“I can feel everything,” I whisper in awe, pressing my hand to his heart. “All your emotions, your thoughts… more than ever before, so clear, without any confusion.”
“And I can feel yours.” He kisses my forehead tenderly. “No more doubts, no more fear or rejection. Just us, exactly as we were meant to be from the start.”
The bond pulses between us, stronger than ever. I can sense his wolf now too, content and peaceful for the first time since therejection. My own wolf—still new to me, but growing stronger every day—rumbles with satisfaction and womanly pride at making such a strong man hers in every way.
“I never thought I’d have this,” I admit, tracing the mating mark on his neck, the two scars from my fangs. “A mate who loves me for who I am. A wolf of my own. A real place in the pack.”
“You’ve always had a place.” His fingers find my mark, making me shiver. “I was just too blind to see it. But I see you now, Aurora. All of you. And I love every single part.”
Through our bond, I feel the truth of his words. There’s no hesitation, no doubt—just pure, unconditional love and acceptance. For the first time in my life, I feel completely whole. Completely myself.
“I love you too.” The words come easily now, all my previous fears washed away by the strength of our bond. “My mate. My heart. My everything.”
His answering smile is brighter than the sun. Pulling me closer, he kisses me deeply, pouring all his love and devotion into it. I respond eagerly, feeling desire stir again through our bond.
“Mine,” he growls against my lips, his hands already roaming my body possessively. “Forever.”
“Forever,” I agree, then gasp as he rolls me beneath him again, his cock hardening inside me.
As we lose ourselves in each other once more, I marvel at how far we’ve come. From rejection to redemption, from broken to whole. Our completed bond hums between us, a testament to the strength of our love and the power of second chances.
This is what I was always meant to have. Not just a mate, but a true partner who sees me for exactly who I am. Who loves me not despite my differences, but because of them. Who makes me stronger just by believing in me.
This is home. This is belonging. This is love in its purest, most powerful form.
And it’s only the beginning for us.
Chapter 43
Kieran
The Great Hall is eerily quiet when it’s empty. I feel as if I can sense even the dust motes hitting the marble floor. But maybe that’s just my nerves now that I’m about to address the pack in a formal way for the first time since the battlefield.
As the alpha, although that thought still feels foreign to me. When I think of the alpha, I have to correct my mental image from my father, to the man I see in the mirror.
Aurora stands beside me, both of us preparing to address the pack for the first time as true mates and leaders. Through our newly completed bond, I can feel her mix of nervousness and determination.
“Ready?” I ask softly, reaching for her hand. Her skin is warm against mine, the simple touch grounding us both.
“As I’ll ever be.” She squeezes my fingers, her mismatched eyes bright with purpose. “Although I have to admit, I never thought I’d be standing here like this as the alpha’s mate.”
Neither did I, if I’m being honest. The man I was five years ago would never have imagined sharing power with his mate, much less celebrating her differences instead of seeing them as weaknesses. He would’ve been too afraid to be seen as “weak”standing beside another, and would’ve insisted on being seen as the only one in charge.
But as I look at Aurora now, pride swells in my chest knowing that she stands beside me as an equal. She’s everything a leader should be—strong, compassionate, and unafraid to stand up for what’s right. I wouldn’t be the alpha I am if it weren’t for her. Hell, I probably wouldn’t be the alpha at all.
Through our bond, I sense her picking up on my thoughts. A small smile curves her lips as she looks up at me. “You’ve changed all on your own too, you know. The Kieran I knew before would never have defied his father or pack tradition like this.”
“The Kieran you knew before was a fool who could barely see past the end of his nose.” I pull her close, breathing in her sweet scent of lilac and honey. “Too caught up in fear and prejudice to see the value of what was right in front of him.”
Before she can respond, footsteps approach the office. Dana appears in the doorway, her expression guarded but determined. “The pack is gathering. You ready to face them?”
Aurora straightens her shoulders, and I feel her steel herself through our bond. “Ready or not, it’s time to find out.”
Together, we make our way to the amphitheater. The space is packed with shifters—not just those who stayed loyal during my father’s descent into madness, but also those who were exiled and have now returned. The tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a knife, the dividing lines and loyalties clear from body language alone.
I spot familiar faces in the crowd. Mason and Henry, two of our strongest warriors, stand near the front with approving expressions. Jasper lurks in the back, his loyalty still uncertain after years of following my father’s orders. And there, near the middle, is Dierdre Reynolds—Aurora’s former friend turnedtormentor, now looking distinctly uncomfortable at this latest turn of events.
As we take our places at the front of the hall, I can’t help but notice how the pack divides itself. Those who embraced change stand on one side, while the traditionalists cluster on the other. The physical divide mirrors the ideological one we’ll need to bridge if our pack is going to head down this new road united.
