I woke well before dawn, my wolf restless beneath my skin. Beside me, Seraphina slept peacefully, her rose-gold hair spread across the pillow like molten copper in the dim light. Last night's emotional storm seemed to have passed, leaving her in deep, much-needed sleep.
I watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest, my thoughts drifting to our midnight encounter. The way she'd looked in my oversized shirt, her strange food cravings, the unexpected tears - all of it had awakened something primal and protective in me that went beyond our arrangement.
My wolf growled with frustration. He wanted more - wanted to claim her fully, to mark her as ours beyond any doubt. The forced abstinence was becoming increasingly difficult to bear, especially with her scent changing subtly each day, growing richer with pregnancy.
