Natalie POV
The heavy bronze bells of the lower courtyard tolled for the third watch of the night, their deep, metallic vibrations cutting through the howling mountain gale before being swallowed entirely by the thick granite walls of the black wing. Inside the grand suite, the air remained dense and perfectly insulated, vibrating with the quiet, continuous current of the Alpha King's territorial resonance. The cedar logs had burned down to a pile of glowing orange embers, casting long, predatory shadows across the obsidian floorboards.
I lay perfectly still against Richard’s broad chest, my fingers tracing the silver runes embroidered along the collar of his black tunic. My body had finally reached a state of absolute, peaceful equilibrium. The deep, hollow ache that had plagued my spin
