Trigger warning: This chapter contains explicit scenes, readers discretion is advised ------Alina Pov:The first time I opened my eyes, I saw a ceilingâdark wood, carved with symbols I didnât recognize. I felt my body pressed against something soft, not the cold ground of the cave. Valerianâs face hovered over mine, his eyes with a look I couldn't decipherI couldn't move, my body was paralyzed, Cold, yet burning. The pain was suffocating, curling deep inside my chest until I couldnât breathe. I didnât want to, anyway. It felt like too much effort, what was happening to me?oh I pushed him aside and took the hit, why?, why did I do that, all I know was I couldn't stand there and see him hurt, I moved without thinking, it must be the mate bond Hot, I felt hot, like I was burning from the inside, it spread under my skin like molten glass, burning and tearing through every inch of me. Each heartbeat felt like a hammer, driving the pain deeper. Breathing became a battle, every inhale w
Alinaâs POVMy eyes fluttered open, settling on the familiar ceiling of the room Iâd been given. The sunlight spilling through the window told me it was already lateâwell past noon. Groaning, I sat up and dragged myself to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face as flashes of last night came back in pieces. The cave. The venom. And yet... I was still alive.How?I left the room and padded downstairs. The five people traveling with us were already gathered around a table, the quiet buzz of conversation filling the space.âAnd here comes our sleeping beauty,â one of the guysâred-haired and grinningâcalled out, drawing everyone's attention. They all turned and gave me warm, surprisingly friendly smiles.âHow about we finally do introductions?â the redhead continued. âIâm Ryan. You already know Refeal. This is Xavier,â he said, nodding toward a guy with a slender build and striking purple eyes. âThatâs Roryââhe gestured to the large, broad-shouldered oneââand this one here is Lucian
Valerian Pov: I stared at my mate as her eyes snapped back to mine, those large blue irises widening in realization. Her lips were still slightly parted, every intake of her was breath shallow. The haze lifted from her eyes like a switch had flipped.. The human man sheâd been looking at wisely turned away, pretending he hadnât been seconds away from walking over.Good."You should eat faster" my voice came out grunt, the words leaving my mouth like venom.She blinked, then looked down at her half-finished plate, as if sheâd only just remembered she was sitting in a cafe.I wanted nothing more than to take her away from this place and from the eyes that were still lingering on her, take her away before I lost control, She may have reined in her allure, but I could still smell it.Waves of it clung to the air, curling around my senses, making my breath stutter with each breath.It was like Iâd been drugged with aphrodite I remembered the first time I saw herI was in the forest, tra
Alinaâs POV:I slammed the door behind me and collapsed face-first onto the bed, muffling a scream into the mattress. My heart was still racing. My skin, still warm. I hated that he had that kind of effect on meâthat Iâd lost control in that cafÃĐ and nearly...âKaia,â I whispered. âWhat the fuck was that?âWhat was what? Kaia asked, feigning innocence. Her voice was smug and taunting, the kind that gave me goosebumps.You were releasing your sex appeal, I bit back, my voice sharper than I meant.I want my mate, Kaia hisses, How could I control myself when he was sitting right in front of me?I felt anger boil in my chest the longer I listened to her.Youâ Also, donât say "you." Kaia interrupts cutting me off before I even formed my sentence. That would be putting all the blame on me when you wanted him too.I almost jumped on a stranger. I stressed the stranger part in case she wasn't getting itYouâre bonded, Kaia replied gently. Your body is reacting to the markâand to him. Thatâs
Alinaâs POV:The kitchen was surprisingly normal. Wooden counters, a large iron stove, and herbs hanging from the windows like this was someoneâs grandmaâs house. Not what I expected from a vampire estate.Xavierâthe guy Ryan introduced, slim build, perpetual I-donât-care expressionâwas already there, perched on the counterâs edge with a bowl in hand, lazily chewing what looked like cerealâLook who finally crawled out of her hole,â he said lazily, âThought you mightâve fainted after your little performance earlier.â He was referring to the scene I made when I got hereâ stomping my leg against the wall like a tantruming child, after what happened with Valerian at the cafe, only to turn and find five vampires watching me like Iâd lost my mind. Iâd muttered a string of curses and bolted upstairs. too upset to feel embarrassed. Dignity? Never met her.Cerys shot him a look. âDonât be an ass.ââIâm not,â he said, mock-offended, though there was a smile pulling at his lips. This was offic
Alina By the time I got back, my arms were burning, my feet felt like theyâd been beaten with hammers, and I was convinced shopping was a beautifully-wrapped form of psychological warfareâglittery bags, overpriced shoes, and crowds that moved like a tidal wave. And yet, somehowâĶ it was amazing. Iâd never seen that many people in one place, all buzzing with energy as they swarmed from one shop to another like it was their lifeâs mission.When Creys had first suggested it, Iâd imagined a dozen possible scenarios. None of them matched reality. It had been louder, crazier, more dazzlingâand yes, exhausting. But not the kind that made you regret it. This was the kind that settled into your bones like a reminder: youâre alive. Next time, Iâd just have to be more prepared. Because there would definitely be a next time. After dumping the bags in my room, I dragged my aching body down the stairs, heading straight for the kitchen. My throat was dry, my lips chappedâI needed water like I neede
