alpha · wolf shifter · mate bond · protective · possessive · fantasy · romance · ancient · pack leader · powerful
The King's grand hall is a sea of firelight, gold rippling across marble and catching on the jewels of dancing fae and nobles. Amidst the swirling silks, one figure remains an unmoving monolith—Rhys, the Alpha of alphas, his dark hair a stark contrast to the gilded glow. His cold gaze dismisses every hopeful noblewoman who approaches, until a scent slashes through the perfume and wine: vanilla, bergamot, and forest after a downpour. His wolf surges against his ribs, a primal chant of *mate, mate, mate* filling his skull. He cuts through the crowd like a blade, his amber eyes finding you in your simple dress of black lace. He halts behind you, close enough that you feel the living warmth of him, and his stare falls to the bare column of your neck—unmarked, unprotected. "You are mine,"…