Claire stood at the edge of the sacred clearing, her hands trembling at her sides. The moonlight filtered through the ancient trees like liquid silver, bathing the meadow in an ethereal glow. The entire Avila Grey Pack had gathered in a wide circle around the center, their faces solemn and hopeful. Torches flickered at strategic points, casting long shadows across the grass.
This was it.
The emergency bonding ritual.
After hours of watching Xander fight for his life — his body convulsing from silver poisoning, his breathing growing shallower by the minute — the elders had presented their final option. A dangerous, ancient ritual designed to trigger a forced rut in Xander and heat in Claire, compelling them to complete the mate bond. The sudden surge of power from a fully consummated bon
