Then a low growl cuts through the haze. “If you keep touching yourself like that…” A pause—heavy, filled with warning. “…I won’t be able to stop myself. I’ll take you—right here. Right now.” My eyes snap open. Everything rushes back in vivid color. Jack stands over me, eyes dark with hunger, j
It’s dark. Not the kind of darkness that frightens—it’s more like a heavy, endless fog. I float in it, weightless, numb. Somewhere deep in my chest, there’s a dull ache—a reminder of the blade that tore through my heart. I should be dead. I felt myself slipping away. But… I’m still here. And I do
A collective gasp rises. Faces pale. Some stare in horror. Others look stunned—like the ground has just crumbled beneath their feet. A few even look ready to drop to their knees. “You... you can’t,” someone whispers. “I can,” I say coldly. “And I just did.” They’re panicking. I see it clearly on
I let my gaze sweep over them, slow and heavy with disappointment.“He committed a crime against the Moon Goddess herself. He violated the sacredness of the mate bond. He marked her without her consent.” Gasps ripple through the crowd. “And because of him,” I continue, my voice cracking despite my
His face twists into something between a grimace and a sad smile. “The Moon Goddess always finds a way to reveal the truth—just when it’s too damn late.” Then, to my surprise, he chuckles. “If I’d known you’d end up mated to my only true-blooded daughter,” he says with a short laugh, “I wouldn’t
But my pack... if I leave them leaderless any longer, they’ll crumble. My enemies will take it as a sign of weakness and move in like vultures circling a dying beast. I growl low in my throat, my voice thick with frustration. “Maybe it’s time I put an end to that stupid fucking law once and for al