Chapter 35. Are You His Mate Too?

Unknown’s POV

It was Tuesday.

I knew that without needing to check the calendar or ask anyone, because she followed patterns the way the moon followed the tide—steadfast, predictable, comforting in their constancy. Tuesdays were her mornings in the forest, when she ran in her wolf form, stretching her limbs and letting the weight of duty fall away for a brief, stolen hour. Tuesdays were mine too, though she didn’t know it.

I left my territory before dawn, slipping past borders that had long since memorized my scent. The guards knew better than to stop me; rank and reputation did most of the talking these days. I jogged toward the border at an easy pace, not rushing, not lingering, letting my thoughts drift ahead of me. When I reached the edge of Golden Stone land, I disappeared into it as I always did—quiet, seamless, practiced. This stretch