⸻ Lirella’s POV I woke to the sound of his heartbeat under my ear — slow, steady, powerful. Matthew looked so peaceful in sleep, lashes dark against his cheekbones, his arm heavy across my waist like I was something precious. For a moment, I just lay there, tracing the edge of his jaw with my eyes, memorizing the way the morning light played across his skin. Then my bladder reminded me of reality. I pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and gently slid out from under his arm. He stirred but didn’t wake, and I padded into the bathroom. After finishing my business, I brushed my teeth and ran a comb through my hair. When I leaned toward the mirror, my breath caught. My mark. A crescent moon intertwined with a golden wolf, head thrown back in a howl. It shimmered faintly against my skin, alive

