Jax’s POV
The water splashed loudly onto the tiled floor as I lifted Freya out of the bathtub in one smooth, decisive motion. Her wet, naked body pressed tightly against my chest. Her damp skin radiated heat, and the spicy, sweet scent created by the mixture of Valkyrie magic and my body wash burned itself into my mind.
The Alpha inside me and the ancient beast living beneath my skin roared in unison. They wanted what every Alpha desired when their mate finally surrendered: to mark her neck, to become one with her beneath the sheets, and to seal our bond forever in a way that could never be undone. The mere thought of making her completely mine sent my blood pounding through my veins, and my jaw tightened with the effort of holding myself back.
But as I stepped into the brighter light o
