It was too bright in the morning to forget how Kade touched her.
Even though Amara scrubbed the marble floors more, the spots on her skin that he had touched still hurt. With each breath, his smell of pine needles and danger came back.
Lina joked, "You're glowing," and she rubbed her friend on the shoulder. "Something happened."
Amara felt heat rising up her neck. "Nothing."
"Liar." It's been 24 hours and she still smile. It felt too valuable to tell anyone the truth.
An Alpha had kissed her. Not just any Alpha - Kade Blackthorn, the most feared wolf in three regions. She pressed her lips together, tasting him still. Night couldn't come fast enough.
Amara borrowed Lina's green dress, the only pretty thing she owned. Her hands shook as she braided her brown hair. The garden waited, silver under moonlight. Empty. Silent. Had she dreamed everything?
"You came." Kade stepped from behind the ancient tree. Tonight, no Alpha formal clothes. Just black fabric stretching across his big chest. He looked... touchable.
"You ordered me to," she whispered. His storm-gray eyes darkened.
"I hoped." They walked past the garden, into the woods where shadows kept secrets. Pine needles crunched under their feet.
Amara's wolf purred inside her chest, wanting his nearness.
"Do you know what's happening between us?" Kade stopped walking.
Amara shook her head. Her pulse beat against her throat. His eyes flashed gold. Dangerous. Beautiful.
"It's called a mate link. The Moon Goddess creates it between two souls meant to burn together forever." The words hit like fire.
"That's impossible. I'm nobody."
"I know." His jaw clenched. "Alphas don't mate with omegas. But the Moon Goddess doesn't care about rules."
"What does this mean?"
"It means you haunt my dreams." He stepped closer until heat radiated between them. "It means your smell drives my wolf wild. It means I can't fight this anymore."
His mouth took hers before she could breathe. Not soft like yesterday - hungry, demanding.
Her body melted against his hardness as his arms crushed her close. When they broke apart, both gasped for air.
"Meet me tomorrow," Kade's voice turned rough. "And every night after."
"If someone discovers us-"
"They won't. I promise."
For seven nights, Amara lived two lives. Days belonged to cleaning and serving. Nights belonged to Kade. He showed her secret places - the old gazebo behind the stables, a clearing where wildflowers grew. They spoke about everything. Her lonely childhood. His crushing duties.
"Why do you act so cold during the day?" she asked one evening. His face hardened.
"Fear keeps order. Show fear, lose respect."
"Is that why you never keep women around? Everyone says you never touch the same girl twice."
Fire flashed in his eyes. "That was before you. Everything changed when I found you."
On their seventh night, Kade brought a soft blanket to the stone balcony viewing the valley. Electric tension sparked between them.
"Amara," he said, catching her hands. "We're fated mates. Fighting the Moon Goddess is useless."
"But I'm omega," she breathed.
"I don't care about rank." His voice turned steel. "Tonight, I want to claim you fully. Make you mine forever."
Desire and fear warred in her chest. "What about the pack? The elders?"
"Let me handle them." He cupped her face gently. "I need you, Amara. All of you."
Under the full moon's silver glow, Amara gave everything. Kade's hands trembled as he peeled away her dress. Moonlight painted her skin like porcelain. She was perfect - curves and softness made for his touch alone.
"Beautiful," he whispered against her throat. His lips traced fire down her neck, across her collarbone. Every kiss sent lightning through her blood. She arched beneath him, crying out when his mouth found her breast.
"Say my name," he ordered. "Kade." It came out like a prayer.
He worshipped her body with reverent touches, tracing every inch until she trembled and begged. When he finally joined with her, their wolves howled in unity.
The mate bond snapped into place - invisible threads binding their souls together for forever. Pleasure built like flames. Amara clawed at his shoulders as he moved within her, claiming her completely. His name fell from her lips again and again until the world burst in stars. Afterward, wrapped in his strong arms, she felt whole for the first time ever.
"No one can know," she whispered against his chest.
"For now," Kade agreed. "But someday, I'll find a way for us to be together openly."
She wanted to believe him badly. The next morning, Amara floated through chores like walking on air. Everything seemed brighter, more vivid.
"You look different," Mrs. Bellows said suspiciously. "What's gotten into you?"
"Just happy, ma'am." Their secret meetings continued. Kade became addicted - her laugh, her touch, the way she gasped his name in the darkness. Amara fell deeper in love each night.
But happiness couldn't last. Two weeks after their first joining, Amara was cleaning the council room when words echoed from the hallway. She ducked behind heavy curtains just as footsteps neared.
"The alliance with the Duskbane Pack is critical," an elder's voice carried clearly. Amara's blood turned to ice when Kade answered.
"I understand."
"Good. Then you'll announce your proposal to Celina at the next full moon?"
The world turned sideways. Amara put her hand over her mouth to stop from screaming.
"The pack needs this union," another leader urged. "Her father's territory will double our strength."
Silence stretched like pain. Amara held her breath, hoping she'd misheard. "Fine," Kade finally said. "I'll marry Celina."
The curtain felt like a noose around her throat. Pain burst through her chest, sharp enough to steal breath.
That night, she waited in their secret place, tears running down her face. When Kade arrived, guilt written across his features, she knew he could see her broken heart.
"It's not what you think," he started.
"You're marrying her." Her voice sounded dead. He ran frustrated hands through his dark hair.
"It's politics, Amara. The pack needs this agreement to survive."
"What about me? What about our mate bond?" "You're still mine," he said desperately, reaching for her. "This marriage doesn't change that."
She stepped back like he'd hit her. "So I'll be your dirty secret? Your hidden mistress while she wears your ring?"
"I don't have a choice!" His voice turned to a growl. "I'm the Alpha. The pack comes first."
"Then go to your pack," she whispered. "Go to your perfect bride."
She turned to run, but his hand caught her arm. "Don't walk away from me. I need you." His mouth crashed into hers, desperate and hungry.
Despite her shattered heart, her body reacted. Her wolf whined, wanting his touch even as her mind screamed betrayal.
Later, twisted together on their blanket under the stars, Kade whispered promises. How he'd keep her close. How Celina would be his wife in name only. How Amara was his true mate, now and always. She wanted to believe every beautiful lie.
As dawn broke and she crept back to the servants' rooms, nausea churned in her stomach. She barely made it to the bathroom before retching furiously. Kneeling on the cold tiles, a terrifying thought struck her.
Her monthly cycle was late.
Very late.
Amara's shaking hand moved to her flat stomach as the truth crashed over her like a tidal wave.
She was... Carrying the Alpha's child.