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    I woke to something w


    warm and hard in my pals


    My brain struggled through fog as awareness trickled in - the wright an arm across my waist, skin pressing against skin, and my fingers wrapped


    Amund...


    My eyes flew open, instantly awake, Through hazy morning light, I realized my hand was intimately gripping Hakes moming frection. Wey tangled together, my naked body pressed against his, our legs intertwined benrail silky sheets. And instead of letting go, I was fromen, terrified any nowement would wake him.


    Heat rushed to myce as memonies fromst night Bonded hack - his mouth on mine, hands exploring every inch of me, the delicious weight of him abore me. My body instantly responded to the memory, a lipild wainith pooling low in my belly


    His scent was everywhere – that distinctivebination of pine needles and rain that scored Alpha. It wrapped around me like a physical i my wall stir restlessly beneath my skin.


    Making


    I tried to gently release him, but discovered hisrger hand was cupped over mine, as if even in sleep he was preventing my escape. The pulse in my throat quickened as I realized my predicament trapped between wanting to pull away and the treacherous part of me that wanted to stay past like this a little longer.


    Stranger still, the mark on my neck-lockson''s mark wasn''t stinging the way it usually did around ke. Instead, it radiated a pleasant warmth that pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat.


    I shifted slightly, trying to create space between us, but the movement just caused our bodies to slide together. A shiver ran through me at the contact


    ke''s eyshes fluttered, then slowly lifted, revealing storm-gray eyes that locked directly on mine. No confusion, no surprise – just instant awareness and azy smule that sent my heart racing. He made no move to change our position. If anything, his body seemed to press closer.


    This is the bes


    s is the best wake-up service I''ve ever experienced," he murmured, voice rough with sleep.


    His hand tightened over mine, guiding a slow stroke that made my breath catch. His other hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing across my lower lip.


    "You have no idea how badly I''ve wanted you," he whispered against my ear. ''Since the first day you walked into my office.


    His lips grazed my earlobe, sending electric currents racing down my spine. I couldn''t stop the small gasp that escaped me or the way my body instinctively arched toward him, seeking more contact.


    His mouth traveled from my ear to my neck, then down to my corbone, each kiss igniting another me under my skin.


    Suddenly, reality crashed through the haze of desire. What was I doing? I jerked my hand away and pulled back, hastily grabbing the sheets to cover myself.


    My brain fired waming shots: He was the Alpha King of Silverpeak. I was just a Shadow Creek warrior. He was Lucas''s father my studentt His daughter was engaged to my ex-fated mate. This wouldplicate everything.


    ke watched the panic ash across my face, something knowing in his expersion.


    "I can practically hear your thoughts racing a illion miles away," he said.


    lle sat up, not bothering to cover himself. Morning light yed across the defined muscles of his chest and abdomen. The sheet rode made no move to forse anything, just w?ited.


    his hips, but he


    When I tried to sit up, my body protested with unexpected soreness. ncing down, I discovered a trail of small love bites scattered across my chest and stomach. My inner thighs ached in a way that made heat rush to my face all over


    ag


    ke noticed my wince, his handing to rest gently on my back.


    ''Are you okay? I might have gotten carried away


    wayst night,” he said, concern recing the desire in his eyes.


    "I''m fine," I shook my head quickly."


    The admission hung between an, instantly recharging the atmosphere. ke''s eyes darkened as he leaned closer, me handing up to caress my med while the other settled on my waist, I could feel his breath against my lips.


    "Last night might have been a mistake," I whispered, the words slipping out almost involuntarily


    Make froze, pulling back slightly. "Is that what you really think?"


    I struggled to my feet, wrapping the sheet around me like arrone as I moved toward the minor. The reflection that greeted me was a stranger kiu marked skin, and confused eyes that couldn''t hide what had happened between us.


    "This is tooplicated, ke. My life is already a mess-" I stopped mid- sentence, noticing something strange about my reflection,


    The mark on my neck was chanting.


    wild fair.


    I stepped closer to the minor, eyes widening as I took in the transformation. What had once been Jackson''s silver mark was now almostpletely gold. with just traces of silver andund the edges.


    ke appeared behind me, his hare chest nearly touching my back through the thin sheet.


    "What is this?" I asked, shock evident in my voic


    "Mark transformation," he said quietly. "When a marked wolf meets their true soul mate, the original mark can be overridden. Gold is an Alpha''s imprint."


    His hand slid from my mark to my shoulder, turning me to face him. Our eyes locked, the air between us thick with unspoken tension.


    "Whatever you may think,st night wasn''t a mistake for me," he said, his voice deep and certain


    I took a deep breath, forcing myself to think logically despite every instinct urging me toward


    "No matter how the mark changes, reality hasn''t," I said firmly, "I need to save my father. You have a pack to rum, Lucas to raise, Sophia''s getting married


    I swallowed hard. "We can''t do this. Not right now, at least."


    ke studied me for a long moment, though something flickered briefly in his eyes. Then he nodded once, epting my decision without argument.


    He turned toward his closet, retrieving a meatly folded set of female warrior training clothes that looked suspiciously like they''d been prepared specifically


    for me.


    Wear these." he offered. "Your clothes fromst night are no longer serviceable." Our fingers brushed as I took the clothes, both of us pausing at the contact. "Thank you," I managed.


    ke nodded, pulling on pants before grabbing a shirt,


    "Ill go check on Lucas. Wilson has been instructed rot to speak about this. Don''t


    worry."


    When the door closed behind him, I turned back to the minor, fingers touching


    the golden mark that had reced Jackson''s silv ke''s presence, the connection stronger than before.


    Last night wasn''t just a physicall joining - it was the beginning of something ancient and powerful that had changed everything.


    I could still sense


    N Nowork ava