Drake—POV

My heart pounded in my chest. The mate bond’s magic swirled around us, wrapping me in warmth, yet the confusion in Yuri’s green eyes made it hard to breathe. I forced myself to take a step back, breaking the spell, the connection—the illusion, maybe.

“I don’t know if this is real,” Yuri whispered, her voice uncertain.

I swallowed hard. She doesn’t want this.

“You never wanted me as your mate, did you?” My words came out sharper than I intended, laced ...