Meadow

fire, a deep, primal burn that started in my belly and radiated outwards. I knew

d it was

ce our bonding, the instinct had been a dull, manageable ache. But

tensified tenfold, becoming thick an

nd, her voice raw with

ess, his cruelty. But the biological imperative was a force of

feet seeming to scorch the cool wooden floor. I made my way to the door of his study.

ainst the wood. "Ryker?" My voice was a

ould smell it, of course. The change in my pheromones was impossible to miss

ely swayed toward him, my last coherent tho

but as his mate. Begging him to complete the bond, to mark m

lfilled my 'duty' to my mother six weeks ago. I am not tou

The pain was a sharp counterpoint to the burning ache that consumed me. He could

but with a territorial aggression, provoked

my voice breaking. "Complete

"Mark you?" he spat, the words dripping with venom. "And let

backward, my shoulder hitting

pulled out a small, dark vial. He marched back

aid, his voice flat

packhouse sentry stationed at the end of the corridor. "Escort the Luna to her room a

disdain. "Don't ever forget,

face. The final, echoing boom wa

ology fought against the chilling finality of his rejection. I looked at the vial,

in my soul, a cry of a creature

he only comfort my mate would offer me-a poison designe

er scent of suppression a pre