Alina pov:I slammed the door shut behind me and leaned against it, breathing hard.My heart was racing. My hands wouldnât stop shaking.I slid down to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest, trying to ground myself. But the second I closed my eyes, it was him againâhis hands, his mouth on mine, the way I wanted him so badly it scared me.My chest tightened. I sucked in a breath.It didnât help.Another breath.Still no relief.I was supposed to close my eyes in these situations, taking one breath after the other and calm my nerves, but I could not do thatmy breathing surfaced faster, my heart pounding so viciously, my eyes stung, maybe it was all a dream, yes, a nightmare that felt more real than the others that was all But then I could still taste him on my tongue and his scent was deeply mixed with mine My throat was constricted, like I was choking on air. My limbs tingled with panic, cold sweat prickling down my back'Alina- Kaia calls, trying to reach me, but I increased the
Valerian Pov: I triedâgods, I triedâto hold back my laughter as my little mate glared at me like Iâd just insulted her bloodline. She shoved at my chest, trying to push me across the threshold of her room like I was some stray mutt that had wandered in.âItâs not funny,â she snapped.It absolutely was. Especially the way she huffed, cheeks flushed, lips still slightly swollen from our kiss. A kiss I hadnât been able to stop thinking about since it happened.I let the laugh slip out anyway. âYouâre adorable when youâre mad.â she froze when she heard it, but I don't regret saying it, it was the first thought that came to mind as I stared at her across the door frame. The imprint of her still burned on my lips, her scent tangled in my clothes. I could still feel the way her body molded against mine like she was made to fit there.I wanted more.God, I wanted all of her. Her touch, her voice, her tasteâI wanted to drink her in like she was the only thing keeping me alive.I could still
Alina Pov:I made it downstairs with Valerian in one piece, after our bath and a quick stop by my room to grab a change of clothes. Before making our way toward the group, I silently wished the ground would open up and swallow me wholeâafter he caught me staring at him, and now my face was as red as a tomato.'Really, thank you for trying to give this a chance," Kaia giggled inside my head, and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to my Lycan. "Being my mate, fate or not, is enough to make me want you. Tell me you didnât swoon when you heard it," she added, her voice teasing. The fuck?"No, I didnât," I gritted out 'And why was he so sure I'd fall in love with him? I can't...I couldn't.""I donât think you understand the meaning of giving this a chance. It means being true and open to love," Kaia chimed in. âWhatever,â I muttered. The sooner I got out of here, the sooner Iâd be away from him. He was walking silently behind me, his presence impossible for me to ignore. I stil
Valerian Pov: Strands of her hair floated in the breeze. She stood there, doing nothing, and yetâI couldnât take my eyes off her. I donât think Iâll ever get tired of watching her. I moved closer, resting my hands on the railings beside her. That warmth againâjust being near her made everything inside me feel less cold. I followed her gaze to what held her attention. âCreys and Ryan are sparring,â I whispered. âOh,â she said, her lips forming the word softly. An awkward silence settled between us. One I so wanted to rip apart with my bare hands. Being here with her should feel easy, and not uncomfortable or awkward. I wanted her to feel comfortable when she was around me. I wanted her to need me. Without thinking, my fingers found a lock of her hair again. Iâve been doing that a lot lately. She stilled, her eyes shifting from me to my fingers. She looked like she was ready to pull away. âDo you hate me?â The question slipped out before I could stop it. I never cared about who ha
Valerian Pov:I Somehow, during the night, she'd ended up sprawled on top of me, her body soft and warm, tucked perfectly into mine. One of my arms had wound around her waist in sleepâor maybe not by accidentâand now she lay there, her cheek resting on my chest like she belonged thereI lost track of time watching her, and now it's almost done, but I didnât sleep. Couldnât. Not when she was this close, breathing softly, lashes fanned against her cheeks. I spent the hours memorizing every angle of her face, the way her brows pinched slightly like she was dreaming something bothersome, the subtle pout of her lips. Sheâd probably frown at me, if she knew I spent the whole night watching her.Her lashes fluttered. She stirred.Her lips parted in a soft yawn as her eyes cracked open, blinking blearily against my bare chest. I watched the exact second her mind caught up with her bodyâwhen the realization dawned that she was lying on me.But thenâĶ she shocked me Instead of scrambling off, s
