Suki stood at the edge of the yard, bathed in the soft glow of the porch lights, looking like she'd stepped straight out of a dream. Her skin almost shimmered, like she was backlit, her dark hair smoothed into perfect waves that framed her face. The dress clung to her curves, a silky, midnight blue that caught the light with every tiny movement. Makeup flawless, lips a deep red, eyes sharp and lined just enough to make them even more intense. Her heels were high enough to make her legs look like they went on forever, and for the first time in forever, she wasn't covered in dirt or sweat. She wasn't wild or chaotic. She was… perfect.And I had no idea who the hell she was.The Suki I knew was almost always naked, her hair a tangled mess, dirt smeared on her skin like it belonged there. She was loud, sharp, impossible to ignore, like a wild animal that refused to be tamed. But this girl? This wasn't her. This was someone else entirely.She looked at me and smiled.It hit me like.She kn
Gaia watched like she was trying to figure out if I was about to lose it entirely or if I had some other plan. I probably looked like I was about to strip down right there, and the way she watched me like she wasn't sure what to expect only fueled the chaos spiraling inside me.I signed fast, my hands shaky. "I just wanted to impress you." I cracked my knuckles to try to stop them from shaking. "Now that you're here, I don't need it anymore."Gaia just smiled. She signed back slowly, "You've always impressed me." She stood there, almost like she wasn't sure if she should reach for me or wait for me to fall apart first.That broke something in me. I crossed the room in two steps, my chest aching like it was going to split open, and pulled her into me. I kissed her hard, desperate, like maybe if I held onto her long enough, everything would stop spiraling.She kissed me back without hesitation, grabbing at my shirt like letting go wasn't an option. Her lips were warm against mine, soft
DECLAN - I could barely hear my own breathing over the thunder of my heartbeat. Part of me, the unsure teenage boy who'd never done anything like this before, wanted to run. The other part, the part that felt like a wolf scratching at the walls of my chest, refused to back down. I needed her."Come on," I mumbled in her face. I laced my fingers through hers and led her back to my bedroom. It felt surreal. My legs wobbled, my thoughts stumbling over themselves. I forced myself to keep moving. I had to pretend I knew exactly what I was doing.Once inside, the door clicked shut. I swallowed, nerves zinging through me like electric sparks. For a second, I stood there, unsure how to start. Then that alpha urge kicked in again. I needed her close.I reached for her waist, tentatively at first. She leaned into me, giving me the courage to keep going. I tugged her with me toward the bed. My hands shook, but I was determined. I didn't give her another chance to pull away. As soon as we hit t
DECLAN - I stayed there, lying on the bed with Gaia, our bodies tangled together. I kissed her softly, slowly and deliberately, pulling away just enough for her to read my lips. Every time she tried to sign something, I caught her hands and shook my head."Say it," I mouthed.She sighed, clearly frustrated, but I didn't let up. I wanted to hear her. Not just once. Not just those three words. I wanted all of it.It became painfully obvious how little she spoke out loud. Her pronunciation was off, the sounds stumbling out awkwardly like her mouth wasn't used to shaping them. She struggled through every word, her cheeks flushing in frustration. But I didn't care. I loved hearing her voice, every imperfect syllable of it.I knew why she didn't speak much. It wasn't her fault. It was like people refusing to learn sign language and then blaming her for not being able to communicate. Maybe her speaking made people uncomfortable, and instead of them adjusting, she stopped. But not with me. I
DECLAN - Ian was right behind me, running his mouth the entire way. It was the one thing he was really good at. "You think you can just waltz in and claim her?" he sneered. "You don't know shit about what she needs. You're nothing but a spoiled heir riding on your parents' names."I bit down on the words threatening to spill out. Not yet.But there was one small relief. Suki was nowhere to be found. I didn't feel that pull, that tug I did when she was nearby before. Nothing.As we neared the training grounds, I leaned over to Dad. "I marked Gaia."Dad didn't miss a beat. He just nodded without looking at me. That was all I needed to know.They knew. Of course, they knew. Tory must have opened her mouth the second she left the room. She always had to stir the pot. I was going to deal with her later.The second we hit the dirt, Uncle Jaed turned on me."You marked my underage daughter?" he roared, his voice echoing across the field. "You think you can just take her without a word? Wit
I didn't hesitate. Suki had known, and she hadn't said a damn word. Her scent clung to the trees, leading me deeper into the woods. She wasn't even trying to hide. I found her against a tree, the hair, dress, and makeup a thing of the past. She was right back to being naked and dirty, just like Suki. "You knew."She didn't even flinch. "Yeah, I knew."Something twisted inside me. "And you didn't think to fucking say anything?"She shifted off the tree. "What difference would it have made?""I already marked Gaia. That's what difference it makes." Even if she had told me we were fated, I wouldn't have believed her. It would have sounded like another manipulation, another trap. I hated her. Had hated her long before this, before the mate bond twisted everything. She shifted in a blur, and I didn't catch it before she launched at me. Her wolf slammed into me, knocking the breath from my lungs. My back hit the ground, and my skull smashed into a rock. I felt her tear at the teal band on
