Chapter 45: Steamy Claiming
The full moon rose like a swollen pearl over the Blackthorn mountains, bathing the sacred clearing in a light so pure it felt like the goddess herself was watching. The pack had withdrawn to the lodge, leaving Victor and me alone in this ancient place where Alphas and Lunas had renewed their bonds for centuries. The air was thick with the scent of pine and frost, the ground soft with fresh snow that muffled every sound except our breathing and the wild beat of our hearts.
I stood in the center of the circle of standing stones, naked under the moonlight, my skin prickling with cold and anticipation. The silver scars across my body glowed brighter than ever, pulsing in time with the child growing inside me. Our daughter kicked hard, as if excited for what was co
