Asher Nightshade knew the mating haze was over the moment he opened his eyes.

It had been three days of frenzied fucking, and the burning urgency that had once flooded his veins was gone, along with that restless ache that only his mate had been able to ease each time he buried himself inside her.

Yet, he still wanted her. And he intended to show her that the mating frenzy was not the only force capable of driving him insane over her.

Violet lay naked in his arms. For those three intense days, he had not allowed a single thread of clothing on her. Wraith had been completely consumed with her, craving nothing but skin against skin, her warmth against his own.

Asher couldn’t help the small smile that curved his lips. Violet had finally met his wolf. The best thing the bond had ever given him.

Now she understood how hard it had been to keep his hands off her all those months. He had fought and restrained Wraith every step of the way, even when it nearly drove him mad. Not that he had ever shown it.

More importantly, Thalia liked his wolf.

And Wraith? Wraith didn’t just like her.

He was obsessed.

More than once during those three days, they had woken with no memory of what had happened, only the aftermath telling the story. Deep, bloody marks across Asher’s body, the subtle discomfort in Violet’s movements, and the complete ruin their room had become.

They both knew what it meant. Their wolves had taken over, and whatever had passed between them in those moments had been raw, intense, and untamed.

Thankfully, Asher and Violet recovered quickly enough each time, only to fall right back into each other again.

"Take her! Claim her! Make my mate happy!" Wraith roared in his head.

Asher groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Shut up, dude. I give the commands here."

Wraith didn’t quiet. If anything, his presence grew stronger, pushing against the edges of Asher’s mind, restless and impatient.

"She’s ours," Wraith pressed, his voice lower now but no less intense. "She’s right here. Why are you wasting time?"

Asher exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. "I’m not wasting time. But I’m not doing this on your terms either."

Wraith growled in defiance. Then a flash of heat surged through Asher, not the uncontrollable fire from before, but something deeper, possessive, and intentional.

But Asher stood his ground.

He clenched his teeth. "You don’t get to take over every time you feel like it."

Wraith let out a dark, satisfied chuckle.

"And we are equal. You don’t get to rule over me."

Asher glared at him. The thing with Alpha wolves was that they always challenged and pushed their owners. And when it came to their mate, they fucking demanded.

Wraith shoved flashes of their mating into his mind, and for a brief second, his control slipped before snapping back into place.

"She needs rest," Asher muttered.

Wraith huffed, clearly unimpressed.

"She needs you," he countered. "She needs us. We need her before our white-haired brother comes for her."

That did it.

Asher’s jaw tightened, his gaze dropping back to Violet, dark greed settling behind his eyes.

He knew this fragile peace would shatter the moment they walked out that door, and he wasn’t ready to let it go. He wanted more time with her.

"Fine," he said at last.

His eyes moved over her body with open hunger, slow and unashamed, as though reacquainting himself with something he would never tire of. They lingered on the soft rise of her breasts, the gentle rhythm of her breathing lifting them in quiet invitation.

Even in sleep, Violet’s body responded to him, her pink nipples pebbled and her skin flushed.

Drawn in, helpless against it, Asher lowered his head and took one into his mouth, testing, savoring. The contact alone was enough to stir her.

Violet shifted beneath him, a soft sound escaping her lips, her body reacting before her mind could catch up.

Her eyes weren’t even open yet when her fingers tangled in his hair, gripping tight. The pain only excited Asher, who sucked on her nipple even harder, while his hand found the other breast, rolling her hard nipple between his fingers, coaxing a reaction he already knew he’d get.

"Asher..." Violet’s voice broke into a soft moan, her body arching instinctively into him.

Asher didn’t stop. If anything, he intentionally began teasing, circling, tracing with his tongue, learning Violet all over again as if the past three days had not been enough to satisfy him.

"Yes... oh—Goddess..." she gasped, her voice breaking as the sensation hit her all at once.

Violet’s breaths came uneven, her body already moving against him, chasing relief from the slow torment he was putting her through.

Wraith drank in the sounds she made, every soft gasp and broken moan feeding that possessive part of him. So Asher’s hand slid lower between them, finding exactly what he was looking for.

Goddess, save him.

Violet was so wet, her scent making him dizzy. Asher was tempted to forgo his hand and take her fully, giving in to the pull that still burned beneath his skin.

But Violet was wound tight already, so with just a few strokes, she shuddered against him, her breath catching, her entire body tightening before melting into him.

"You devil," she murmured, her voice breathless, her eyes heavy with heat rather than anger.

Asher didn’t wait.

He spread her leg as he eased into her slowly, a low groan slipping from his throat as her body welcomed him, tight around him.

He took her inch by inch, unhurried, savoring every second, every reaction it pulled from her. Her nails bit into his back, holding on, grounding him as the tension between them built again. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

When Asher finally settled fully against her, they both drew in a sharp breath, the stretch and the sheer intensity of it washing over them at once.

For a moment, neither of them moved, just feeling the moment and existing in it.

Violet wrapped her hand around his neck, her grip tightening as she adjusted to him, her body slowly yielding, welcoming him deeper.

"Asher..." she whispered, her voice soft and filled with need.

Asher felt not just the physical pull, but the bond. It wrapped around him, warm and consuming, drawing him closer in ways that had nothing to do with touch. Her emotions brushed against his, raw and unguarded, and for a brief second, it almost stole the air from his lungs.

His forehead dropped against hers.

"I’m here," he murmured.

It was not just words, but a promise.

His hand slid along her side, grounding her as he slowly began to move with an unhurried and controlled pace, letting the rhythm build naturally between them instead of rushing it.

Violet’s breath hitched, her body responding in kind, rising to meet him without thought. This wasn’t the frantic pull of the mating haze anymore, but them professing their love for each other.

Asher watched her face, studying every reaction, committing it all to memory.

Mine.

The thought came unbidden, not possessive in the way it once had been, but certain and unshakable.

Violet’s hand slid up to his face, her thumb brushing lightly along his jaw, imprinting his features into her mind too.

Always mine.

She responded through the bond.

When Violet came this time, Asher came with her. For a moment, neither of them could breathe, tangled in that magical moment.

Then it was over, and the two of them lay back in bed, the room quiet.

It was Violet who spoke first.

"Alaric’s outside."

Asher groaned, dragging a hand over his face. "Of course he is."

He glanced around the room, then back at her, clearly annoyed. "Can’t he give us one more day?"

Violet laughed. "Apparently not."

He sighed, then pushed himself up. "Come on. We’ll clean up first."

They slipped into the bathroom, where they had one more session, and then finally stepped out again, dressed and composed, their fingers finding each other without thought.

Alaric was waiting just outside, leaning casually against the wall of the manor. Thankfully, he had come alone. It was a known fact that newly bonded males didn’t like other males around their females. But Alaric was bound to them. Asher’s bond didn’t push them aside or reign superior over theirs.

Alaric’s gaze dropped immediately to their joined hands. Specifically, the rune.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then his face broke into a grin.

"Well," Alaric said, pushing off the wall, "about damn time, brother."

He stepped forward and pulled Asher into a quick, firm hug before turning to Violet.

Without warning, Alaric lifted her off the ground and spun her once.

"Look at you, my darling mate," he laughed. "Job well done."

Violet let out a surprised laugh, gripping his shoulders. If Alaric was already this excited, she couldn’t wait to see the others’ expressions.

It was time to find her men and unite their group.