te.

stiffened as the voice came again, almost in a whisper, yet it held enough weight to root him t

ide him had been awakened and now controlled his body. Each step he took felt foreig

ered across her face, and suddenly the quiet was sha

grabbed his arm and shoved him backward. He stumbled through a doorway, falling to

etween th

ce. Neither of them moved. Neith

d against his ribs through the contact of their bodies. He could feel something an

h

are you

t through the mom

her feet and rushed to the door, nearly tripping over herself a

her back against it like a barrier. H

brows furrowed in suspicion. "Wh

it didn't quite reach her e

osed to... y'know, have our first night together agai

. "I don't thi

faded, replaced by a quiet hurt. He studied

e?" she asked, her voice

faint, strained smile. "No. Of course not

gh her. "Thank you. I'm just.

his is your party. You can't j

sistent. "Please? You can cover for me, right?

of his neck. "Alright. I'll keep t

d soft. She leaned forward and pecked

fter her as she disappeared down the c

houlder, and he turned

st the wall, dressed in a way that left little to the imagination. Her lips cur

"Thought so too. But she's... stran

railing along his arm. "Well, I'm avai

eyes. He leaned in, kissed her with the frustration of

he said, dragging her awa

r, staring at the ceiling. The air still hummed with

he whispere

fted. And there w

-

as light, soaring higher than it ever had. He had never truly believed he'd find his mate, never even dared to h

e moment with Astra, when she touched him, when they locked eyes, when their souls seemed to reco

eeling

s wide as the voice echoed i

asked, his thought

. Your mate in spirit. Th

eath caught as the realization settled in. His w

nd, the front door of

e's voice was t

idn't even Know when you

noticed the dazed, happy smil

ked, stepping closer. "Did you fi

"It's not that. I heard... I heard my wol

he took a step back, near

t himself, the patter of sm

brother, Zane, asked as he darted

nned. "His wolf spoke to him.

he rushed forward, throwing his arm

n you'll have your f

chest from the familiar love of his brothers. "Y

excitement. "Did it hurt? Was i

is eyes for a moment. "Like someone I've

al, you know. It means your instincts are going to start sharpening, your

Lysander

cting all weird. Happy, but als

er hes

began, then

arms. "Also wh

hen shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing,

ned. "Ugh

em both a playful shove toward the door

hink you're getting out of telling us even

ut behind them. Finally alone, he let out a dee

. His smile returned as he closed his

e asked in his mind ag

Magnus,

ting a long time to

y n

in you. It called me forward. Your s

owly. "She's beautiful. Strong. I

orld tries to keep you apart, the bond is th

stened to Magnus's words. For the first time in h

ough the transformat

u're not al

is mind. The connection, the voice of Magnus, the memory

his home, Lysander drifted into sleep, stil