The Last Alphas Mate

red between the trees, their warm glow fighting against the chill that crept in after sunset. Soft music drift

y happened

me to b

e simply t

did n

wrapped around her like a shield, and she welcomed them. Her dress-faded, borrowed, and clearly not meant for her-hung awkwardly fr

onight. Painted lips. New fabrics. Br

epared by d

rsation. They hadn't noticed when she drifted away. They rarely did. The ab

ther-smoke, roasted meat, perfume, damp

ark. Com

stiff

g its head as if sensing

sic fa

ike a wave. Laughter died. Conversations fell quiet. Wo

Draven ha

ith quiet authority, undeniable and heavy. Stories of the Nightfall Alpha were told in hushed voices-

supposed t

back into the trees, instinct guiding her steps. If she stayed uns

e wind

nside her s

lf reacted sharply, a soft

o

ling-this pull-it had to be coincidence. Rumors exaggerated things. B

rned t

rd the forest when she felt it-move

ntly but firmly

gas

t. The sensation was overwhelming, instinctive, impossible to ignore. She froze, not

struggle. S

g," a low voice

wed and tu

ence filling the narrow space between tree and shadow. His expression was cal

g," she said quietly. "I didn'

It wasn't an accusation

, not tight-simply there. Grounding.

voice barely more than

searched her face, as if committing som

slowly, "you'll van

was th

ssed his jaw. "It w

ttered. "You

lt," he said. "An

re, responding to him in ways that frightened her. She had read about bonds forming under the

make sense,"

tle does

ithout releasing her wrist. The gesture surpris

ow to be overlooked," he said quietly.

ened. "That's n

ot with anger, but r

tled heavily

but present. It frightened her how natural it felt to stand th

here to be clai

across his expression. "Then it

er to know she could step away if she ch

e?" sh

Because the bond doesn't

ly in the distance, but

joined hands, then back

not as a promise, bu

rately, he rel

charged even as he stepped back,

urned and disappeared int

on watched s

utely nothing-fel