The first light of dawn seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the Blood Shadow Pack house. Serena stirred, feeling the warmth of Clinton Stratford's massive body pressed against hers. His chest rose and fell steadily, each beat grounding her in a way she hadn't realized she craved.
Her ginger hair fanned across the pillow, coffee-brown eyes blinking open, catching the golden glint of his eyes as he stirred awake beside her. For a moment, the world outside the room—Greywood, the pack, the looming prophecy—faded away. There was only him.
Clinton's lips brushed her temple softly, whispering, "Morning, my Luna."
Serena shivered at the intimate address, a mixture of desire, comfort, and the ever-present tension of her independence flaring inside her. I… I can't lose myself, she thought, curling slightly against him. Yet, as Charis hummed within her, sensing Draxis's calm and steady presence, she felt the pull—the connection of mates that Selene had forged long before either of them had realized it.
"You're… warm," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Too close."
Clinton smiled, brushing a strand of ginger hair behind her ear, careful not to invade her space. "I'm not going anywhere," he said softly, voice low and intimate. "You don't have to decide anything now. Just… let me be here. Let me be your anchor."
Her internal struggle raged. Desire clashed with caution, love fought with fear, and a faint, almost imperceptible tingle traced along her spine—a whisper of her latent power stirring in response to her heightened emotions. Charis purred softly, nudging at her awareness. It's okay, Serena. Feel him. Feel this connection. Don't fight it so hard.
Serena let out a shaky breath, relaxing slightly in his arms while still holding onto a thread of control. "I… I don't know if I can stop being afraid," she admitted, voice trembling.
Clinton kissed the top of her head, drawing her closer. "You don't have to. Not with me. I'll take the fear for both of us if I have to."
Outside the room, Eliana watched from the shadows of the hallway, having arrived under the guise of checking on the pack's plans for the day. Her lips curled into a subtle, dangerous smile. So the Alpha finally gave in… and to her, she thought, eyes narrowing. This changes everything. Serena will pay if she thinks she can outshine me.
Serena stirred again, pressing her face into Clinton's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Her internal conflict was still present—duty, destiny, power—but for the first time, she allowed herself to acknowledge the comfort and strength of surrendering to her mate, even for just a moment.
Clinton whispered against her hair, voice rough with restrained emotion, "We'll face everything together, Serena. The pack, Greywood, whatever comes… we'll handle it. You're not alone."
And for the first time in a long while, Serena believed it. She didn't yet fully understand her powers, or all the dangers that awaited—but she felt anchored, protected, and utterly connected to Clinton Stratford, her mate, and her protector.
Charis purred softly inside her, Draxis responding in kind, the two wolves echoing the bond between their humans, a tether of strength and devotion.
Serena closed her eyes, letting herself melt into the warmth, the love, and the undeniable pull of destiny. Somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, a small, almost imperceptible spark of power flickered, sensing the closeness, the passion, and the acceptance.
The day had only just begun, but for now, in the quiet of the Blood Shadow Pack house, Serena felt whole, if only for a moment, in the arms of the Alpha she was fated to share her life with.