ASHER'S POV
The dorm room was quiet, except for the soft rustle of pages turning. Lila and I sat close together on the edge of our beds, sharing a book she’d found in the academy’s small library.
It was old, worn, and full of stories about pack legends and forgotten rites.
Neither of us cared much about the text itself—it was just another excuse to be near each other, to steal moments away from the harsh world outside.
Our hands brushed once, then twice, and each time a spark shot through me like electricity. The mate bond was alive and pulsing between us, stronger than I’d expected.
It wasn’t just a connection—it was a force, pulling us closer with every heartbeat.
I looked over at her. She was focused on the page, her brow furrowed just the slightest bit, lips parted as if she wan
