Chapter 51: Chapter 51
I woke up tangled in Christian like we’d been fused together overnight.
My legs were wrapped around his. My head rested on his chest, right over his heart. His arms were locked around me like even in sleep, he was afraid I’d disappear.
The steady thump of his heartbeat under my ear was the best sound I’d ever heard.
But before I even opened my eyes fully, I felt *it*.
The mating bond.
It wasn’t like my empathic abilities, where I had to consciously open my senses. This was just... there. Always present. A constant hum of connection between Christian’s soul and mine.
I could sense he was awake. Could feel his contentment washing through the bond. And underneath that... hunger.
Not for food.
"I know you’re awake." His voice rumbled through his chest, vibrating against my cheek.
His fingers started drawing lazy circles on my bare back, making me shiver.
I tilted my head up. He was already looking at me with this expression—possessive and tender and awed all at once.
"Morning," I mumbled.
"I’ve been watching you sleep for an hour." His hand traced up my spine. "Still can’t believe you’re actually here. In my bed. Wearing my mark."
My hand immediately went to my neck, feeling the raised bite mark. It didn’t hurt anymore—werewolf healing had already started turning it into a permanent scar.
Proof that I belonged to Christian.
My wolf was stupidly pleased about that.
Christian caught my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each finger. Then he guided my hand to his shoulder, where my bite mark was visible.
Smaller than his. But definitely there.
"We match," I said.
"Damn right we do." His eyes flashed amber for a second. "Want to try something?"
"That sounds ominous."
"Close your eyes."
I did, feeling a little ridiculous. Then something pressed against my consciousness through the bond. Not quite a thought, but...
An image formed in my mind.
Last night. Me above him. The sounds I’d made. The way I’d—
My eyes snapped open. "I can see what you’re thinking!"
Christian’s grin was absolutely wicked. "Interesting, right?"
"That’s not fair. You can’t just—" I stopped. "Wait. Can I do it back?"
"Try."
I closed my eyes and focused on what I was feeling. Safe. Happy. Loved. Like I finally found where I was supposed to be. I pushed those emotions toward him through the bond.
When I opened my eyes, Christian’s entire expression had softened. His arms tightened around me.
"You feel safe with me." His voice was rough. "That’s... Sophie, after everything with Tom, knowing you feel safe—"
I kissed him before he could get all emotional on me.
He responded immediately, rolling us until he was hovering over me. His weight was supported on his forearms, caging me in.
"Last night was amazing," he murmured against my lips. "But it was intense. Desperate. Now I want to take my time. Learn every inch of you without the incomplete bond driving me crazy."
"I’m not complaining about last night."
"Neither am I." He nipped my bottom lip. "But I want to worship you properly this time."
Heat pooled low in my stomach. "Worship, huh?"
"Mmm." His lips trailed down my jaw. "Every. Single. Inch."
My hands slid down his back, feeling the muscles flex. When I reached his ribs, I traced the tattoo there—a wolf howling at a crescent moon.
"Tell me about this one."
"Got it when I became Alpha." His voice was getting rougher. "Represents my duty to the—*Sophie*."
I licked along the lines of the tattoo.
In a flash, Christian had both my wrists pinned above my head with one hand. His eyes were amber now, his wolf right at the surface.
"You’re playing with fire," he growled.
"Good thing I like the heat."
His free hand began exploring. Down my side. Across my hip. Between my thighs.
I gasped and arched into his touch.
"That’s it," he murmured. "Let me hear you."
This time when we came together, everything was different from last night. Slower. Christian moved inside me with careful, deliberate thrusts, his eyes locked on mine the entire time.
"So beautiful," he whispered. "So perfect. Never letting you go."
I could feel his emotions through the bond—love so overwhelming it made my chest ache.
I sent my feelings back to him. *Yours. Always yours.*
Christian’s control slipped. His thrusts became more urgent, more demanding, and I met him stroke for stroke.
When we fell over the edge together, the bond amplified everything. I couldn’t tell where my pleasure ended and his began. Couldn’t tell whose heartbeat was racing faster.
We collapsed together, both shaking.
"Could stay here forever," Christian panted against my neck. "Just you and me. This bed."
"Sounds perfect."
But eventually—reluctantly—Christian pulled away. He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and pulled them on, and I shamelessly watched every movement.
The man was built like a Greek god. Sue me for appreciating the view.
"Stay put," he ordered. "I’m making you breakfast."
"You cook?"
"I make a mean scrambled egg." He grinned. "Don’t get too excited."
After he left, I wrapped the sheet around myself and padded to his floor-to-ceiling windows.
Shadow Ridge spread out below me. The training grounds where I’d passed my trials. The forest where Christian and I first met. The pack houses.
My pack now.
I touched the claiming mark on my neck and smiled.
This was real. This was mine.
Christian returned carrying a tray loaded with enough food to feed three people. Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, and coffee.
"Are you trying to fatten me up?"
"You barely ate yesterday." He set the tray on the bed and climbed back in beside me. "Humor me."
We ate together, Christian feeding me bites between kisses. It was domestic and intimate and perfect.
"The formal Luna ceremony is in three days," Christian said around a mouthful of toast. "Gives your body time to finish healing from the trials."
"What happens at the ceremony?"
"You’ll be presented to the pack officially. Take vows to protect Shadow Ridge. We’ll mark you with the Luna’s ceremonial mark—"
"Mark?"
"Traditional markings. They’ll fade after a day, but during the ceremony, they identify you as Luna." He traced a pattern on my shoulder. "Here. And here. Ancient wolf symbols."
"Will it hurt?"
"No. It’s just paint." He grinned. "Unlike my mark, which definitely hurt."
"Your mark was worth it."
His eyes flashed amber. "Don’t say things like that unless you want round three."
"Who says I don’t?"
Christian groaned. "You’re going to kill me. Death by beautiful mate."
