Her words, the desperation, the love in her voice—it's too much. I can't think. Can't resist. My teeth find the junction of her neck and shoulder and I bite down, breaking skin.
The bond snaps into place instantly.
She screams, coming with me, her whole body convulsing. Her emotions flood into me—pleasure and relief and love andrightness—and I can feel through the bond that she meant it. She loves me. She really loves me.
We're locked together. Knotted. Bonded.
When awareness returns, I'm collapsed on top of her. Still knotted, still tied together, my teeth still in her neck. I can feel her through the bond—sated and satisfied andhappy.
Slowly, carefully, I release my bite. Licking over the wound to help it heal faster. The claiming mark is already forming, my scent permanently embedded in her skin.
"Oh god." Reality crashes in. "Oh god, I bit you. I bonded you. Bea, I'm so sorry?—"
I can feel everything she feels through the bond now—the satisfaction of being knotted and claimed and bonded. The love she has for me, overwhelming and certain. Real.
"Oh god." The words tumble out as reality crashes in. "Oh god, I bit you. I bonded you. Bea, I'm so sorry—you asked but you were in heat, you weren't thinking straight, and I should've said no, should've been stronger?—"
"Seth." Her hand cups my face. Gentle but firm. "Look at me."
I force myself to meet her eyes. Bracing for anger. For regret.
But she's smiling. Tears streaming down her face, but she'ssmiling.
"I meant it," she says softly. "Every word. I wanted your bite. Wanted your bond. I love you, Seth Monroe. Heat didn't make me say it—it just made me brave enough to admit it."
"But—" I'm shaking now, overwhelmed. "What if you regret it later? What if when your heat breaks you wish?—"
"I won't." She sounds so certain. "I won't regret you. Ever."
Through the bond, I can feel the truth of her words. The absolute conviction. The love radiating from her like sunlight.
"I love you too," I whisper. "So much. I'm sorry I bonded you without asking properly first. I'm sorry I didn't wait until?—"
"Stop apologizing." She's still crying, but they're happy tears. "You gave me exactly what I needed."
River appears beside us with water, and Grayson has a cloth. Neither of them look angry—just understanding.
Thirty minutes tied to her. Thirty minutes to process that I just permanently bonded my omega while she was in heat. Thirty minutes to freak out about whether I've ruined everything.
But through the bond, I can feel her contentment. Her satisfaction. Her love.
"Stop panicking," she murmurs, nuzzling into my neck. "I can feel you freaking out. I'm okay. We're okay."
"You're sure?" I need to hear it again.
"I'm sure." She presses a kiss to my throat, right over my pulse point. "Best accidental bonding ever."
Despite everything—the fear, the shock, the overwhelming emotions—I laugh. "Accidental bonding?"
"Well, you didn't exactly plan it." She's grinning now. "But I'm not complaining. Now you're stuck with me forever."
"Good." I tighten my arms around her carefully. "That's exactly where I want to be."
Grayson settles on one side of us, River on the other. Their scents mixing with ours until the whole nest smells like pack. Like family.
"How are you feeling?" River asks Bea quietly.
"Good." She considers. "Actually, really good. The emptiness—it's not just better, it'sgone. Like the bond filled something that knotting couldn't."
