The ancient lullaby. Wordless. Instinctive.
The wolf froze mid-stride.
His ears flattened. His body lowered.
Not fear. Recognition.
She stepped closer. Touched his head.
"Good," she whispered. "Now submit."
He did.
Slowly, he lowered himself. Not to his belly—to his haunches.
A wolf's version of kneeling.
"Perfect." She knelt beside him. Stroked his fur.
He leaned into her touch. A low sound rumbled in his chest—contentment.
"See?" she murmured. "I didn't hurt you. I just asked."
He shifted back. Slowly. Graceful.
Human again. Naked. Breathing hard.
"That," he said, "was incredible."
"Was it enough?"
"For one wolf, yes." He stood. "But the trial will have five Alphas. All at once. All trying to break you."
Her confidence faltered. "How do I resist five?"
"You don't resist." He pulled her to her feet. "You command."
"I don't understand."
"The trial tests resistance—your ability to stay loyal despite temptation. But it's not about passive defense." His eyes burned. "It's about active offense. You don't just resist them. You dominate them first."
Her breath caught. "You want me to command them? During the trial?"
"If they're on their knees, they can't seduce you."
It was brilliant. Brutal. Dangerous.
"What if it doesn't work?"
"Then we have a backup plan."
"Which is?"
He kissed her. Deep. Desperate.
When he pulled back, both were breathing hard.
"We strengthen the bond," he said. "Right now. Under the full moon. Make it so strong that nothing or no one can break it."
She understood. "You want to—"
"Make love to you. Here. Under the moon. Where your power is strongest."
Her mark flared. 28:17:08
"We'll lose time," she warned.
"Or gain strength." He cupped her face. "It's a gamble. But I'd rather bet on us than on my ability to watch five Alphas touch you without killing them."
She looked at the moon. At him. At the city below.
Then nodded.
"Here," she said. "Now."
He laid his jacket on the gravel. Pulled her down.
Not rushed. Reverent.
Kissed her slowly. Deeply. Like memorizing the taste of her.
His hands found the hem of her blouse. Lifted it.
Bare skin. Moonlight. Cool air.
She shivered. He warmed her with his body.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured.
Her bra came off. Then her skirt. Panties.
She lay naked under the moon. Under his gaze.
He didn't rush. Just looked. Like she was art.
Then his mouth found her breast. Tongue circling her nipple. Sucking gently.
She arched. Gasped.
His hand slid down. Between her legs.
Found her wet. Ready.
"Already?" he murmured.
"Always for you."
He groaned. Slid two fingers inside. Slow. Deep.
Pumped while his mouth worked her breast.
She was already close. The moon. The power. Him.
"Damian—"
"Not yet." He pulled his fingers out. Brought them to his mouth. Sucked them clean. "I want to taste you properly first."
He moved down her body. Kissed her stomach. Her hip. The mark.
Then settled between her thighs.
His breath was hot against her.
Then his tongue—sliding through her folds. Slow. Thorough.
She cried out. Too loud. The city could probably hear.
She didn't care.
He licked her like she was sacred. Like every stroke mattered.
Found her clit. Circled it. Flicked it.
She gripped his hair. Held him to her.
He slid three fingers inside this time. Filled her. Stretched her.
Curled them. Found that spot.
Pumped hard while his tongue worked her clit.
"I'm—I'm going to—"
"Come," he commanded. "Give it to me."
She shattered.
Her orgasm ripped through her violently and overwhelming.
Her mark blazed. Silver light erupted from her skin.
The rooftop hummed. Like the building itself was vibrating.
Animals emerged from shadows. Pigeons. Rats. A stray cat.
All watching. All bowing.
And then—howls.
From across the city. Dozens of them.
Wolves responding to her power.
Damian lifted his head. "They feel you. Every wolf in Manhattan just felt you come."
"Is that bad?"
"No." He crawled up her body. Positioned himself. "It's perfect. It's a declaration. You're mine. And everyone knows it."
He pushed inside. One slow, deep thrust.
They both groaned.
He filled her completely. Stretched her. Owned her.
Then he moved.
Not gentle. Claiming.
Hard. Fast. Deep.
The jacket beneath her slid on gravel. She didn't care.
She wrapped her legs around him. Met each thrust.
"Harder," she gasped.
He obeyed. Pounded into her. The wet sounds of their joining echoed.
Her mark spread. Silver lines traced up her ribs. Around her breasts.
Glowing brighter with each thrust.
"Look at me," he commanded.
She did.
Gold eyes. Feral. Loving.
"Say it," he said.
"I'm yours."
"Again."
"I'm yours."
He drove deeper. Faster.
Her second orgasm built. Impossibly fast.
"Damian—I can't—"
"You can." He gripped her hips. Changed the angle. Hit that perfect spot.
She screamed.
Came hard.
Her pussy clenched around him. Milking him.
He followed. Buried deep. Hot pulses flooding her.
"Mine," he roared. "Always mine."
Light exploded. Silver and gold merging.
The rooftop shook.
And across the city—
Every wolf stopped what they were doing.
Turned toward Blackstone Tower.
And submitted.
Even Lucian—watching from his building—felt it.
Dropped to one knee before he could stop himself.
She's stronger than I thought.
When the light faded, they lay tangled together. Breathing hard.
Mara looked at her wrist.
28:15:47
They'd lost two hours.
But something was different.
The countdown was slower. Each second taking longer to tick.
"It worked," she whispered.
"What worked?"
"The bond. It's stronger. The countdown isn't accelerating anymore."
He pulled her close. "Then it was worth it."
A sound behind them.
They turned.
Three massive wolves stood at the rooftop entrance.
Black. Silver. Gray.
They lowered their heads.
Not to Damian.
To her.
"I didn't call them," Mara said.
"You did." Damian smiled. "You just didn't realize it. Your orgasm was a summon."
The black wolf stepped forward. Knelt.
Mara stood. Naked. Glowing faintly. Unafraid.
She approached. Touched the wolf's head.
"Who are you?"
The wolf shifted. A man. Scarred. Forty-ish.
"Marcus Steele. Western pack. Former Lucian loyalist."
"Former?"
"I felt your call. It was stronger than his. I choose you now. If you'll have me."
She looked at Damian. He nodded.
"I'll have you," she said. "Rise."
He did. The other two wolves shifted. A woman. A young man.
Both knelt. Both pledged.
By the end, she had three new pack members.
"This is what happens," Damian explained. "When a Moonborne awakens fully. Wolves come. Drawn to your power."
"How many will come?"
"As many as you can command."
She looked at her small pack. Four total now, counting Jenna.
Then at the city. At the hundreds of wolves she could feel now. Aware. Watching.
"Then I'd better learn fast," she said.
Because in fifty hours, she'd face Trial One.
And now—she had an army.