Sophia woke up in Ethan’s arms, feeling a strange sense of peace despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her. His strong, steady heartbeat thumped against her cheek as she lay against his chest, her body still tingling from the intensity of their connection. It felt as if the world outside didn’t exist, as though time had stopped, leaving only them in this intimate bubble.
But as the morning light filtered in through the window, reality began to seep back in. The mate bond had pulled her into Ethan’s world, into something she hadn’t fully understood until now. Every part of her wanted to be near him, to give in to this primal connection, but her mind was wrestling with the weight of it all. This was more than just a fling—this was life-changing.
She shifted slightly, her thoughts racing. How could she balance the normal life she’d been trying to build with this new reality? The world of werewolves, pack laws, and supernatural connections was something she couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams. She wasn’t sure she belonged in it, but she also couldn’t ignore the way her body responded to Ethan—the way her heart raced just being near him.
Sophia turned her head to look at him. Ethan was still asleep, his features relaxed and peaceful, but even now, she could feel the raw power that radiated from him. His presence was magnetic, undeniable, and she was already finding it hard to imagine a life without him in it.
But the practical side of her screamed for attention. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn’t just drop everything—her studies, her job, her responsibilities—just because she had found herself caught in a whirlwind romance with a man who turned out to be a werewolf.
She carefully slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake him. As much as she needed him, she also needed some space to think clearly. Pulling on her clothes from the night before, she tiptoed toward the window, gazing out at the world beyond.
I can’t just stay in this dream forever.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, snapping her out of her thoughts. She quickly grabbed it, glancing at the screen to see a message from Luke.
Luke: You’re late again, Soph. We need to talk.
Sophia sighed heavily, guilt washing over her. She’d been so wrapped up in Ethan and the overwhelming emotions of the bond that she had completely neglected her responsibilities at the bar. Luke had always been understanding, but she could tell from the message that his patience was wearing thin.
And then there was the issue of Ethan and Luke’s strange relationship. That argument they’d had in the bar still echoed in her mind. They clearly had a history, and whatever it was, it wasn’t friendly. She couldn’t help but wonder how deep that tension ran, and how much it had to do with her.
Feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her, Sophia decided she needed to get back to work—if only to face the real world again. She couldn’t avoid her responsibilities forever, and maybe some distance from Ethan would help her clear her head.
Quietly, she gathered the rest of her things and scribbled a quick note for Ethan:
I’ll see you later. Just need to clear my head and get to work.
As she stepped out of his apartment and into the cool morning air, the pull of the bond was already tugging at her, making her heart ache with the distance. She couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how hard she tried, Ethan would always be there, just under her skin, a part of her she couldn’t ignore.
But for now, she had to try.
The walk to work felt longer than usual, her thoughts heavy with everything that had happened. When she finally arrived at the bar, she was met with Luke’s stern gaze. His piercing green eyes seemed to see right through her, as if he already knew everything that had transpired between her and Ethan.
“You’re late again,” Luke said, his voice clipped.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Sophia replied, guilt washing over her. “I’ll make up the time, I promise.”
Luke crossed his arms, his expression hard. “It’s not just about the time, Sophia. You’ve been distracted lately. Something’s going on with you, and it’s affecting your work.”
Sophia bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She couldn’t exactly tell him the truth, could she? That she was caught in a supernatural bond with a werewolf alpha, and that it was consuming her every thought and action?
Luke’s eyes softened slightly as he watched her struggle. “Look, I care about you, Soph. I’m not just your boss. But whatever this is with Ethan... it’s dangerous. I can see it in your eyes.”
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. How much did Luke really know? And why was he so concerned about Ethan? The tension between them hadn’t just been about pack law—it had been personal. There was more to their history than she understood.
“I’m fine,” Sophia said, though she didn’t even believe the words herself.
Luke shook his head, his jaw tightening. “You’re not fine. And I don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Sophia’s throat tightened, the weight of his words hitting her harder than she expected. She didn’t know what to say, so instead, she looked away, focusing on the task at hand.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Sophia tried to focus on her work, but the bond with Ethan was always there, in the back of her mind, tugging at her. The more she tried to ignore it, the stronger it seemed to get.
By the time she clocked out, she felt exhausted, both physically and emotionally. And despite her best efforts to stay away, her body was already aching to be near Ethan again. She couldn’t fight it any longer. The mate bond had her, and there was no escaping it.
As she walked out of the bar, she already knew where she was going—to him.
To Ethan.