LOGINThe Next Morning - Training Grounds I found Maya in the training grounds, working with a group of female warriors. "Your Grace," she said, bowing. The other women followed suit. "Please, just Selene when we're training." I picked up a practice sword. "Can I join you?" Maya's eyebrows rose. "Of course. But I should warn you, these drills are intense." "Good. I need intense right now." For the next two hours, I trained harder than I ever had. The bond with Damon had enhanced my strength, my speed, my reflexes. I moved through the drills with a grace that surprised even me. "You're incredible," one of the warriors said during a break. "The way you move—it's like dancing." "It's the bond. It enhanced everything." I wiped sweat from my face. "But I still need to practice. When the Council comes, I need to be ready." "You're planning to fight?" Maya asked carefully. "Of course. I'm not hiding in the palace while everyone else risks their lives." "Does the Alpha King know this?"
Three Days LaterThe war room felt like our second home now.Maps were everywhere—on tables, walls, and desks. They showed where our soldiers were, where supplies would move, and how the palace would be defended.Damon stood in the center, giving orders calmly and firmly. This was the Alpha King everyone feared.And I stood beside him.Not behind him.Beside him.His Queen. His equal.It still felt unreal.“The outer defenses are almost finished,” General Mark said. “Three layers of walls, archers placed every few steps, and shadow traps ready.”“Shadow traps?” another general asked..Damon gestured to me. "My Queen designed them. She worked with the mages to place shadow magic along the walls. When enemies step into them, they’ll be confused and trapped.”I felt a flush of pride through the bond. ‘You're showing off.’ I teased.‘You deserve to be shown off. Your magic is going to win us this war.’‘Our magic,’ I corrected. ‘It's stronger because of you.’"What about the inner defense
Two hours later, we returned to the council meeting looking thoroughly disheveled despite our attempts to tidy ourselves.No one mentioned it. But Maya was definitely smirking.The meeting continued, focusing on war preparations."The Council's forces will reach our borders in approximately three weeks," one commander said. "We estimate five thousand wolves, possibly more.""Our forces?" Damon asked."Four thousand currently mobilized. Another two thousand we can recall from outlying territories within two weeks.""Do it. Recall everyone. I want every wolf who can fight ready when they arrive." Damon's voice was cold. "And prepare for siege. If they breach the outer defenses, I want this palace fortified to withstand months of assault.""Yes, Your Majesty.""What about the Shadow Wolf?" another advisor asked carefully. "The Council wants her specifically. Should we consider—""No." Damon replied coldly. "My Queen stays exactly where she is. By my side. Anyone who suggests otherwise ca
The Council MeetingThe council meeting was torture.Not because of the content—discussions about troop movements and supply lines were actually interesting. But because Damon kept looking at me with dark, hungry eyes, and I could feel his desire through the bond.And he could feel mine.“Stop thinking about this morning,” he sent through the bond. “I can't concentrate when you're flooding our connection with arousal.”“You started it. Rex keeps talking to Kya about wanting me again.”“He's not wrong. I'm barely paying attention to this discussion because all I can think about is getting you alone.”“How much longer?”“Too long.”Rex rumbled with impatience through the bond. “Need our Queen. Now. This talking is boring.”“Soon,” Kya promised. “After the humans finish their meeting.“Too long,” Rex insisted.I shifted in my seat, trying to focus, but it was useless. The bond made everything more intense. Every glance from Damon sent heat through me. Every time our hands accidentally br
I woke to Damon's mouth on my neck, kissing the mark with deliberate slowness, his tongue flicking over the skin in a way that sent shivers straight to my core."Again?" I murmured, though my body was already responding, heat pooling low in my belly as his lips traced the sensitive spot."Always." His hand slid down my body possessively, fingers splaying across my stomach before dipping lower, brushing the edge of my folds. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to concentrate on anything when I can feel your desire through the bond?""You're the one who woke me up with your mouth on my—" I gasped as his hand found exactly the right spot, his fingers parting my slick pussy lips and circling my clit. A soft, sweet moan escaped me, "Mmm, oh Damon..." My hips bucked instinctively, coating his fingers with my wetness.“Ours,” a deep, rumbling voice growled through the bond, raw and primal. “Need to claim. I need her. Always.”I felt Kya stir inside me, purring with shameless satisfacti
I woke up wrapped in Damon's arms, sunlight streaming through the windows of our shared chambers.Our chambers. Not his and mine separately anymore. Just ours.The thought still felt strange. Wonderful, but strange."You're thinking too loud," Damon murmured against my hair, his voice rough with sleep."Sorry. Still getting used to this.""To what? Waking up next to me?" His arms tightened around me. "Because you'd better get used to it. I'm not letting you sleep anywhere else ever again."“You’re very possessive.”“Of course I am.” He kissed my shoulder near my mark. “You’re mine. I’m allowed to be.”I turned in his arms to face him. In the morning light, with his hair disheveled and his guard down, he looked younger. Less like the terrifying Alpha King and more like just... Damon."Good morning," I said softly."Good morning, my Queen." His eyes were warm, affectionate in a way that still surprised me. "How did you sleep?""Better than I have in weeks. You?""Best sleep I've had in







