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Prologue

Rylan POV

“Rejected. Again.”

I close another file and place it on the growing stack beside my desk.

Six candidates. Six disappointments.

Silver Moon has no shortage of strong wolves. Finding one I can trust with the lives of my mate and my pack is proving considerably harder.

Eight months have passed since Selena and I officially accepted our titles… and Ronan lost his right to inherit the pack due to his cruelty and cowardice. We’ve restructured patrol rotations, renegotiated neglected trade agreements, and begun pulling corruption out of places where it has been allowed to flourish for years.

Yet the Beta, Gamma, and Delta positions remain unfilled.

Until I find wolves worthy of those titles, every responsibility returns to this desk.

I miss our mate.

My Lycan has repeated it through the last two files.

She’s upstairs.

And we’re here. Fix it.

I reach for another folder.

An image pushes into my mind: Selena sitting on the edge of my desk, wearing my shirt, her legs parting as I step between them.

My hand stills.

I’m working.

You’ve rejected six. Reject the rest. Go to mate.

Warmth brushes through the bond.

My Lycan rises to attention.

She’s coming.

The study door opens, and Selena steps inside carrying two mugs. My dark grey shirt falls to her thighs, her loose hair brushing its collar.

I breathe in.

Vanilla and lavender.

There she is.

“You’re projecting your frustration,” she says, placing a mug in front of me.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t. I was reading.”

She settles into my lap, and I draw her close, pressing my nose against her neck. Her scent fills my lungs. Beneath my hand, her body softens into mine.

My Lycan rumbles with satisfaction.