“Calm down, Ezra,” I mutter under my breath, though my voice lacks bite. There she is. Our mate. Our Luna. Our fate—walking toward us with grace carved into every step. “She chose us,” Ezra says, practically howling with joy in my mind. His energy thrums through my limbs, barely contained. It’s like trying to hold back a tidal wave of pride, longing, and fierce devotion. And honestly… I’m not doing much better. Nerves churn like a storm in my chest, my palms slick with the weight of everything about to change. My breath hitches as Anika draws closer, every soft step pounding like thunder in my ears. The what ifs crawl back in, poisonous and persistent: What if she runs? What if the bond overwhelms her? What if the gods change their minds? But then she lifts her head—and her eyes l

