The hall had been cleared of tables and chairs, leaving only a wide circle in the center. Wolves from both packs stood in silence around us, their gazes steady, their respect heavy in the air. No forest clearing, no moonlit ritual, just us, our people, and the bond we had chosen.

He stood across from me, eyes locked on mine like I was the only one in the room. He wasn’t my fated mate, not the one destiny had written for me, but he was the one I had chosen. And that made this moment even more ...