Jaed shoved Gaia's shirt into her hands. "Get back to the packhouse now."She pulled it over her head, hands moving fast with something I couldn't read, and stomped off. I pushed myself up onto my elbows, but before I could sit up, Jaed planted a hand on my chest and shoved me back down."Relax."I shoved his hand off. "She shouldn't be out there alone.""She's fine.""That's not the point." Forcing myself upright sent pain flaring through my ribs, but I ignored it. "You saw what happened earlier. She's not invincible."Jaed groaned. "Neither are you.""I don't care about me.""You should." He crouched beside me, tugging at the torn fabric of my shirt to get a better look at the gash running along my ribs. Pressure hit the wound, and I hissed out a breath, fighting against the urge to shove him away."We need to get you up there." It sounded more like he was talking to himself."I'm fine.""Bullshit." His grip tightened for a second before he let go and sat back on his heels. "You're
Jaed and I split off, his instincts pulling him one way while something deeper inside me yanked me in another. He swore he could smell where Gaia was, but I could feel her. It wasn't just instinct. It was something unshakable, something I couldn't explain. I didn't question it. I ran.The trees blurred past as I pushed forward, my ribs screaming with every breath, but I didn't stop. The pull led me straight into the clearing where Gaia and Suki fought, their snarls ripping through the air, fangs flashing as they battled with raw, vicious energy. My blood boiled.Suki slammed Gaia down, pinning her against the dirt, jaws closing around her throat.I snarled as I lunged. I didn't think. Didn't hesitate. My body slammed into Suki's side with enough force to send her flying. She yelped, rolling through the dirt before scrambling back to her feet, hackles raised. I planted myself between her and Gaia, my body aching, my hands curled into fists.Suki let out a vicious growl, her dark eyes
DECLAN - We took the long way back to the packhouse. It took far longer than the ten minutes I'd agreed to. Suki was going to give me hell for that. She’d probably time it down to the second and bring it up at dinner, then again at breakfast. I was already prepared to ignore the first three times before I gave in to whatever atonement she had planned. Honestly, I was looking forward to the punishment. Gaia and I fell into old habits. She challenged me to spot tree knots shaped like animals. I told her she was making them up when she did. She called me arbitrary and pronounced it correctly. I lobbed a pinecone at her head. She caught it, grinned, and tucked it into my hood when I wasn't looking. It was familiar. Just two people who used to know every inch of each other, finding the quiet rhythm again without forcing it. When the porch came into view, I slowed. "You and Dorian should stay," I paused. "The east wing at the Roman packhouse is yours if you want it. No strings. Just.
DECLAN - "I'm sorry." I looked over. She kept her eyes forward. Hands shoved into the front pocket of her hoodie. Shoulders stiff. We walked side by side. The trees closed in around us while the porch lights faded behind. Neither of us said anything for a long time. Our feet crunched through the undergrowth. The breeze rolled between us. I didn't try to close the space. Neither did she. But neither of us veered away either. The remains of the old house peeked through the trees. Blackened beams and collapsed stone still scattered across the clearing. A skeleton. A memory. "For how I rejected you. And for not telling you why." I didn't answer until we reached the house. "You didn't just reject me. You vanished." She flinched. "I know." "So why?" She took a deep breath and stopped walking. Her eyes stayed on what was left of the front steps. "I'd gotten the call. The implant was finally approved, and they found a werewolf doctor who could do it. It was scheduled. It was final
DECLAN - That was her fated mate.It was written in the way he tracked her every move, in how he hovered just close enough to guard but not crowd. His posture said protector. His eyes, sharp and constantly scanning, said no one would get within reach unless she wanted them to. He moved like he'd been made for that role. Like every instinct in his body had clicked into place the moment he met her.He moved like he already belonged next to her.Judson finally spoke. "This going to be a thing now? Fated mates falling out of the sky onto your porch?" Then he squinted. "Wait. No way. Dorian?"The other man stepped forward, arms crossed. "Judson."Judson huffed. "Damn, talk about the sky falling. Of course it's you."Gaia looked between them. "Wait. How do you know him?"Judson tilted his head toward Dorian but didn't look away. "Med school. He was top of the class. Never let anyone forget it. Ever."Dorian crossed his arms. "And you were always one sarcastic comment away from getting kic
