Chapter 16
Marissa had never seen anything like it. As the car rolled to a stop, she stared out the window, eyes wide with awe at the vast estate that lay before her. The Moonlight Pack‘ s territory stretched across miles of lush greenery, with well–kept gardens, towering oak trees, and the impressive mansion of the Alpha King himself. Unlike the grim, fortress–like structure she had imagined, the packhouse was warm and bright, with sprawling flowerbeds and bursts of color along the stone paths. It was so… inviting, a quality she hadn’t expected from the home of a man known for his ruthlessness.
but
She stepped out of the car, inhaling the scent of pine and fresh rain. A few pack members cast curious glances her way, they kept their distance, moving in smooth, silent unison. Marissa adjusted her grip on her bags, nerves knotting in her stomach
as she took in the world that would now be
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her home.
“Miss Marissa?” A deep voice called. She turned to see a tall man with a
commanding presence striding toward her. His hair was neatly cropped, and his sharp eyes assessed her in a way that was neither unkind nor overly familiar.
“Beta Heron?” She asked, her voice. steady despite her thudding heart.
The man gave a slight nod. “At your service. Welcome to Moonlight Pack.” He glanced over his shoulder at the grand mansion before turning back to her, his voice lowering with the hint of a smile.
“The Alpha is expecting you. I’ll take you to his quarters.”
She nodded, following him as he led her up the marble steps and through the front doors. Inside, the mansion was a
symphony of warm light and elegance. Sunlight streamed through large arched windows, illuminating the polished wood floors and casting soft shadows across the
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stone walls. Ornate tapestries lined the corridors, and chandeliers sparkled above like clusters of stars. Birds chirped from the garden that sprawled across the courtyard, their song mingling with the soft rustling of leaves. It felt more like a sanctuary than the cold fortress she d imagined.
Beta Heron led her through a series of hallways, and as they approached the Alpha‘ s quarters, her pulse quickened, her heartbeat loud in her ears. She‘ d faced a lot of things before. But nothing compared to the weight of what awaited
her now.
Finally, Heron paused before a set of carved double doors, his face impassive.
“The Alpha King is inside,” he said, his voice respectful. “He’ll see you now.”
Marissa took a steadying breath, smoothing her dress as she nodded. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the door, pushing it open and stepping into
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a large, spacious room. And there he was.
Alpha King Idris stood by the far window, a tall figure wrapped in a quiet, unyielding strength. His back was turned to her, his broad shoulders casting a formidable silhouette against the morning light. The room fell into complete silence as he turned, his gaze meeting hers. Marissa felt the ground tilt beneath her feet as their eyes locked. Time seemed to stop, the world narrowing down to the space between them, as an unmistakable, bone- deep recognition flooded her senses.
The sensation hit her like a lightning bolt. She could feel her wolf surging forward, howling, claws raking beneath her skin in a primal call. Her pulse roared in her ears as the scent of cedar and frost drifted toward her, filling her senses. It was as though her very being recognized him, every instinct within her urging her forward.
Idris
gaze darkened, his cold, composed expression faltering for the first time. His
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eyes, a shade of stormy gray, flickered with something raw, something fierce. The faintest scent of pine and fire seemed to roll off him, and she could feel his
presence like a physical touch. Her wolf stirred within her, her senses honing in on every detail–the sound of his steady breath, the heat radiating from him, and the quiet, burning connection that hummed between them.
“You…” Idris‘ s voice was a low growl, his jaw clenching as he took a step forward, his gaze never leaving hers. “You‘ re… my mate.”
Marissa’s breath caught, her chest tightening as the truth settled over her. She had expected a bond, yes, a partnership forged through the ritual of mating. But she had never dreamed he would be her fated mate. The pull between them was intoxicating, a force that seemed to echo in her very soul. She could feel it in the air around them, a primal, electric energy that made her blood sing.
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“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but he heard it. She knew it by the way his gaze softened, his guarded expression cracking ever so slightly as he took another step closer.
Her wolf pressed forward, eager to reach him, to close the distance, to claim him. It was an ache like she’d never felt, a magnetic pull that made her every nerve. come alive, attuned to him, and only him. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, her fingers itching to touch him, her heart pounding in her chest. Every instinct, every fiber of her being told her to go to him, to be near him.
But Idris held back, his intense gaze studying her face with an almost hesitant curiosity, as though he, too, struggled to believe what he was feeling. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his
breathing labored as if he were trying to steady himself.
“This wasn’t… expected,” he
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murmured, his voice rough with restrained emotion.
Marissa’s heart hammered in her chest. “No,” she replied, her voice soft yet steady, feeling the weight of their bond settle over her like a mantle. “But we‘ re here now. And this…” She trailed off, unable to finish as her wolf howled within her, demanding she close the distance.
They stood in silence, neither one moving, as the unspoken pull between them grew stronger, pressing at the edges of their self- control. Marissa’s hands trembled, every part of her instinct demanding she go to him, to feel the warmth of his skin, to bury her face in the scent of her mate. His eyes darkened, his chest rising and falling with the same urgent need.
“Marissa,” he finally said, her name a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. “Are you… are you feeling this too?”
“Yes,” she admitted, her voice breathless.
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She took a step closer, unable to help herself, her gaze fixed on his face. Her wolf‘ s energy crackled under her skin, desperate to be closer to him, to feel the completion that only a true mate could offer. She felt as though she could drown in his presence, every sense honed to him alone.
Idris watched her, his gaze sharp and unyielding, but beneath his stoic facade, she could see a flicker of something vulnerable. It was as if he, too, was struggling to understand the force that connected them, the undeniable bond that would draw them together whether they willed it or not. He hesitated, his hand lifting slowly as though testing whether this was real.
When his fingertips brushed her cheek, a surge of warmth flooded her body, a wave of longing and relief all at once. Her breath hitched as she felt the soft, tentative touch of her mate’s hand, grounding her, drawing her back from the whirlwind of
Chapter 16
her thoughts. The air between them seemed to hum with a quiet energy, their bond a living thing, thrumming with life. and promise.
“This is…” he started, his voice rough, but he didn’t finish, his eyes never leaving hers. The brief contact broke, and he took a step back. His expression composed, but his eyes remained heated, alive with the same fire she felt within her.
She straightened, swallowing as she searched his face, taking in the strength of his jaw, the set of his shoulders. He was powerful, yes, intimidating, even cold, but now she could see something more. She could feel his heart, the wolf that stirred beneath his skin, a mirror to her own. And at that moment, she knew.
“We are bonded,” she whispered, barely more than a breath, but he heard her.
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