?Chapter 127:

I feel my jaw clench as Ryder mentions his mate. His mate. The words alone set my insides aze. Even if I somehow fend off Isabelle, there would still be another—another queen to rip the crown from my head. My heart pounds furiously, and a fire roars in my chest. The mere thought of someone else kissing him, him kissing her the way he kissed me. His hands touching another body, iming it, maybe even making love to her the way he made love to me. My fingers dig into my palm, nails piercing deep, deeper still, as my mind spirals into a dark abyss of jealousy and rage.

Fvck it.

I barely register the sharp sting as blood begins to trickle from the crescent-shaped wounds I’ve made in my hand. The hot, searing pain briefly cuts through the chaos in my mind, but I embrace it. It’s better than the thoughts wing at me.

“By the Goddess, Vixen. What are you doing?” Ryder’s voice cuts through the fog, sharp and filled with rm. I snap back to the present, my heart leaping in my chest. I blink down at my hand, at the blood running from the deep indents my nails left. Damn it, I hadn’t even realized what I was doing.

In an instant, Ryder is there. Hisrge hands envelop mine, warm and firm, yet there’s something gentle about his touch. My breath hitches as I feel it—an unfamiliar sensation crawling over my skin, a tingling warmth that spreads from my hand through my entire body. My eyes flutter shut on instinct. I don’t know what’s happening, but there’s a pull, something irresistible drawing me into this moment, into his touch.

When I open my eyes, his hand is still on mine. But the blood… the cuts… they’re gone. My skin is smooth again, unmarked.

“What the hell?” My mind reels as I stare at my healed hand. Did… did he just heal me?

“Wait… what? How did this happen?” I stammer, confusion twisting my features as I turn to face him. My brow furrows in disbelief. “You healed me… How? That bond, the healing—it only happens between mates.” My voice falters as the realization sets in. Could it be? No… impossible. I can’t be his mate. I’ve rejected Mason, but a werewolf like me can’t possibly be mated to a Lycan.

Ryder’s gaze shifts, blinking rapidly as if to hide something. His voice trembles slightly, a crack in his usual cool demeanor. “There’s nothing special about it. Lycans have healing abilities. We can heal… whoever we want.” He forces the words out, the exnation logical enough, but something about it feels off. His voice wavers, and I notice how his eyes won’t quite meet mine.

He’s hiding something. I can feel it. The weight of his secret hangs thick in the air between us, but before I can press him, Ryder pulls me closer, his arms wrapping around me as if to protect me from my own thoughts. His lips brush my neck, soft and warm, and my breath catches in my throat as a familiar heat ignites inside me. My skin tingles where his lips touch, sending waves of desire through me.

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But then, out of nowhere, a deep, primal growl rumbles in my chest. It’s low, menacing, and distinctly not human. My body tenses. What the hell was that? Panic floods my veins, and I pull back slightly, searching Ryder’s eyes.

“Did you hear that?” My voice shakes as I ask, but his expression is one of innocence—confusion, even.

He didn’t hear it.

I did.

Something inside me is stirring. Something dangerous.

“Kiss me, and don’t overthink, baby Vixen,” Ryder’s voice oozes seduction, his words wrapping around me like a spell. His strong hands pull me close, his breath warm against my skin, and before I can process it, his lips crash against mine—fierce, hungry, and unapologetic. The world around us fades as I melt into him, the intensity of the kiss stealing every coherent thought from my mind.

His hands move slowly, deliberately, as they begin to peel away my clothes. Every brush of his fingers sends electric sparks across my skin, igniting a deep ache within me. He takes his time, his touch both teasing andmanding, as if he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

I feel my breath hitch, my pulse quickening as eachyer of fabric falls away. Ryder’s lips don’t leave mine, ravishing me with a passion that borders on possessive. The warmth of his body presses against mine, and I surrender to the moment, letting go of everything except the way he makes me feel.

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