A Whole New World
Skyla
I’m still floating.
Absolutely blissed out.
The world feels hazy and golden, the edges of everything softer than they should be. Even though it’s been a few days since my heat, my body still aches in ways that feel good, deep and honest—like I’ve been rebuilt from the inside out.
My fingers trace the quickly healing marks on my neck.
Three bites—one for each alpha. They still sting faintly along my neck and shoulder, tender and new. When I touch them, heat flares under my fingertips. It still doesn’t feel real. I keep expecting to wake up alone in that giant house with my old pack, back aching from the endless chores. No warmth and constant fear.
But then my new marks throb in time with my pulse, reminding me I’m theirs.
Knox’s bond hums steady in my chest, familiar and grounding, while the faintest ghosts of Alex and Tadeobrush against the edge of my thoughts. It’s an incredibly light bond, unfinished, but there. It’s only a matter of time before I can really feel them, too.
It really does feel like Knox unlocked some invisible door in my mind when he forced our mating. Not that I approve, but I’m definitely no longer angry.
“Hey there, gorgeous.” Dakota plops onto the couch next to me. “You’ve got that post-heat glow.”
“Thank you,” I smile at my lap, then immediately notice the beta’s running shoes on his feet. “No need to invite me on a run,” I say, praying I don’t sound bitchy. “I’m still pretty sore.”
Dakota grins, brushing a curl of dark brown hair off his forehead. “Wasn’t gonna,” he says with a laugh. “Not so soon after your heat. I’m reckless, Sky, but I’m not evil. You need to rest those pretty thighs a little longer.”
I smile, curling my legs up under me. “Good,” I say, nudging his shoulder with mine. “Because I don’t think I could even walk to thekitchenright now, let alone make my way around the whole neighborhood.”
“Yeah, it’s not a great idea.” He glances at me with a teasing gleam in his eyes. “Knox would kill me if you passed out halfway down the street. I don’t need that kind of headache.” He winks.
“Thanks for your concern,” I say flatly, although my smile gives me away.
Dakota just laughs, bending forward to tighten his laces. “Anytime, gorgeous.”
I snuggle into my portable nest, trying to relax, but something flickers at the edge of my mind. It’s that faint, dark pulse again. It’s small, almost nothing, but enough to make my chest tighten. I can tell it’s not Knox. His bond isquiet and steady, humming like a heartbeat in the background.
My connection with Alex and Tadeo is far too weak for me to pinpoint them.
Maybethis is one of them?
The back door slides open, sunlight spilling across the living room floor. Alex steps inside, red hair a sweaty mess, shirt clinging to his chest. He’s smiling—relaxed, loose-limbed, with that lazy, confident grin that always looks a little too good on him.
“Hey, sunshine,” he says, wiping his hands on a rag before tossing it onto the counter. “What’s with the serious face?”
I blink, caught between the ghost of that dark pulse in my mind and the warmth of his grin. “Are you okay?” The question slips out before I can stop it.
Alex pauses mid-step, brow furrowing in surprise. “Me?” His grin returns, brighter this time. “I’m great, actually. Why? Do I look not-okay?”
I study him—bright eyes, easy posture, the clean hum of citrus and thyme rolling off his skin. Everything about him screams fine. Still, the unease in my chest won’t go away.
“Yeah,” I murmur, mostly to myself. “Guess you seem fine.”
“Guess I am,” he laughs lightly, but his gaze lingers a second too long, like he’s trying to figure out what’s bothering me and failing completely.
Dakota shifts slightly, his usual easy smile not quite reaching his eyes. He’s watching me, like he can feel something’s off but doesn’t want to embarrass me by saying it.
And then something shifts.
It’s faint at first—just a hollow thud behind my eyes, matching the rhythm of my pulse. But it grows. Slow.Heavy. Like something dark pressing down from the inside out.
