Chapter 45: Karma is a bitch.

My eyes fluttered open, greeted by the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. A sense of calm and well-being washed over me as I stretched leisurely in bed. I hadn’t felt this weightless in a long time.

The events of the previous night played through my mind, and a secret smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

I was officially mated to my Alpha Jacob, bound to him in a way that transcended mere words. The thought filled me with a sense of warmth and belonging that I had never known before.

But as I looked beside me and saw the empty bed, a pang of annoyance shot through me. Jacob was nowhere to be found, and the absence of his presence left a hollow ache in my chest.

Pushing aside the sheet, I took note of the oversized shirt I was wearing-Jacob’s shirt. His scent enveloped me, stronger now that we were mated, I loved it.

Feeling excited and shy, I approached the mirror to check my mark. My fingers grazed the spot on my neck where Jacob had claimed me as his own, and