Chapter 20
It was unexpected.
Marissa could hardly comprehend the turn her life had taken. The Alpha King–Idris, the man she’d been bound to in an
arranged union, a stranger she had feared and steeled herself to face–was her true fated mate. Her wolf surged, howling with joy, elation rolling through her like waves, though her mind struggled to keep up. The one she’d been destined for, the one who could steady her blood and soul… was him.
Idris‘ gaze, once cold and composed, softened as he held her, his stormy gray eyes alight with something she hadn’t expected. His hands settled on her waist, pulling her close, as though drawn to her by the same invisible force she felt. She could feel his breath, warm and steady, against her skin, a quiet reassurance that made her own heartbeat calm.
“I didn‘ t… I didn’t think this would
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Chapter 20
It was unexpected.
Marissa could hardly comprehend the turn her life had taken. The Alpha King–Idris, the man she’d been bound to in an
arranged union, a stranger she had feared and steeled herself to face–was her true fated mate. Her wolf surged, howling with joy, elation rolling through her like waves, though her mind struggled to keep up. The one she’d been destined for, the one who could steady her blood and soul… was him.
Idris‘ gaze, once cold and composed, softened as he held her, his stormy gray eyes alight with something she hadn’t expected. His hands settled on her waist, pulling her close, as though drawn to her by the same invisible force she felt. She could feel his breath, warm and steady, against her skin, a quiet reassurance that
made her own heartbeat calm.
“I didn‘ t… I didn‘ t think this would
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Chapter 201
happen,” she whispered, her voice barely
a breath.
“Neither did I.” His voice was deep, a touch of wonder softening his usually stoic tone. “But fate rarely leaves room for plans.”
His arms wrapped around her in a way that felt so natural, as if they had been made to fit against each other like this. The warmth of his body pressed against hers was almost surreal, the scent of cedar and frost filling her senses and grounding her.
For the first time in what felt like years, Marissa’s wolf settled, soothed by the presence of her mate. The wild, untamed force within her relaxed, finding peace in his hold.
But as quickly as that feeling came,
sharp, searing pain began to burn through her chest, her lycan blood rising and surging in sudden, violent waves.
Marissa’s body tensed, and she staggered slightly in his arms. Idris‘ s grip tightened
BUT
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Chapter 20
around her waist, his eyes widening as he noticed her face paling.
“Marissa,” he said, his tone tinged with concern. “What’s happening?”
She tried to respond, but a racking cough forced its way up her throat, leaving her breathless and clutching her chest as a metallic taste filled her mouth. She gasped, seeing a splash of dark blood staining her hand. Her vision blurred, and she struggled to stay on her feet, the pain intensifying with every heartbeat.
“Your blood…” Idris murmured, the worry plain on his face. He brushed a hand across her cheek, his thumb grazing her skin with unexpected tenderness. “I knew there were… complications with your bloodline, but I didn’t realize it was this
severe.
Marissa looked up at him, her vision hazy, but her voice was steady as she met his eyes. “Then… then you know how this can be fixed,” she managed to whisper.
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Chapter 20
He hesitated, his gaze flickering with both concern and a shadow of fear. “Marissa… are you sure?”
She nodded, clinging to the clarity that came with the acceptance of her fate. Her voice was faint, but resolute. “Bite me, Alpha. I’m ready.”
For a moment, Idris‘ s hand hovered above her, a faint hesitation in his eyes. Then his expression shifted, the doubt giving way to a quiet resolve. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her neck, and Marissa felt a shiver course through her as his teeth grazed her skin. Her wolf surged forward, ready, yearning to be marked by her true mate.
And then, with one swift, piercing bite, Idris‘ s fangs broke the surface of her skin, a sharp, searing pain that melted into an ache of pure relief as her blood settled, merging with his. Power rippled through her, a heat that reached her very bones, and a newfound strength coursed through
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her veins, stronger and more stable than anything she had ever known.
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