William Ralph leaned back slightly, the firelight casting flickering shadows across the hard planes of his face The chamber felt smaller now, the air thick with the scent of spiced wine, roasted meat, and the undeniable pull that thrummed between them like a living thing ,Lira sat cross-legged on the fur cushion, the oversized robe swallowing her frame, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to hide their trembling,William's golden eyes never left hers as he began.
"A thousand years ago," he said, voice low and steady, "the Wolf Kingdom was chaos. Packs warred endlessly. No Alpha could hold dominance for long. Blood soaked the earth under every full moon. Then came the Seer of the Silver Veil an ancient she-wolf blessed with true sight On the night both moons aligned, she spoke the prophecy that still rules us all."He recited it from memory, the words rolling off his tongue like an incantation:
"When the veil thins and the lost daughter falls, Blue as midnight, fierce as the storm,
She will rise in the Black Moon's thrall.The Alpha who claims her heart and form Shall bind the Kingdom, end the strife, And rule eternal with his Luna wife But beware the hunger of rival fangs,For her scent will call them, one and all,
And only true bonding, flesh and soul,
Will crown the strongest or destroy them all."Lira's breath caught. She had written something eerily similar in her diary poetry she'd thought was pure imagination Now it felt like destiny staring her in the face ."That lost daughter," William continued, "is you, Lira,The Blue Wolf Born with power no other female has ever carried Hidden in the human world as an infant after your birth pack was slaughtered by Alphas desperate to prevent the prophecy The elders who saved you sealed your wolf completely so deeply that you never felt her Until tonight."He gestured toward the diary, now resting on a small table beside the bed "That book is no accident It is bound to your bloodline. It guided you here and it brought you to me."
Lira swallowed hard "And you? What are you to me in all this?"William's gaze intensified "I am the Alpha of the Black Moon Pack—the strongest pack in the Kingdom for three generations I claimed leadership at sixteen after my father fell in battle. I have spent seven years building us into what we are: feared, respected, undefeated." His voice softened, just a fraction. "But I have also been alone Searching for the one person who could stand at my side not out of duty, but because the gods themselves tied our souls together."
He leaned forward again, elbows on his knees, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. "You are my fated mate, Lira Arabella The moment your scent crossed the veil, I felt it like a blade straight through my chest. I ran for hours to reach you And when I saw you standing there, small and terrified but unbroken…" His jaw clenched. "I knew. You are mine and I am yours."The words hung heavy in the air. Lira's heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it. Heat crept up her neck, pooling low in her belly again. She shifted on the cushion, pressing her thighs together against the sudden ache."But what does that mean, exactly?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Fated mates, Claiming,All of it."William's eyes darkened He rose slowly, moving to sit beside her on the wide fur rug in front of the fire ,The heat of his bare skin was immediate, overwhelming. He didn't touch her, but he was close enough that every breath drew him in deeper."It means the bond between us is sacred,Irresistible Designed by the Moon Goddess herself." He reached out, gently taking one of her hands in his much larger one The contact sent sparks racing up her arm "We recognize each other by scent, By touch,By the way our wolves call to one another even when one is still asleep."He turned her hand over, tracing the lines of her palm with one callused thumb The simple touch made her shiver."The bond creates need," he continued, voice roughening "Physical,Emotional ,The longer we resist full claiming, the more painful it becomes—for both of us. Fevers. Aches. Madness, if denied too long."Lira's breath hitched" Full claiming… you mean…"
"Sex," he said bluntly, golden eyes locked on hers. "Repeated,Complete,With intent,My mark on your body,My seed inside you,Only then is the bond sealed forever."Her cheeks burned, but she couldn't look away,The images his words conjured were vivid, overwhelming She could already imagine the weight of him, the stretch, the possession"But there's more," he said quietly. "Something the prophecy only hints at,Something the elders discovered in ancient texts after centuries of study."He paused, as if weighing how much to reveal at once.
"Your power the true extent of the Blue Wolf does not awaken through training alone. Not through rituals or lunar cycles or combat." His thumb stilled on her palm "It awakens through me,Through us,Every time we join every time I take you, fill you, make you come apart the power surges in you,Grows Becomes permanent."Lira stared at him, stunned. "You're saying… sex with you makes me stronger?"A faint, wolfish smile curved his mouth. "Yes The more intense our joining, the greater the surge The more often… the faster you become what you were born to be It is why rivals will hunt you relentlessly They know that even one night with you could elevate them beyond imagination."He released her hand, but only to cup her cheek, tilting her face up to his.
"That is why I must claim you fully, Lira. Not just because the bond demands it. Not just because I have wanted you since the moment I breathed you in. But because your power and our survival depends on it."
The air between them crackled. Lira's body responded before her mind could catch up leaning into his touch, lips parting on a soft exhale. The ache between her legs had become insistent, throbbing in time with her heartbeat."William…" she whispered, not even sure what she was asking His control fractured—just a little A low growl escaped as he closed the distance, forehead resting against hers "Say my name again," he rasped.
"William."He shuddered Then his mouth was on hers The kiss was not gentle,It was hunger unleashed—lips firm and demanding, tongue sliding against hers in a claiming stroke that stole her breath. One large hand tangled in her hair, angling her head for deeper access. The other slid to her waist, pulling her flush against his bare chest Lira moaned into his mouth, hands instinctively clutching his shoulders. His skin was scorching, muscles shifting under her palms like living steel. The robe parted under his seeking fingers, cool air hitting her heated skin before his hand slid inside to palm her breast,She arched with a gasp as his thumb circled her nipple, sending bolts of pleasure straight to her core He growled in approval, breaking the kiss only to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck—pausing at the spot where shoulder met throat, teeth grazing lightly."Mine," he growled against her skin "This is where I'll mark you Where everyone will see you belong to me."Lira's head fell back, giving him better access. She was drowning in sensation—in him. The bond roared in her blood, demanding more, closer, now .William pulled back abruptly, chest heaving, eyes glowing bright gold "Not yet," he said through clenched teeth. "Not like this Not when you're still reeling from the crossing."He stood, putting distance between them, every muscle rigid with restraint,Lira whimpered at the loss, legs unsteady as she rose too The robe hung open, revealing far more than she intended, but she couldn't bring herself to care"I want—" she started, then stopped, embarrassed.
"I know what you want," he said roughly"I want it more. But you deserve time. You deserve choice." He dragged a hand through his hair "Sleep tonight In my bed I'll take the floor."Lira shook her head before she could think. "No. I… I don't want to be alone."His eyes flared. "Lira""Just holding," she said quickly "Please I'm scared And I… I feel safer with you close."William stared at her for a long moment. Then he nodded once"Holding," he agreed, voice strained"Nothing more Tonight."He pulled back the furs on the massive bed, gesturing for her to climb in. Lira did, still in the open robe, heart racing. William slid in behind her, one powerful arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her back against his chest,He was hard impossibly hard pressed against her backside, but he didn't move Just held her, nose buried in her hair, breathing her in , "Sleep, little one," he murmured. "Tomorrow, we begin your awakening Tomorrow… I start teaching you what it means to be mine."Lira closed her eyes, surrounded by his heat, his scent, his strength And for the first time since falling through the veil, she felt something like peace deep inside her chest, the Blue Wolf stretched languidly and purred.