The weight of the bite mark still lingered, a constant reminder of the bond that now tied me to Maeve in ways I hadn’t fully grasped before. Every beat of my heart felt in sync with hers, every breath I took seemed to carry the faintest trace of her presence. I had never felt so close to anyone, so connected. Yet, I knew that this was only the beginning.
As we regrouped at the packhouse, the reality of what we had done began to settle in. I was no longer just the human standing at Maeve’s side. I was now bound to her in a way that went beyond love or duty—I was mated to her, and that came with its own set of responsibilities. The bite mark wasn’t just a symbol; it was a promise. A promise that I would protect her, fight beside her, and never leave her behind.
And with that promise came a
