The ferry ride felt endless. Six long hours of sitting, waiting, and counting each minute as we made our way toward Alaska. The cold ocean breeze swept across the deck, but it didn’t cool the burning need inside me. Every hour that passed, I could feel the mate bond growing stronger, pulling me closer to Ryder. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until now. It wasn’t just an emotional pull, but something physical, deep in my bones. Every heartbeat seemed to echo his name, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that time was slipping through my fingers.
I leaned against the railing, staring out at the vast ocean. The waves crashed rhythmically, and for a moment, it was almost soothing. But every second spent on this ferry was a second wasted, a second I wasn’t with Ryder. My chest tightene
