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SEVENTEEN

CHRISSY

C hrissy's heart thundered as she gazed up into Zev's impossibly blue eyes. The entire pack watched them—a hundred sets of eyes trained on their Alpha and the human woman he'd just declared as his Luna. The enormity of the moment crashed over her like a wave.

Six days ago, she'd been trapped in a life that was suffocating her. Now, she stood at the precipice of something wild and wonderful.

"I want to stay," she said, her voice catching. Her white sundress fluttered around her legs in the gentle island breeze as the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting everything in a golden glow. "I want to be with you, Zev."

A collective murmur rippled through the pack. Relief, surprise, and approval—she could sense it all, even without wolf senses.

Zev's face transformed, his controlled Alpha expression giving way to something raw and primal. His fingers tightened against her cheek, and Chrissy swore she could feel the wolf inside him howling with victory.

"I trust you," she continued, her voice growing stronger. "I believe you when you say we can fight Marty together. That we can keep everyone safe." Her hand found his chest, resting over his heart. "I've spent so long being told what I can't do. I want to start focusing on what I can."

The piercing intensity in his blue eyes made her knees weaken, but she kept going. "This island—it feels more like home than anywhere else has in a long time. And you..." she smiled softly, "you make me feel like I've finally found where I belong."

Zev pulled her against him, claiming her mouth in a kiss that left no doubt about who she belonged to. Cheers erupted from the pack, but Chrissy barely heard them over the roaring in her ears. His kiss was possession, promise, and protection all at once.

When he finally broke their kiss, she was breathing hard, her lips tingling and her body flushed with heat. Several of the older pack members looked scandalized, while the younger ones grinned widely.

"Be on alert for the next twenty-four hours," Zev commanded the pack without taking his eyes off Chrissy. "When Marty discovers she didn't board his plane, there will be consequences. But we'll be ready."

The gathering dispersed quickly, with pack members heading off to their assigned posts. Ewan approached, his expression serious but with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I'll double security at all access points as requested," he told Zev, then nodded to Chrissy. "Welcome to the pack, Luna."

Luna. The title still felt foreign, but not unwelcome. She was a human pop star with a wolf pack that answered to her. The absurdity of it almost made her laugh.

After a brief conference with Ewan about security protocols, Zev led Chrissy away from the main lodge. His hand rested possessively on her back as they walked toward a secluded garden overlooking the sea.

"I'm sorry about the public declaration," he said once they were alone, brushing her cheek with his hand. "It wasn't how I planned to ask you to stay."

Chrissy reached up, trailing her finger along his jaw. "It needed to be done. They needed to see us together and united."

"You're extraordinary," he murmured, pulling her closer. "Most humans would be running screaming from a pack of wolves."

"Lucky for you, I've always been a little reckless." She smiled at him, still marveling at how this powerful man—this Alpha—treated her like she was the most precious gift in his world. "Besides, I've spent the last year surrounded by wolves in suits. At least yours are honest about their teeth."

Zev laughed, the sound rich and vibrant. "I love you, Chrissy Rivera. I think I've loved you since you stepped off that helicopter."

The words hit her with unexpected force, stealing her breath. For a moment, she couldn't speak, could only feel the truth of his words resonating through their bond.

"I love you too, Zev," she finally whispered, surprised at how easy it was to say. After years of guarding her heart, of being used by people who only saw her as a commodity, the words flowed from her like a song that had been waiting to be sung. "I don't know how it happened so fast, but I do."

"Fate," he said simply, his thumbs drawing circles on her hips. "Like I said, the mate bond doesn't make mistakes."

Zev's expression suddenly intensified, his eyes darkening as they locked on hers. The breeze ruffled his thick wavy hair, and Chrissy felt her heart racing against her ribs. Something shifted in his gaze—a vulnerability that seemed almost shy despite his commanding presence.

"Chrissy," he said, his voice slightly rough with emotion. "Would you be willing to accept my mate mark tonight?"

The question hung between them, profound in its simplicity. Chrissy knew what this meant—a permanent bond, a declaration to his pack and the entire supernatural world that she belonged with him. Forever.

To her own surprise, she didn't hesitate. Not even for a heartbeat.

"Yes," she breathed, certainty filling her like sunshine. "Yes, more than anything. I've never been more certain about anything."

The look that transformed his face was pure Alpha possession—primal, intense, and utterly male. Satisfaction and excitement flashed across his features as his hands tightened on her hips.

"Mine," he growled, lifting her off the ground in one fluid motion.

Chrissy laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her bridal-style toward his villa.

The white fabric of her sundress fluttered against his arms, and she could feel the energy humming through his body—a barely contained wildness that thrilled her.

His muscles tensed under her touch as he strode purposefully down the path.

"Somebody's eager," she teased, tracing her finger along his jawline.

Zev looked down at her, his eyes reflecting the last golden rays of the setting sun. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment."

