A week had passed since Draka had stumbled into the forest cabin, half-dead, his strength drained and his will fraying like a thread in the wind.
Now, he stood tall.
Each passing day had seen him take Aria again and again—his need raw, desperate, relentless. Each time, the wild hunger in his eyes had returned more vividly. She was his anchor, the fire that fueled his healing. And though Aria didn’t know the ancient bond they’d forged, Draka did. Mating had restored him, replenished his power, rebuilt his stamina. Now, the beast in him had returned, stronger than ever.
That morning, the forest was still cloaked in mist. Birds sang lazily as sunlight filtered through tall trees. Aria returned from the nearby stream, her arms wet, hair damp, and cheeks flushed from the cold water. She look
