Page 27

He began to move, slow and deliberate, each thrust drawing a soft moan from her lips.

But as her body responded, her hips rising to meet his, he increased the pace, his movements becoming harder, faster, and deeper.

The sound of their bodies coming together filled the air, a primal rhythm that matched the pounding of her heart.

Seraphina's world narrowed to the feel of him inside her, the heat of his skin against hers, and the way his muscles flexed with every thrust. The bond between them sang, a connection that went beyond the physical, and she could feel it now with a clarity that left her breathless.

It was as if their souls were intertwined, each movement bringing them closer together.

"Orion," she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders as pleasure coiled tighted in her core. "I'm so close."

"Not yet," he growled, his voice rough with restraint. He grabbed her legs, pushing them up to her chest, and the new angle allowed him to drive into her even deeper. She cried out, her body trembling as he hit a spot inside her that sent sparks of pleasure shooting through her veins.

"Now," he commanded, his voice a low, guttural growl. "Come for me."

She didn't hold back any longer. Her body convulsed, her inner walls tightening around him as her orgasm crashed over her in waves.

She cried out, her vision blurring as pleasure consumed her.

At the same moment, Orion leaned forward, his teeth sinking into the soft flesh of her shoulder.

The sharp pain mingled with the overwhelming pleasure, and she felt the bond between them solidify, a connection that was unbreakable now.

He spilled himself inside her, his release hot and deep, and she felt another, smaller orgasm ripple through her as he licked the blood from the bite mark he’d left on her shoulder. The sensation was intoxicating, a mix of pain and pleasure that left her trembling in his arms.

Orion pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting hers. "You're mine forever," he said, his voice gentle but filled with possessiveness.

"Forever," she echoed. She reached up, her fingers tracing the mark he’d left on her shoulder, a symbol of their bond. "I'm yours, Orion."

Suddenly, a wave of intoxicating heat washed through Seraphina's body, radiating from Orion's bite.

The mark on her shoulder throbbed, but the pain quickly transformed into something else entirely—a tingling sensation that spread through her veins like liquid fire.

Her skin prickled with an unfamiliar energy that made her gasp.

"Orion—something's happening," she whispered, her voice tight with confusion. Her muscles twitched and spasmed beneath her skin, and a peculiar pressure built in her chest. "I feel...strange..."

Orion pulled back, his eyes widening with recognition as he gazed down at her. A smile of pure masculine satisfaction spread across his face.

"Your wolf is awakening," he said, his voice a low rumble of approval. He brushed his fingers over the mark on her shoulder. "The mate mark has awakened what was dormant inside you."

Seraphina's breath came in short gasps as the sensation intensified. Her bones felt too large for her skin, and her vision sharpened until she could count the individual beads of water clinging to the cabana curtains in the moonlight.

"It hurts," she panted, panic rising as her fingers began to elongate. "Orion, I'm scared!"

He gathered her trembling body against his chest, his strong arms anchoring her to reality as the transformation took hold. "I've got you, Seraphina. Don't fight it—let your wolf come forward."

"How?" she gasped, tears pricking her eyes as her spine arched involuntarily.

"Listen inside yourself," he murmured into her ear, his voice steady and commanding. "She's calling to you. She's always been there, waiting. Can you hear her?"

Seraphina closed her eyes and focused inward.

Beyond the discomfort, beyond the fear, she sensed something wild and beautiful stirring to life—an ancient consciousness stretching awake after years of slumber.

The presence was distinctly feminine, powerful yet playful, and utterly, unquestionably hers.

"I feel her," Seraphina breathed, wonder replacing fear. "She wants out."

"Then let her come," Orion encouraged, his hand stroking along her spine. "Surrender to the change. I'll be right here with you."

Seraphina inhaled deeply and stopped resisting. The transformation accelerated, her bones cracking and reshaping as fur sprouted across her skin. The pain was intense but fleeting, and within moments, she found herself on four paws, her senses exploding with new information.

The world had transformed. Scents bombarded her—the salt of the ocean, the musk of Orion's skin, and the subtle perfume of tropical flowers carried on the breeze.

She could hear the heartbeat of a bird nesting in a palm tree fifty yards away.

The moonlight painted the beach in shades of silver that her human eyes could never have perceived.

Orion shifted beside her, his massive gray form materializing with practiced ease. His wolf was magnificent—powerful shoulders, intelligent silver-golden eyes, and a coat that shimmered like smoke in the moonlight.

You're beautiful, his voice resonated in her mind, their mate bond allowing communication without words. A white wolf with markings like the night sky. Perfect for the Luna of the Starlight pack.

Seraphina glanced down at her paws, then caught her reflection in a puddle of seawater nearby. Her wolf was elegant and lithe with pristine white fur dotted with black patches that indeed resembled stars scattered across a snowy landscape. Her eyes remained the same vibrant green.

This feels...incredible, she projected, amazed at the ease with which she'd taken to this new form. It felt right as though she'd been incomplete her entire life without knowing it.

Orion gently nudged her shoulder with his muzzle. Come. Run with me, Luna.

He took off down the beach, and without conscious thought, Seraphina bounded after him.

Her new body moved with breathtaking speed and grace, paws digging into the cool sand as she chased her mate under the silver moon.

Every muscle worked in perfect harmony, and freedom—pure, unadulterated freedom—coursed through her veins.

She caught up to Orion, playfully nipping at his flank before darting ahead.

His answering growl was one of delight rather than warning, and he redoubled his pace to give chase.

They raced along the shoreline, weaving between driftwood and splashing through the shallow surf, their movements a perfect dance of push and pull.

I never imagined feeling this alive, Seraphina marveled as they paused atop a small dune, the island spread out before them. Is it always like this?

Orion's wolf pressed against her side, his larger form providing warmth in the cooling night air. It gets better. You're part of something ancient and beautiful now. You're home, Seraphina. You've finally found where you truly belong.

She looked out at the ocean, then back toward the distant lights of the castle, and finally at her mate beside her.

For the first time in her thirty years, the pieces fell into perfect alignment.

The stars she'd spent years studying now seemed to shimmer in approval from above, and the wolf inside her howled with joy.

Without thinking, Seraphina tilted her head back and let out a long, melodious howl that carried across the island—the first of many as the Luna of the Starlight pack.