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Chapter 16
I had never seen anything like it. As the car rolled to a stop, I stared out the window, feeling my heart race in awe at the sheer vastness of the Moonlight Pack’s territory. My eyes swept over miles of lush greenery, every inch of it meticulously maintained. Gardens brimming with wildflowers stretched out before me, interrupted by towering oak trees that framed the mansion of the Alpha King himself. I had expected a fortress, something foreboding and severe, fitting for a man known for his ruthlessness. Instead, the packhouse was warm, bright, almost… inviting. This is going to be my home.
As I stepped out of the car, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp scent of pine and rain. Around me, a few pack members cast curious glances my way, though they kept their distance. Each movement was silent, a fluid, almost eerie harmony within them that left my stomach
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Chapter 16
I had never seen anything like it. As the car rolled to a stop, I stared out the window, feeling my heart race in awe at the sheer vastness of the Moonlight Pack‘ s territory. My eyes swept over miles of lush greenery, every inch of it meticulously maintained. Gardens brimming with wildflowers stretched out before me, interrupted by towering oak trees that framed the mansion of the Alpha King himself. I had expected a fortress, something foreboding and severe, fitting for a man known for his ruthlessness. Instead, the packhouse was warm, bright, almost… inviting. This is going to be my home.
As I stepped out of the car, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp scent of pine and rain. Around me, a few pack members cast curious glances my way, though they kept their distance. Each movement was silent, a fluid, almost eerie harmony within them that left my stomach
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in knots. I tightened my grip on my bags, trying to still my nerves.
“Miss Malinda?”
A deep voice snapped me out of my daze. I turned, seeing a tall, commanding figure approaching me. His hair was short and neat, his eyes sharp, assessing me in a way that was neither cold nor particularly welcoming–just observant, almost calculating.
“Beta Heron?” I asked, my voice steady despite the frantic beating of my heart.
He nodded. “At your service. Welcome to Moonlight Pack.” He glanced over his shoulder at the mansion, then back to me, a hint of warmth in his gaze. “The Alpha is expecting you. I’ll escort you to his quarters.”
My throat went dry, but I managed a nod, following him as he led me up the wide
marble steps and through the massive front doors. Inside, the mansion was
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breathtaking. Sunlight spilled through arched windows, illuminating polished wood floors and casting soft, flickering shadows along the stone walls. Elegant tapestries lined the halls, and sparkling chandeliers hung like stars overhead. The garden stretched across a central
courtyard, and I could hear birds chirping, their song mixing with the rustling leaves in a way that felt almost serene.
It’s beautiful here, I thought, surprising myself with the realization. So different from what I expected.
We walked through a series of hallways, each one grander than the last, and as we neared the Alpha‘ s quarters, my pulse quickened. I’d faced many things in my life–challenges, battles, loss–but none of it compared to this, to the overwhelming weight of anticipation building inside me. I had no idea what to expect, but there was no turning back now.
Finally, Beta Heron stopped before a set of
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double doors, their dark wood carved with intricate patterns that seemed almost alive. He looked at me, his face unreadable.
“The Alpha King is inside. He’ll see you now.”
I took a steadying breath, pressing down my trembling nerves as I reached for the door. The wood felt cool under my palm as I pushed it open, stepping into the spacious room beyond. And then I saw him.
Alpha King Damon stood by the window, his back to me, his powerful frame outlined by the soft morning light spilling in. His broad shoulders and quiet strength filled the space in a way that left me breathless. As if sensing me, he turned, his storm–gray eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, the world went still. It was like every sound, every heartbeat, every breath narrowed down to the space between us.
And then it hit me, a force so strong it nearly took me off my feet. Mate. The word resonated through me like an echo, a
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primal recognition that shook me to my core. My wolf surged within me, claws. scraping under my skin, desperate to break free and reach him. I felt his scent–cedar and frost, an intoxicating mix that wrapped around me, grounding me and igniting a fire I hadn’t known I could feel.
Damon‘ gaze darkened, his expression cracking just slightly. Beneath the cold composure, there was something fierce, raw–a spark that mirrored the wild, consuming pull between us. I could feel my cheeks warm, my pulse hammering in my ears as his presence washed over me, a physical sensation that set every nerve on edge.
“You…” he murmured, his voice a rough growl as he took a step toward me, his gaze unwavering. “You‘ re… my mate.”
My heart seized, the truth settling over me with a weight that felt both thrilling and terrifying. I’d expected a bond, a partnership forged through tradition. But
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this? This soul–deep connection that called to every instinct in me was something I hadn’t dared to dream of. The pull between us was intoxicating, a force that seemed to weave through my very being, urging me to bridge the space between us.
“Yes,” I whispered, barely able to find my voice, but he heard me. His eyes softened just a fraction, and for a moment, the guarded facade slipped, revealing a glimpse of something vulnerable. He took another step closer, and I couldn’t stop myself from mirroring his movement, inching toward him as if drawn by an invisible thread.
My wolf howled within me, clawing to reach him, to close the gap, to claim him. It was a longing like nothing I’d ever felt, a magnetic pull that made every inch of me come alive. My hands itched to touch him, my heart pounding as I tried to resist the primal call. Every instinct in me screamed to close the distance, to press myself against him, to let the bond complete itself.
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But he held back, his gaze flickering with a hesitance that tugged at my heart. His hands balled into fists at his sides, his breathing heavy, as though he was battling
the same fierce need that consumed me.
“This wasn’t… expected,” he said quietly, his voice rough with a strain that matched the fire in his gaze.
“No,” I replied softly, my voice carrying the weight of everything I was feeling.
“But we’re here now. And this… it‘ s real.” I trailed off, the words slipping away as my wolf surged forward, desperate to
close the distance.
We stood there, bound in a silence charged with the unspoken, the bond between us a tangible force that pressed at the edges of our self–control. I could feel my hands tremble, every fiber of my being pulled to him, every breath heavy with the scent of cedar and fire. His eyes darkened, his chest rising and falling in tandem with the same urgency that throbbed within me.
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“Malinda,” he murmured, my name a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. “Are you… feeling this too?”
“Yes.” The word left me in a breath, the raw honesty of it lingering between us. I took a step closer, my gaze never leaving his, my wolf howling inside, clawing for the completion that only he could offer. I felt as if I could lose myself in him, every sense of me sharpened to his presence.
Damon watched me, his expression as intense as ever, but beneath the steely exterior, I could see a flicker of something almost fragile, something unsure. He lifted his hand slowly, almost as if testing the reality of what was happening, before his fingertips brushed my cheek.
A surge of warmth flooded me, a wave of longing and relief that stole my breath. The gentle, hesitant touch of his fingers was enough to shatter whatever walls I’d built around myself. My breath hitched, my skin tingling from his touch, every nerve alight
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as I looked up into his eyes.
“This is…” he began, voice hoarse, but he trailed off. his hand lingering on my cheek before he pulled away. Even as he stepped back. his gaze never wowered. the intensity of it a physical ache that pulsed between
My heart pounded as I met his gaze, taking in every line of his face, the strength in his jaw, the raw power that radiated from him. I could sense the wolf within him, fierce and strong, mirroring the longing within me. And at that moment, I knew.
“We are bonded.” I whispered, the words barely more than a breath, but he heard them, and I saw the acceptance in his eyes.
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