Chapter 68

Eric's P.O.V

The first day of the rites began with the low hum of drums echoing across the mountains, their deep tones rolling through the Tiger’s Den like a heartbeat. It was tradition that every marriage rite began this way, with sound vibrating through the land to signal the union of two souls, but for me, this wasn’t just another union.

It was my salvation.

When I stepped out of the courtyard and saw her standing by the balcony, the early sun washing her skin in gold, I had to take a breath.

Yewa,the werewolf commander I once fought on the battlefield, the one I once chained, guarded, protected, and nearly lost, was now to become my mate.

If the gods had hands, they were cruelly generous.

I carried the ceremonial box toward her, the one holding the dress I had chosen myself, white and gold silk woven with thin threads of amber, patterned after the stripes of a tiger which she may not have noticed at first glance.

It symbolized acceptance into the tribe while also taking her sty