When they reached his villa, he kicked the door open with a smooth motion that made Chrissy's stomach flip with anticipation. The door slammed behind them with an equally forceful kick, and then he was carrying her up the stairs to his bedroom, taking them two at a time.

Inside his bedroom, Zev set her down gently on her feet, his hands framing her face.

"How do you want this?" he asked, his voice thick with desire. "Do you want to take control, or do you want me to?"

Chrissy felt a flash of boldness surge through her at the possibility of taking control again. After spending so much time having her choices stripped away and people controlling her, being given this power felt like a gift.

But tonight, for this life-changing experience, she wanted something different entirely.

"You," she said, surprising herself with the steadiness of her voice. "I want you to take control. Show me how much you want to mark me and make me yours forever."

His eyes flashed, something wild and barely restrained flickering behind them. Without a word, his hands found the straps of her white sundress, sliding them down her shoulders. The fabric pooled at her feet, leaving her in just her lace bra and panties.

"Beautiful," he murmured, his gaze traveling over every inch of her exposed skin.

Chrissy stood before him without shame, her curves on full display. She'd spent a year being told her body needed to be shaped, contained, covered or exposed according to others' demands. But Zev's appreciation was different—reverent and honest.

He unhooked her bra with practiced ease, then knelt to slide her panties down her legs. When she stood completely naked before him, he stepped back to remove his own clothes, never taking his eyes off her.

Chrissy's breath caught as his muscular body was revealed. Tanned skin stretched over hard muscle, his chest broad and powerful, narrowing to lean hips. Every inch of him was perfection—powerful, primal, and utterly alpha male.

"Come here," he commanded softly, reaching for her.

She went to him willingly, a shiver running through her as his warm hands touched her bare skin. He laid her on the bed and began a slow, deliberate exploration of her body with his lips and tongue.

"I'm going to worship every inch of you before I mark you," he promised, his breath hot against her collarbone. "By the time I'm done, you'll never doubt who you belong to."

Chrissy's breath hitched as Zev's warm hands slid down her body, his touch igniting a fire that burned hotter with every second.

She lay beneath him, her skin tingling as his lips traced a path from her collarbone to the curve of her breast. His tongue flicked over her hardened nipple, and she arched into him, a soft moan escaping her lips.

"You're perfect," he murmured, his voice rough with desire. "Every inch of you."

She shivered, not from cold but from the intensity of his heated gaze. His hands moved lower, skimming over her hips, her thighs, until he reached her knees. He pressed a kiss to the inside of each one, his breath warm against her skin, and she felt a thrill of anticipation shoot through her.

"Zev," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I'm ready. I want this. I want you."

He looked up at her, his blue eyes dark with need. "Are you sure? Once I start, I won't stop. I'm going to claim you fully, Chrissy."

She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm sure. Show me how an Alpha fully claims his mate."

A growl rumbled deep in his chest, and he moved up her body, his weight pressing her into the mattress.

His hands framed her face, and he kissed her deeply, his tongue sliding against hers in a way that caused her toes to curl.

She could feel the heat of him, the hard length of him pressing against her thigh, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him closer.

"You're mine," he growled against her lips, his voice thick with possession.

She gasped as he entered her in a slow and deliberate motion, inch by inch, until he was fully sheathed inside her. The stretch was intense, but it was exactly what she wanted—what she needed. She felt so full and complete, as if he was the missing piece she'd been searching for all her life.

"Zev," she breathed, her hands gripping his shoulders. "You feel… incredible."

He groaned, his forehead resting against hers. "You're so tight and so perfect."

And then he began to move, his thrusts deep and powerful, each one driving her closer to the edge. She matched his rhythm, her hips rising to meet his, her body moving with a wild abandon she'd never known she was capable of. It was primal, raw, and utterly intoxicating.

"Yes," she moaned, her nails digging into his back. "Just like that. Don't stop."

He growled, his pace quickening, his thrusts becoming harder and more urgent. She could feel the pressure building inside her, coiling tighter and tighter until she was teetering on the edge of release. But she held on, wanting to wait for him, wanting to feel him come undone with her.

"Chrissy," he said, his voice rough with need. "I'm close. I'm going to mark you now. Are you ready?"

She nodded, her breath coming out in short, shallow gasps. "Yes. Do it. Mark me. Make me yours."

He leaned down, his teeth lengthening, and then they grazed the sensitive skin where her neck met her shoulder.

She felt a sharp pain as his teeth pierced her flesh, but it was quickly replaced by a wave of pleasure so intense it sent her over the edge.

She cried out, her body convulsing around him as he thrust into her one last time.

His own release crashed over him, his body shuddering as he spilled his seed deep inside her.

He licked her wound, sealing the mark, and then collapsed on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close, her heart still racing.

"You're mine forever now," he whispered, his voice filled with awe. "My mate. My Luna."

She smiled, her fingers tracing the mark on her neck. "And you're mine now. Forever."

He kissed her softly, his lips lingering against hers. "Together forever."