Chapter 83. The Mate Bond

Dylan’s POV

Relief washed over me in waves as Avery’s eyes fluttered open. Seeing her awake, her gaze meeting mine, was like the sun breaking through a storm cloud. The tension that had coiled in my gut for the past day, the fear that had gnawed at me, began to loosen its grip. She was alive. She was okay.

“Avery,” I breathed, my voice thick with emotion. I reached out, my hand hovering over hers, hesitant for a moment before closing around it. Her skin was cool beneath my touch, sending a jolt of warmth through me.

She was still weak, her movements hesitant, but she was awake. That was all that mattered. I watched her, my gaze searching hers, desperate to see a flicker of recognition, a sign that she was truly back.

Then, it happened. A shift, subtle yet profound, rippled through my senses. It was a sensation I hadn’t experienced in years, a primal recognition that resonated deep within my soul. It was the unmistakable presence of… my mate.

I fe