Page 76 of Wolf's Vow

His breath hitched. Just a fraction, but he didn’t stop me. His skin burned beneath my touch.

Then he dipped his hand into the bowl, stepped forward, and marked my chest. Palm flat, steady. Over my heart.

Mine.

It wasn’t said out loud. I doubted it was even Wolfe in my head. It felt like it came from the mark itself.

The druid nodded.

“Blueridge. Stonefang. One pack. Witness your alpha and his true mate.”

The crowd remained silent. Some bowed their heads. Others didn’t move at all. I turned slightly, let my hand rest lightly against Wolfe’s lower back—just enough to say we’re aligned.

His body was tense. His power thrummed beneath his skin like thunder on the edge of a storm. He was barely holding himself in check.

So was I.

Fire lit up my veins, wild and unrelenting. And somehow, Wolfe seemed taller—bigger. Pale silver burned in his eyes as his claws extended, and I couldn’t look away.

The pack shifted. I heard the scuffle of boots and paws on stone. Without needing to turn, I knew—wolves were dropping to their knees. Bowing.

Diesel and Killian moved toward him, his betas flanking him. Their eyes also shone and I’d never seen anything like it. The druid frowned, stepping back, watching closely.

Because this? This was supposed to be a ceremony. But what radiated from Wolfe wasn’t ritual.

It was power.

Raw. Elemental. Unquestionable.

It ignited something in me. My blood surged, hot and reckless, as his gaze found mine.

He extended his hand. I took it. His touch lit a fuse under my skin. My chest rose, breath shallow, and when his mouth claimed mine—it wasn’t soft.

It was hunger.

Fury.

Destiny.

I arched into the kiss, my body molding to his like we’d been waiting years to crash into this exact moment. His hands foundmy ass, lifted me like I weighed nothing, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, drunk on the feel of him.

Wolfe drew back just enough to look down at me, eyes still burning, our bodies pressed tight. He held me close as I lowered my legs, feeling their shakiness as I stood in front of him, heart racing.

“Home.Now.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

I turned and ran.

Chapter 18

Rowen

I barely madeit through the door before I felt him behind me.

Wolfe slammed it shut, and then he was there—all of him. Heat and muscle and fire, pressing me back against the wall like he couldn’t stand another breath of distance.

His mouth collided with mine.