Chapter 17
It was unexpected.
Marissa could hardly comprehend the turn her life had taken. The Alpha King–Idris, the man she’d been bound to in an
arranged union, a stranger she had feared and steeled herself to face–was her true fated mate. Her wolf surged, howling with joy, elation rolling through her like waves, though her mind struggled to keep up. The one she’d been destined for, the one who could steady her blood and soul… was him.
Idris‘ gaze, once cold and composed, softened as he held her, his stormy gray eyes alight with something she hadn‘ t expected. His hands settled on her waist, pulling her close, as though drawn to her by the same invisible force she felt. She could feel his breath, warm and steady, against her skin, a quiet reassurance that made her own heartbeat calm.
“I didn‘ t… I didn’t think this would
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happen,” she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
“Neither did I.” His voice was deep, a touch of wonder softening his usually stoic tone. “But fate rarely leaves room for plans.”
His arms wrapped around her in a way that felt so natural, as if they had been made to fit against each other like this. The warmth. of his body pressed against hers was almost surreal, the scent of cedar and frost filling her senses and grounding her.
For the first time in what felt like years, Marissa’s wolf settled, soothed by the presence of her mate. The wild, untamed force within her relaxed, finding peace in his hold.
But as quickly as that feeling came, a sharp, searing pain began to burn through her chest, her lycan blood rising and
surging in sudden, violent waves. Marissa’s body tensed, and she staggered
slightly in his arms. Idris‘ s grip tightened
Chapter 17
around her waist, his eyes widening as he noticed her face paling.
“Marissa,” he said, his tone tinged with concern. “What’s happening?”
She tried to respond, but a racking cough forced its way up her throat, leaving her breathless and clutching her chest as a metallic taste filled her mouth. She gasped, seeing a splash of dark blood staining her hand. Her vision blurred, and she struggled to stay on her feet, the pain. intensifying with every heartbeat.
“Your blood…” Idris murmured, the worry plain on his face. He brushed a hand across her cheek, his thumb grazing her skin with unexpected tenderness. “I knew there were… complications with your bloodline, but I didn’t realize it was this severe.”
Marissa looked up at him, her vision hazy, but her voice was steady as she met his
eyes.
“Then… then you know how this can be fixed,” she managed to whisper.
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He hesitated, his gaze flickering with both concern and a shadow of fear. “Marissa… are you sure?”
She nodded, clinging to the clarity that came with the acceptance of her fate. Her voice was faint, but resolute. “Bite me, Alpha. I’m ready.”
For a moment, Idris‘ s hand hovered above her, a faint hesitation in his eyes. Then his expression shifted, the doubt giving way to a quiet resolve. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her neck, and Marissa felt a shiver course through her as his teeth grazed her skin. Her wolf surged forward, ready, yearning to be marked by
her true mate.
And then, with one swift, piercing bite, Idris’s fangs broke the surface of her skin, a sharp, searing pain that melted into an ache of pure relief as her blood settled, merging with his. Power rippled through her, a heat that reached her very bones, and a newfound strength coursed through
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her veins, stronger and more stable than anything she had ever known.
The pain ebbed away, replaced by an overwhelming warmth that radiated from the bite mark. Marissa’s wolf howled within her, the connection deepening with each passing moment as Idris‘ s strength intertwined with her own. She could feel his presence settling within her, an anchor to her raging power, binding them in a way that was both comforting and exhilarating.
As he pulled back, Idris studied her, his expression unreadable as he assessed the mark he’d left on her neck, their bond now sealed by the bite. Marissa touched her neck, feeling the warmth of his claim, a sense of belonging she hadn’t thought possible flooding her senses.
“Is that… better?” He asked quietly, his voice barely concealing the worry that lingered.
Marissa’s hand rested on the mark, the pain in her chest gone, replaced by a
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warmth that soothed her aching heart.
“Yes,” she murmured, her voice tinged with wonder. “It‘ s… it’s gone. My blood is… calm.”
A soft sigh escaped Idris, relief flickering in his gaze. He drew her close again, and for a brief, fragile moment, they simply held each other in silence, letting the enormity of their bond settle over them. Marissa s fingers brushed against his, and she felt the faintest tug of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
But the weight of the moment settled quickly, reminding them both of the reality they faced. Idris‘ s gaze sharpened, and he pulled back slightly, searching her face.
“Marissa,” he began, his tone turning serious. “Let me claim you. I want you mine. I need you mine.”
She blinked, surprised by his words, but the warmth in his eyes steadied her, a gentle assurance that made her decision. easy. She wanted this, wanted to be bound
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to him–not only because it would calm her blood, but because he was her fated mate. She met his gaze, her resolve firm.
“I am ready, Alpha,” she replied softly. “We‘ re fated. Let’s seal our bond.”
The ceremony was swift, held under the open sky with only the stars as their witnesses. The chill of the night air washed over them, but Marissa felt only the warmth of Idris’s presence beside her, his hand gripping hers in a silent promise.
They exchanged words of loyalty and devotion, voices low but unwavering. With each vow, she felt the connection between them deepen, an unbreakable bond that thrummed with power and understanding. She had worried about this day, feared the unknowns of her future with him. But now, standing by his side, her fears were
eclipsed by the certainty she felt in her very soul.
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- 88.
“Upon the blessing of the moon,” Idris murmured, his voice steady as he brought his lips to the mark he had left on her neck,
“I claim you as my mate, my Luna, my equal.”
Marissa felt a surge of pride swell within her as his words sank in, each one filling the void of uncertainty she had carried for so long. She could feel her wolf howling in delight, a fierce joy surging through her veins as Idris sealed their bond, his presence an indelible part of her now.
She looked up at him, meeting his gaze with a confidence she hadn’t felt before.
“And I accept you, Idris, as my Alpha and my mate,” she replied, her voice clear and strong. “We are bound by fate, by the blood of our kind, and I vow to stand by your side, now and always.”
A shiver ran through her as he brushed his lips against hers, a soft, lingering kiss that sealed their vows under the watchful gaze of the moon. Marissa felt her wolf stir,
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calm yet vigilant, content yet fierce, perfectly at peace with the mate who held
her now.
As they pulled away, she looked around, taking in the beauty of the night, the quiet that wrapped around them like a cloak. She was no longer just Marissa of the Shadow Pack. She was the Luna of Moonlight Pack, bound to a man whose strength could finally give her the peace she‘ d longed
for.
Idris took her hand in his, a faint smile playing at his lips as he watched her, his eyes filled with a warmth she hadn’t thought possible. He led her back inside, and as they walked together, Marissa heart was light. She had found something unexpected in him–a future she hadn’t dared to imagine.
