The car’s gentle hum filled the quiet as we drove back home, and I glanced down at Aria. She was clutching her new backpack and school uniform tightly in her arms, like they were her most prized possessions. A small smile played on her lips, and before I knew it, her head rested on my shoulder, her breathing soft and steady. She had fallen asleep, exhausted from the day.
I couldn't help but smile a little. She looked so peaceful, so innocent, like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders for just a moment. But I knew the truth. I could see it in the way she carried herself, how tired and weak she always seemed. Aria pushed herself hard, probably more than she should. All for her family. Her loyalty and determination were something I admired deeply. It was exactly what I needed in a mate.
"She’s perfect," my wolf growled softly in my mind, his voice low and possessive.
"Yes, she is," I replied quietly, feeling my wolf stir. "But she's fragile, and we need to be careful with her."
"Careful?" my wolf scoffed. "She is our mate. She is meant to be with us. You can feel it, can’t you? The bond pulling us closer to her?"
I could. The bond was growing stronger every moment I spent with her, and my wolf's need to claim her was becoming harder to control. But Aria didn’t know the full weight of our connection yet. She didn’t know what it meant to be mated to a Lycan King, especially one who had waited this long for his mate.
"We can’t rush her," I said firmly. "She’s been through a lot. We have to give her time."
My wolf growled in frustration, but he understood. He wanted to protect her just as much as I did. "Fine, but don’t wait too long. Other males will see her, and they won’t hesitate to take what’s ours."