Mina POV - Mina couldn’t sleep. Exhaustion drew her eyes closed and Alastor’s steady breaths attempted to lull her to rest, but her mind was awake. Roman’s suggestion hadn’t left her since he had said it. It wasn’t like her and Alastor hadn’t grown close since their bond developed, but the thought to complete their bond had been far from her mind. So much else had happened since they found out about their connection. Marking each other didn’t seem like a priority when they were fighting for their lives. However, now Roman had mentioned it, it was all Mina could think about.Her bite on Alastor’s neck, feeling his canines bury into her flesh, the silvery half-moons they’d wear forever to show their commitment to their bond, to show they were claimed. The thought of him wearing her mark made her insides warm, it made her long for it, need it. Her cheeks burned, but she couldn’t deny it felt right. From the flutter of her heart to the pang of desire in her core, it felt right. She wante

Mina POV - Her stomach churned at the patches of blood staining the grass and climbing the tree, marring the beauty of the wood. Mina turned her back to it, taking a breath to remind herself that Alastor was okay. She had left his arms little more than an hour ago and, apart from his need for a bit more rest, there was no hidden pain or lingering difficulties in his smile. It was a lazy grin, still lopsided from their night together. If the memory of him wrapped in their sex scented sheets wasn’t enough to quell her unease, the little thrum of the mark on her neck was. She felt her mate's presence like invisible threads wove between them, his heartbeat making them hum beneath her skin. “Are you alright?” Roman asked, moving to her side. His attention flickered behind her, a dark veil shadowing it. “We can go back. You don’t have to be here, Williamina.” “Do you think my disposition weak, Roman?” She let him fumble a reply before she smirked and eased his worries. “We gathered some

Roman POV - “It’s a pleasure to meet you and your unit, Mrs Lynn.” Mini dipped her head, deferring to his parents. Roman watched her, sharing a questioning gaze with Allie as their mate straightened her back and squared her shoulders, every ounce of playfulness gone. Was she nervous? He couldn’t tell. Her voice was strong, her hands steady, but something felt off. “Thank you for hosting Alastor and I in your village. We hunted some meat on the way. Please accept it as a gift.” His parents exchanged a look, one he couldn’t help but mimic. With an indifferent tone and expressionless features, he could feel a chill coming from her. Is this the strict Luna that Allie had been talking about for all those years? Allie leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “You’re not in Clear Blue, Princess.” His words were just loud enough for their unit. “No need to pretend, they’ll love you just as you are.” A muscle flickered in her jaw, but they shared a look, brief and sweet. It carried unsaid

Mina POV - The trio spent the rest of the day discussing Clear Blue and how to move forward. The main problem was proving Mina’s innocence. Without knowing the ability that her and Alastor had gained through their bond, they couldn’t prove the note was fake, and without knowing who was framing her, they couldn’t gather the evidence they needed to bring the real murderer to justice. She insisted they had to get word to Sam. Not only did she need to know he was okay, but he had been there when the man in the window had killed their mother. She hoped he had caught a glimpse of the culprit, but knew he’d already be working to get her home. It took a lot of convincing from Alastor, but eventually they agreed to use Oliver as a way into Clear Blue to get a message to Sam. Though it made Mina uncomfortable, the pack was a fortress which he controlled. Getting in without his help would just lead to one of them getting imprisoned or killed. Though she had been stubbornly against it, none of

Mina POV - Her head was a fog of mindless bliss, still high from her orgasm, as her mates helped her roll to her knees. They were shaky, the tremble of pleasure still deep in her muscles. Roman settled before her, guiding her to lean against his chest. His fingers trailed light patterns over the length of her forearm as she nuzzled against him, enjoying his scent, his presence, the firmness of his chest. Alastor’s hands settled at her waist. His thumbs massaged circles into her lower back. The touch was small, but intense. Her skin was hyperaware of her mate’s every move, her attention latching to it, making every brush of their skin together heightened, addictive. Mina jerked when his fingers trailed across her sex, coating themselves in her arousal. Heat built in her cheeks at the wet sound, but Alastor’s groan soothed any rising insecurities. It was pure lust, pure need, pure appreciation. How could she shy away from such a noise? A rustle behind her drew her eyes just in time t