Chapter 25

Zachary

The bond thrummed with excitement as her soft lips made contact with mine. The bond started to hum louder, announcing its presence once again.

Daphne started to rustle awake, and I immediately detached our lips even though my wolf was about to take over. Daphne sat up, her chest heaving as though she had just been pulled from underneath water.

Her eyes landed on mine, and she touched her lips instinctively. Her eyes widened by a fraction and the bond twisted between us painfully in response to the shock she just felt.

Her fingers trembled at her sides, and for a split second, I thought she might collapse again. The bond spiked, confused, raw, aching—like it didn’t know whether to cling or tear itself apart. Fear flashed across her face, not just fear of me, but fear of what the bond itself was becoming.

“Did you… did you just kiss me?” She stuttered, standing up slowly.

“Yes,” I said sharply, panic still tight in my chest. “Because