"You are not a tool for a prophecy, Elias. You are my destiny. And I will burn this kingdom to the ground before I let a single hair on your head be harmed.
An hour before dawn, I watched the man I loved fall into a deep, sated sleep, his white Omega wolf, Black, purring in our bond. The East Clearing was silent now, save for the gentle murmur of the river. The scent of pine, damp earth, and our intense, perfect mating filled the air, a private, protective bubble against the chaos of the world.
My arms were locked around Elias, his head tucked neatly under my chin, his slender body warm and soft against my hard frame. The political urgency, the cold calculation of my counterstrike against Maelis, was held captive by the simple, profound truth of this moment. I was the Alpha King of the Northern Kingdom, yes, but first and foremost, I was Elias's mate for the last five hours, which was all that mattered.