Valerian Pov:She was curled toward me now.Despite her stubborn insistence hours agoâmaking a dramatic show of claiming the farthest corner of the bed, spine stiff, arms folded like a fortressâsheâd turned in her sleep. At some point during the night, her body had betrayed her resolve. Her knees nearly brushed mine beneath the sheets, her breath warm against my chest.I wasnât sure when my fingers had found her hair.But they hadâabsentmindedly winding a lock around my knuckle, again and again. It was soft. Softer than Iâd imaginedâthough Iâd never admit to imagining it at all.I felt at peace watching her. I didnât know when that started, but here I was, fingers gently twirling a strand like it was the most natural thing in the world.A frown crept across my face. My gaze drifted to the door, fingers still tangled in her hair. I withdrew them slowly, as if the strands might protest. Something flickered in my expressionâthere and goneâbefore I sat up.Quietly, I slipped out of bed, r
Valerian Pov: I triedâgods, I triedâto hold back my laughter as my little mate glared at me like Iâd just insulted her bloodline. She shoved at my chest, trying to push me across the threshold of her room like I was some stray mutt that had wandered in.âItâs not funny,â she snapped.It absolutely was. Especially the way she huffed, cheeks flushed, lips still slightly swollen from our kiss. A kiss I hadnât been able to stop thinking about since it happened.I let the laugh slip out anyway. âYouâre adorable when youâre mad.â she froze when she heard it, but I don't regret saying it, it was the first thought that came to mind as I stared at her across the door frame. The imprint of her still burned on my lips, her scent tangled in my clothes. I could still feel the way her body molded against mine like she was made to fit there.I wanted more.God, I wanted all of her. Her touch, her voice, her tasteâI wanted to drink her in like she was the only thing keeping me alive.I could still
Alina pov:I slammed the door shut behind me and leaned against it, breathing hard.My heart was racing. My hands wouldnât stop shaking.I slid down to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest, trying to ground myself. But the second I closed my eyes, it was him againâhis hands, his mouth on mine, the way I wanted him so badly it scared me.My chest tightened. I sucked in a breath.It didnât help.Another breath.Still no relief.I was supposed to close my eyes in these situations, taking one breath after the other and calm my nerves, but I could not do thatmy breathing surfaced faster, my heart pounding so viciously, my eyes stung, maybe it was all a dream, yes, a nightmare that felt more real than the others that was all But then I could still taste him on my tongue and his scent was deeply mixed with mine My throat was constricted, like I was choking on air. My limbs tingled with panic, cold sweat prickling down my back'Alina- Kaia calls, trying to reach me, but I increased the
Alina By the time I got back, my arms were burning, my feet felt like theyâd been beaten with hammers, and I was convinced shopping was a beautifully-wrapped form of psychological warfareâglittery bags, overpriced shoes, and crowds that moved like a tidal wave. And yet, somehowâĶ it was amazing. Iâd never seen that many people in one place, all buzzing with energy as they swarmed from one shop to another like it was their lifeâs mission.When Creys had first suggested it, Iâd imagined a dozen possible scenarios. None of them matched reality. It had been louder, crazier, more dazzlingâand yes, exhausting. But not the kind that made you regret it. This was the kind that settled into your bones like a reminder: youâre alive. Next time, Iâd just have to be more prepared. Because there would definitely be a next time. After dumping the bags in my room, I dragged my aching body down the stairs, heading straight for the kitchen. My throat was dry, my lips chappedâI needed water like I neede
Alinaâs POV:The kitchen was surprisingly normal. Wooden counters, a large iron stove, and herbs hanging from the windows like this was someoneâs grandmaâs house. Not what I expected from a vampire estate.Xavierâthe guy Ryan introduced, slim build, perpetual I-donât-care expressionâwas already there, perched on the counterâs edge with a bowl in hand, lazily chewing what looked like cerealâLook who finally crawled out of her hole,â he said lazily, âThought you mightâve fainted after your little performance earlier.â He was referring to the scene I made when I got hereâ stomping my leg against the wall like a tantruming child, after what happened with Valerian at the cafe, only to turn and find five vampires watching me like Iâd lost my mind. Iâd muttered a string of curses and bolted upstairs. too upset to feel embarrassed. Dignity? Never met her.Cerys shot him a look. âDonât be an ass.ââIâm not,â he said, mock-offended, though there was a smile pulling at his lips. This was offic
Alinaâs POV:I slammed the door behind me and collapsed face-first onto the bed, muffling a scream into the mattress. My heart was still racing. My skin, still warm. I hated that he had that kind of effect on meâthat Iâd lost control in that cafÃĐ and nearly...âKaia,â I whispered. âWhat the fuck was that?âWhat was what? Kaia asked, feigning innocence. Her voice was smug and taunting, the kind that gave me goosebumps.You were releasing your sex appeal, I bit back, my voice sharper than I meant.I want my mate, Kaia hisses, How could I control myself when he was sitting right in front of me?I felt anger boil in my chest the longer I listened to her.Youâ Also, donât say "you." Kaia interrupts cutting me off before I even formed my sentence. That would be putting all the blame on me when you wanted him too.I almost jumped on a stranger. I stressed the stranger part in case she wasn't getting itYouâre bonded, Kaia replied gently. Your body is reacting to the markâand to him. Thatâs