And then they kissed—desperate, hungry, like two wolves trying to crawl inside each other's skin. Their scents mingled in the cold air, thick with longing and forbidden heat.
In that moment, I understood: a wolf never changes its nature.
The mating bond my father traded his life for had finally reached its end.
1.
It was the coldest night the Northbridge Territory had seen all winter.
I learned something new that night—when pain reaches its peak, you go numb. Even the mate bond's ache dulled to nothing.
My communication stone buzzed against my hip. A message from Kael.
"Found it. On my way back."
I stood there in the shadows between ancient oaks, watching the two figures clutching each other in the distance. His Alpha scent wrapped around her like a claiming. Like a promise.
"No rush. I bought warm cider. Waiting in the carriage."
I sent the message, then lifted my gaze to take in the performance unfolding before me—star-crossed lovers reunited at last, a tragedy worthy of the old pack ballads.
"Kael, I knew you'd come..." Her voice carried on the wind, threaded with that practiced tremor she'd perfected long ago.