The bond crackles between us. Visible gold that neither of us can ignore.
My control is slipping. The adrenaline, the near-loss, the feel of her hand on my skin—it's too much.
Mine. Mate. Claim.
"You need to understand what you are to me." The confession comes out rougher than intended. "What this bond means."
Her eyes search mine. "Then tell me."
I want to. Want to claim her right here against the workshop wall, complete the bond and damn the consequences. Want to mark her as mine so thoroughly that every shifter for miles knows she's taken.
But corruption stirs. Whispers that I could hurt her. That the claiming could go wrong.
My muscles shake with the effort of pushing back from the wall. Putting distance between us even though every instinct screams protest.
"Not like this." Each word is forced. "Not when I'm barely in control."
"Jonah—"
"Tomorrow." I meet her gaze, let her see the promise there. The hunger. The absolute certainty of what's coming. "Tomorrow, when I can think clearly. When I can explain everything. But understand this, Maren—you're mine. The bond knows it. My bear knows it. And soon, you'll know it too."
Her breath catches. The bond flares hotter.
I force myself to turn away. To unlock the door. To walk out before I do something we can't take back.
Behind me, her heartbeat thunders loud enough for shifter hearing. Fast. Aroused. As affected as I am.
Soon. The promise pounds with every heartbeat.
Outside, the compound is quiet. The shadows have dissolved. The tear seals—temporarily. My brothers have dispersed to check the perimeter.
Calder appears at my shoulder, silent as always. He watches me watch the workshop where light still glows behind curtains.
"You're running out of time." His voice is flat. Factual. "The corruption is accelerating. Tell her, or lose the chance."
The golden thread connecting me to Maren pulses with awareness, with need, with inevitability.
"Tomorrow." The word scrapes out. "I’ll tell her everything tomorrow."
Calder's already walking away. He knows what I know. The instability is accelerating. Every hour I wait is a gamble.
The golden thread pulses between us, impatient and demanding. The bear in me paces, wanting to go to her now. The corruption whispers that tomorrow is a lie.
Maybe it is. But tonight, I let her walk away.
Tomorrow, I’ll tell her everything, providing there is a tomorrow.
CHAPTER 5
MAREN
The door closes behind him and I'm alone in the workshop.
My heart hammers against my ribs. My skin still burns where he touched me—against the wall, his body caging mine, the heat of him seeping through my clothes. The bond thrums between us even with him gone, a golden thread pulling taut with distance.
He just walked away. After pinning me to the wall and telling me not to risk my life. After his bear nearly lost control protecting me. After the mate bond flared visible enough that everyone saw it.
Tomorrow, he'd said. We'll talk tomorrow.
