The first day of the ritual consumed them completely.
The sacred chamber had become their entire world — a cocoon of flickering candlelight, soft furs, and the heavy scent of s*x and sacred herbs. The runes on the walls glowed faintly, pulsing in time with the frantic beat of their hearts. Outside, the pack maintained a protective vigil, but inside, nothing existed except the bond, the heat, and the desperate need to save Xander’s life.
Claire lay on her back in the center of the massive bed, her body glistening with sweat. The heat inside her had become a living thing — a deep, aching fire that demanded to be fed. Every nerve ending screamed for Xander’s touch. Her core throbbed painfully, slick and swollen, desperate to be filled again.
Xander loomed over her, his powerful body trembl
