Ava’s POV
“Mate!” I cried out, my eyes locked on Liam. His gaze sparked with a blend of astonishment, affection, and a hint of apprehension.
The pack around us went still, breaths suspended in the old tradition, hanging on Liam’s response. The tunes had faded, the atmosphere thick with just the uneven breaths of the pack.
Liam’s stare held mine, intense and unwavering. He stepped nearer, his words a rough murmur in my ear. “Mate.”
In that instant, everything else vanished. The throng, the clamor—all gone, leaving only Liam before me, his essence grounding me.
“Mate! Mate!” he shouted again, louder this time, spinning to face the crowd with a wild grin.
I beamed, my heart soaring as I tugged him close, our lips meeting in a fierce, desperate kiss. The pack exploded, whoops and cheers
