His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me even closer. My heart pounded in my chest as his breath caressed my skin. "You think you can just walk away?" he whispered, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "You think you can escape this?"

"Let me go," I demanded, my voice shaking with a mix of fear and anger.

But my body betrayed me, shivering under his touch. The mate bond tugged at my very soul, making it impossible to ignore the intense connection I felt toward ...