pte

d by

na'

l. For a moment, I wasn't sure where I was, the heavy shadows of the unfamiliar room pressing in o

My new lif

the wedding. Every night I lay in this bed, wide awake, thoughts racing, emotions tangled. And every

hadows across the stone walls, making the space feel even larger and more isolating. I wrapped my arms around myself, t

storm of emotions through me. The man w

a tentative understanding. We were tied together by the Mate Bond, and no matter how much

There was a part of me that felt drawn to him, an undeniable pull that was hard to ignore. It was the bond, of course, doing

there was

is betrayal washed over me. Phillip, the man I'd once loved, who had p

was always there, lurking beneath the surface. As much as I wanted to move on, t

art pounding in my chest. It was late, far too late for a servant

ed, my voice stea

manding, as always, but tonight, there was something different about him. He wasn't dressed in his usual formal attire-i

ow and rough around the edges

uickly, sitting up straig

osing the door behind him. The firelight played across his sharp features, highlighting the

asked, the words slipping o

his hair as he leaned against the wall

o brief, so guarded, that I didn't know what to expect from him. Bu

ng in the dim light. "There's something you n

stomach, dread creeping u

him. "The Mate Bond-it's stronger than we've been led to believe.

row, confused.

stopping a few feet from me. The heat of the fire seemed

. they've confirmed something that I suspected. The Mate Bond isn't just a connection-it's a fire

ed in my chest

s. It can tear us apart, Fiona. Physically, mentally, emotionally. We'

l toward Quinton, the flashes of emotion that weren't entirely my own, the way my body seemed to react to his

hispered. "That we have no

m saying that we need to stop fighting it. I don't want to see either of us suffer because of this bond.

o cling to the last remnants of control I had over my own life. But deep down, I knew he was right. The bond was alrea

epting him... that was

voice barely above a whisper. "I

presence overwhelming in the small space. "Neither do I,

ing. Together. Could we really be together, not just as mates

tic to manipulate me. But all I saw was sincerity. Quinton wasn't asking for my love, or even my trust. H

ht with emotion. "Okay," I said

ptible smile tugging at the corner

, being this close to him without the usual tension or anger hanging between us. There was still a d

asked, trying to lighten the mood

the bed and then back to me. "I thought.

eyebrow, unsure of w

I realize we've barely spoken since the wedding. And if we're going to try to stop

ed so distant, so closed off, that the idea of sitting down and actually talking felt... strange. B

ning to the chair by

m glow over his features, softening the hard lines of his face. For a moment, I found myself wonder

here to start. Finally, I broke the tension with a qu

l of this?" I asked softly. "Befor

ifferent than it is now. I've always been expected to lead, to take on res

choed, surprised

g, everyone looks to you for answers, for decisions. You can't afford to

Alpha King was a heavy burden to bear, and though I hadn't fully

ietly. "I didn't realize h

surprise in his eyes. "You were

mfortable. There was a sense of understanding growing betwe

zed that maybe-just maybe-this bond wasn't the curse I'd thought it was. Per

eth