I met Ryder just past the tree line, the thick canopy overhead barely letting any moonlight through. My heart pounded in my chest, and not just because of the approaching trials. Tonight, things were different. Mating in our human forms was one thing, but this time… it would be in our wolf forms. I'd heard the stories—the way it could be intense, even painful, especially for females.
My nerves were a live wire, sparking with uncertainty. What if it hurt too much? What if I wasn’t ready?
Ryder must have sensed my hesitation because he took a step closer, his eyes soft but steady. "Faye, it'll be okay," he whispered, his voice like velvet against my frayed nerves. "I’ll be gentle. We’re doing this for us, for our bond. It’s the right path if we’re going to face the trials together.”
I nod