DECLAN - "You're not gonna pout if I drink the last one, are you?"Judson didn't even glance over. "Only if you waste it."I reached for the bottle closest to him, smirking when he didn't try to stop me.Crickets chirped loudly in the trees. The house behind us had finally gone still. It was peaceful.A lazy row of empty beer bottles lined the railing like some halfhearted scoreboard. Judson leaned back again, one ankle hooked over the other, shoulders loose. That rare kind of settled that only happened when nothing needed to be said.We were both quiet. Not the kind of silence that needed filling, just the kind that held space. The kind that made it really easy to notice how much I liked having him here. Judson wasn't soft, but he didn't crowd either. There was something about the way he held space, like he understood exactly how not to mess it up. I hadn't realized how rare that was until I felt it.Until headlights swept across the tree line.Judson didn't move, but I straightened
DECLAN - I squinted. "So... you left your pack?"Judson shook his head. "Not really. My sister's mate stepped in. Human guy, believe it or not. Doctor. Weirdly chill. He helps now with the medical side, which freed me up to go to college and train properly. They all said it made sense. I guess... I just haven't thought much about what I was gonna do after."He paused, then shrugged. "Now I get it. I wasn't supposed to leave the South yet. I was supposed to be here. Meeting her. If I'd been back in North Carolina, this wouldn't have happened. Or it would've taken years."He looked out toward the trees. "So no. I didn't leave them. I just followed where I was needed next."I blinked. "You live on the Riverwalk."He grinned. "I know. Kind of perfect, right? It's loud on the weekends and peaceful at sunrise. Plus, amazing food within walking distance."I stared at him.He raised his bottle. "Look, I didn't plan to meet my mate while helping chart bloodwork samples in a borrowed lab, but
DECLAN -When we pulled into the driveway, Dad and Linc were already waiting.They didn't speak, but I felt something in the way they stood there. At the time, I'd figured they were just sizing up Judson, doing the protective dad routine. But now, after everything Judson had said, it clicked in a way that made my chest feel too tight.They already knew.Not just about Judson. About what he might be. About how important he was going to be. Just like they'd known about Mom. Just like they'd kept it all quiet. For me.I'd spent so long thinking I was figuring all of this out on my own. That the timing was random, or fate, or whatever the hell else. But maybe it wasn't. Maybe Cassy hadn't just guided me.Maybe my whole damn family had. Perhaps they'd been walking beside me the entire time, keeping quiet so I could come to it on my own.Judson wasn't the surprise.I was.They stood at the edge of the porch, arms crossed, matching unreadable expressions locked in place. The second we still,
I stepped forward and stifled the growl as best I could. "Hey. Get up. Now!"The guy startled awake. "What?"Tory shot up in the bed, wide-eyed. "Declan, no! No, wait! This is... this is Judson."She looked panicked. But not afraid. Not at all."He's... he's my..."I stopped. Everything shifted. I looked at her. Looked at him. Looked back."You're mate."She nodded.I took a breath. Held it. Then stepped forward and stuck out my hand. Judson stood, still looking like he expected me to deck him. He shook my hand. I shook his harder.Tory glanced between us, then spoke up. "He's a nurse practitioner here. Was walking past the ICU when I first came in. Caught my scent in the hallway and almost dropped his coffee."Judson rubbed his hand where I'd gripped it "I tried to play it cool. Avoided eye contact, walked the long way around, you know, the usual 'don't poke the angry fathers and big brother' protocol. I thought I was being slick about it too. Barely even looked at her. Just nodded a
We didn’t leave the woods.Not that day. Not that night. I didn’t want to, and neither did she.We ran until our legs trembled. We played, circling and snapping at each other’s heels, tackling and wrestling in the mossy patches of clearing. We swam again, slower this time, more tangled up in each other than anything else. We lay in the grass and the sun, curled together, drowsy and content.And then we shifted.Over and over.Human, wolf, back again. Each shift smoother than the last. No moon. No pain. Not really. Not like the pain I had braced for my entire life. Just choice. Pure choice and ability. The power that came with it was almost addictive. I always wondered what they meant when saying the power overtook the pain. It was raw. It was strong. I loved it.And I loved her.We didn’t talk much, not out loud. But we didn’t need to. We were in each other's heads and had no plans to leave. When we shifted back to skin, we couldn’t stop touching. Couldn’t stop reaching. It was like
It hit all at once.One second I was halfway to my knees, still trying to breathe through the pull of her shift. The next, my ribs cracked outward and my body folded. I didn't fall. I collapsed.The pain was nothing like the moon-forced change I'd endured before. This wasn't guided or timed. This was raw. A hundred fractures all at once, my limbs pulling and twisting, muscles screaming as they rearranged.I couldn't stop the sound that tore out of my throat."Cassy!"I didn't even know what I was asking. Just that I was begging. My mind reached for her. I was desperate and frantic.Her voice came, faint and steady."You're never selfish, so you would've never asked."Bones popped in my jaw. My fingers stretched, then broke, shifting in crooked bursts. I slammed my hand into the dirt and gritted my teeth against the next snap. My skin burned. My eyes blurred.Oh shit.Did she make me...Cassy... Did you do this?Another bone cracked somewhere deep in my back, cutting the thought in hal