faint scent of him lingering on the sheets, and I remembered everything. Zayan was already gone, apparently called away for a council meeting. Clara confirmed it when she came in with my breakfast, telling me that the Master had left early and might not return until later in the evening.

The entire day passed painfully slowly. I had lunch alone, wandered around the palace, and tried to convince myself that I wasn’t waiting for him to return.

I wasn’t.

At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. Yet every time I heard footsteps in the corridor, I looked up, and every time someone opened a door nearby, my wolf stirred with ridiculous hope before settling again when it wasn’t him. By evening, I had grown tired of pretending that I had anything else to do.

“Clara,” I called as she entered my room.

“Yes, My Lady?”

“I think I’ll go to the former Queen’s library for a while.”

Her face brightened. “Of course. I’ll bring you something to eat there if you want.”

I shook my head. “No, I’ll be fine.”

The library had quickly become my favorite place in Frostcrest. There was something peaceful about it, something that made me forget for a few hours that I had been sent here as punishment.

I wandered between the shelves until I found an old, leather-bound book titled The History of Frostcrest. Curiosity immediately got the better of me, and I settled into one of the comfortable chairs near the tall windows.

Hours passed without me noticing.

The book described the founding of Frostcrest, the ancient Alpha bloodlines, the wars that had shaped the territory, and the traditions that had been passed down through generations. I became so absorbed that I didn’t realize how late it had become until the moon was already high in the sky.

Then I came across something that made me stop.

My brows knitted together as I reread the passage.

There was a section about the annual full moon and the effect it had on bonded wolves. According to the old records, the moon didn’t simply strengthen their wolves. It intensified the connection between mates, making their instincts far more difficult to suppress.

My cheeks warmed.

“Oh.”

I closed the book quickly.

Maybe I should ask Zayan about it.

Not that he would give me a serious answer. He seemed to enjoy teasing me far too much.

Still, I wanted to know whether what I had read was actually true.

I returned the book to the shelf and made my way toward the main chamber.

When I reached the door, I pushed it open slightly.

“Zayan, I wanted to ask you—” the words died in my throat.

He was there, standing near the window.

And something was terribly wrong.

His entire body was tense, his shoulders rising and falling with uneven breaths. The moonlight poured through the windows behind him, bathing the room in silver. His head was lowered, but when he slowly lifted it, his eyes met mine.

They were glowing.

My breath caught.

Then I remembered what I had read about the full moon and the mating bond.

My wolf immediately stirred.

Zayan’s jaw tightened.

“You shouldn’t be here.”His voice was deeper than usual, roughened by something I couldn’t quite identify.

I didn’t move.

“Come back tomorrow,” he said. “Whatever you want to ask me can wait until tomorrow.”

I remained frozen at the doorway.

His eyes flashed again.

“Mariana, leave.”

There was something almost desperate about the command.

“I—”

“Leave,” he repeated, this time more firmly. “I can’t promise what I’ll do if you stay.”

My heart began pounding.

Every sensible thought told me to turn around yet my feet refused to move.

Instead, I stepped inside.

Zayan’s expression changed immediately.

“Mariana.”

I quietly closed the door behind me.The click of the lock seemed deafening in the silence.

“You need to go,” he said.

“I know.”

“Then why are you still standing there?”

I didn’t have an answer.

I simply walked toward him.

With every step, his scent became stronger, wrapping around me until my thoughts became increasingly difficult to organize. His Alpha aura pressed against my skin, powerful enough to make my wolf tremble, yet there was something beneath the intensity that felt strangely familiar.

Safe.

He watched me approach until I stood directly in front of him.

His breathing grew heavier.

“You don’t understand what you’re doing.”His gaze searched my face.

“You have one last chance to leave.” His voice dropped into a warning. “I still have enough control to let you walk out of this room untouched. If you stay, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to control myself.”

I swallowed.

I was scared.

Of course I was.

I looked into his glowing eyes.”We’re mates,” I whispered. “Aren’t we?”

His jaw clenched.

“Yes.”

“Then stop trying to hide what you feel.”

He stared at me.

I took a slow breath and reached for the fastening of my dress, my fingers trembling slightly as I loosened it.

“I don’t want to leave.”

His eyes darkened.

“Mariana…”

“I want you.”The words had barely left my lips before his restraint snapped.

He pulled me against him and kissed me.

The kiss was intense, desperate, and nothing like the teasing kisses I had imagined a man like him would give. His hand settled carefully against my waist as though even in the middle of losing control, he was still conscious of how fragile the moment was. My fingers curled into his shirt as I kissed him back, my heart racing beneath my ribs.

Then, suddenly, he pulled away.

His forehead rested against mine, his breathing uneven.

“Tell me again,” he whispered. “Do you want this?”

I looked directly into his eyes.

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation this time.

I reached up, pulled his face back toward mine, and kissed him again.

He grips my thighs in his large hands,lifting me from the ground and gently placing me on the edge of the bed.

He stepped back,his gaze searching my face for any hint of hesitation.

“What do you want?” His gaze flicker all over my face, he was asking permission to ruin me.

“I want you…”

He grabbed my waist,pulling me farther to the edge of the bed,placing multiple kisses down my spine,each longer than the last.

With his large hands,he spreads my thighs open,letting his eyes roam my exposed cunt.

“You really are something,Mariana.” He leaned in closer, letting himself deeper inside me.

I bit on my lower lip trying to hide the pleasure,but the moan slipped out anyway. “Zayan….”I whispered under my breath.

His grin widened as his thrust slammed into me,faster this time.

I grabbed the sheets,my whole body trembling,a surging rush of pleasure building inside me.

“Mariana…Look at me.” He let out in a deep baritone voice,almost like a whisper. “I want to remember the look on your face.”

I gasped,one hand threading through his hair and the other gripping on his shoulders.

He threw his head back in agonizing pleasure.

“Yes…little wolf…hmm.”his grip on my waist tightened,pressing me harder against the edge of the bed. He glides in faster,my body jarring heavily.

After what felt like eternity, my body shook uncontrollably at a burst of pleasure,my legs clamping around his waist.

He slides up,sucking on my breast,his tongue swirling around my nipples.

Heat rushing to my cheeks,heart beats racing as we finish at the same time.

For a couple minutes,he simply stared at me,his gaze roam from my face down to my thighs.

“You look…beautiful.” He whispered into my ears.

A slow trail of kisses glide down my neck and he stopped at the top of my belly,his gaze still resting on my face.