Next day
*Dust*
I blink against the soft glow of morning light filtering through the window, the brightness almost too much for my tired eyes. As my vision clears, I find River sitting beside me, his strong form a comforting presence in the room. He leans forward, a warm smile spreading across his face as he meets my gaze.
“Hey there, beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice rich and soothing. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck,” I manage to croak out, my throat dry and scratchy. But as I speak, I can’t shake the feeling that something is amiss within me. The mate bond that should bind us, the connection that should be surging through my veins, feels faint… a whisper of what it should be. I glance at him, searching his eyes for answers. “What about you? What’s going on?”
