The brilliant, internal hum of the newly completed bond was the first thing I registered, even before the scent of Jack or the rhythmic pound of his heart beneath my ear. It was more than a mere mental connection; it was the fundamental intertwining of two distinct souls and powers. The chaos of the night before—the fierce, desperate culmination of desire and destiny—had settled into a steady, glorious truth. I was utterly claimed, and he was undeniably mine. I could feel the subtle ache of the Alpha mark on my neck and the exhilarating burn of my own claim on his. Every beat of his heart was now echoed by a corresponding wave in my chest.
Jack stirred beneath me, his arms tightening possessively, anchoring me in a security I’d never known. “Good morning, my Queen,” his voice, rich with p
