The cold wind slaps against my face as I step out of the house—her house now. The one I built with my own damn hands, hoping… praying… that one day, she’d call it home.
My first mate never even made it past the threshold. Fate took her too soon, before I could show her the life I’d dreamed of. But Kali—stubborn, sharp-tongued Kali—will get the chance.
If this damned plan works.
Gravel crunches beneath my boots as I walk away, my chest tight with the weight of a thousand regrets. But I don’t look back. Not until I’m far enough that I won’t turn around and do something reckless—like storm back in, grab her, throw her over my shoulder, and claim her on the spot.
Kiss her. Mark her. Ruin everything.
Only when I’ve put enough distance between myself and the house, where I can no longer sm
