Twelve Nights Before Christmas; The Alpha Revenge Bride

Eve stiffens, surprised, but he doesn't look at her. Marco only nods once. "Understood."

The others echo, "Understood," before returning to their duties. Eve feels the weight of their glances as they pass.

When they reach the upper hall, Lucian gestures toward the long corridor. "They needed to see you. Recognition keeps the hierarchy stable."

She folds her arms. "You could have warned me before calling me your mate."

"It's what you are," he says simply. "It wasn't a declaration. It was a fact."

"That's not how it feels."

He stops, facing her fully. "Then how does it feel?"

Eve hesitates. "Like I just signed something without reading it first."

His expression softens. "You didn't sign anything. You answered an instinct. We both did."

She doesn't reply, unsure what to say. He gestures toward a side room. "You should rest. The first shift drains energy."

"I'm not tired," she says, even though her body feels heavy.

"Then eat." He opens the door to a smaller dining area. A few plates sit waiting, meat, bread, fruit, and a glass of dark wine. "You'll need strength for what comes next."

Eve arches a brow. "And what exactly comes next?"

Lucian's mouth curves faintly. "Understanding the bond."

The words make her pulse quicken. She looks down at the table, pretending to study the food. "You talk about it like it's a weapon."

"It can be," he says quietly. "But only if we use it wrong."

He steps closer. His hand brushes hers as he sets down the glass. The contact is brief, but heat rushes through her arm. She looks up, startled by how near he is now.

He searches her face. "You feel it too."

"I don't know what I feel."

"Yes, you do." His voice lowers. "It's the bond."

Eve doesn't move. She should step back, say something sharp, but she can't. The air between them feels charged again, the same pull that started on the dance floor.

Lucian's hand lingers at her jaw, his thumb tracing the edge of her cheek. "You can fight it if you want, but it won't stop."

She whispers, "Then what happens if I don't fight it?"

He doesn't answer. Instead, he leans in. Their lips meet, slow, deliberate, inevitable.

The kiss deepens. Her hands find his shoulders without thinking. The warmth between them grows, the pull stronger, until she can't tell where it starts or ends. The moment stretches, raw and consuming, until he finally pulls back.

He murmurs, "You're shaking."

Eve's voice is barely steady. "I'm fine."

He studies her again, then takes her hand. "Come with me."

They move through the hall, silent except for the faint echo of their steps. He leads her to the terrace where the forest meets the edge of the property. The moonlight catches the frost on the railing, silver against the dark.

Eve looks out at the trees. "I can still hear them. The wolves."

"They hear you too now," Lucian says. "You're part of them."

She glances up at him. "And part of you."

His hand slips to the back of her neck, steady and sure. The kiss that follows is hungrier, no hesitation this time.

Lucian takes her hand and they move deeper into the forest and in the middle is the most fairytale scene Eve had ever stumbled on.

A three step bed spread with silk white sheets covers the bed, flowers spread across the bed, and leaves intertwine beneath the floor.

Lucian's hands slips beneath her waist and pulls her close. Her pulse roars to life, fingers grasp her tighter, his fingers sinking deep into her hip flesh.

His eyes glows in the forest, a gray that she never thought she would look at with so much lust and love

Their lips merge again and Lucian places her on the bed, soft against her back, his fingers moves to her neck, lips replacing them.

She shivers as he continues his assault in her neck. He leaves trains of kisses down the bare skin, his fingers pulls her top off with one swift motion revealing just her bra.

"Lucian" Eve gasp her eyes wide at his move

"Trust me Amore mio" His deep voice sends vibrations to my pussy, a sensation I had never felt before with other men, was it the mate bond this entire time?

She closes her eyes and allows him pull off the bra in one swift motion

"Open your eyes Amore mio" Lucian's fingers slide across her erect nipples. 

Eve opens her eyes and in one swift motion Lucian places a nipple in his mouth, his tongue slides naughtily across the flesh and Eve shivers where she lays 

"Lucian" She moans feeling the heat pool between her legs.

"Yes Amore mio" he lets go of her nipples looking down at her orgasam stricken face

"What..What was that?" Eve looks at him, she couldn't cum that easily with her toys.

"Oh Amore mio, you have no idea what you're in for" Lucian captures her lips in his again, their tongue fighting for dominance.

Lucian can't take the heat anymore, he pulls off his shirt revealing sturdy string abs,his skin glows in the forest, lines of muscles flexing as Eve places her arms across them.

They feel hot, body drumming with heat as they get rid of the rest of their clothes, his fingers pull her legs apart and Eve waits with gusto as he lines up between her legs.

"Lucian" Eve turns to him, "I've never done this before"

Lucian stops, his lip curving up in a small smile, "I will take it gently Amore mio" he says and lines up between her legs again

This time he is much more gentle, Eve gasp as he fills her, she feels a sharp sting but it's quickly covered up when Lucian thrusts fully into her.

He pauses looking at her for confirmation but it seems Lucian is struggling as well. He fights not to cum immediately as he moves across her body.

The heat overtakes them and he thrust into her, now moving deliberately, He is much faster. Eve's moans fill the forest, a glow of purple and blue glow around them, Eve yells out in a loud moan when she feels her orgasam come forward 

"Yes Lucian" she holds onto his back, her claws elongate, scratching into his back but Lucian doesn't care.

Not when it comes to his mate. Their moans fills the forest as Lucian finally lets go,his cum fills her and her eyes pop open, a loud gasp leaving her lips as she orgasams one more time.

"Youre my mate Eve, mine, now and always" Lucian bends capturing her lips in hers one more time.

Before Eve can reply, she feels Lycian harden inside her again.

When dawn breaks, Eve lies still, half awake, her body warm against his. Outside, the forest glows with the first hint of sunlight.

Something moves between the trees.

A figure steps forward just far enough to see. Lyra D'Amato watches from the shadows, her coat brushing the snow. Her eyes follow the lighted window above, then narrow.

She smiles once, small and cold. "So it begins."