The silence of my room felt heavier than usual. The bed was too big, the air too still. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, agitated by the distance from our mate. Every fiber of my being screamed that I should be with her, but I held myself back. I had to do this right.
I couldn’t just claim her and expect everything to fall into place. I wanted her to choose me, not just because of the mate bond but because she loved me. I’d seen what happened when mates relied solely on the bond—Orion and Amanda had nearly destroyed each other. That wasn’t going to be us. I refused to let that be us.
Still, the ache of separation was unbearable.
My phone buzzed, breaking the oppressive silence. I grabbed it instantly, my heart hammering when I saw Aria’s name lighting up the screen.
[Aria: Can I cal
