Elara's POV
The aftershocks of my c****x wrapped around me like a warm tide. I lay limp on the bed, every muscle trembling with pleasure. Kael pushed himself up, his lips slick and shiny, his golden eyes burning with naked desire and a hint of... satisfaction. He looked at my tear-streaked face, didn't ask why, and simply leaned down to kiss the tears from the corners of my eyes.
"That's what I wanted, Elara," he murmured, his voice thick with satisfaction. "Your real voice. Your real reaction. The real you."
I looked at him—this Alpha who had knelt between my legs to please me with his mouth, this man powerful enough to destroy everything yet who chose to treat me with tenderness.
Maybe, just maybe, the word "mate" was starting to mean something different.
Kael held his glistening fi
