The days that unfurled leading up to the full moon ceremony were like navigating through a stormy sea of emotions. Each day was a clash of feelings, a whirlwind that left me feeling unsettled and restless. The most jarring wave came crashing down when Trevor, my own brother, and Kyla, his partner, expressed a desire that took me aback – they wanted to be marked at the same ceremony as Lexi, Clay, and me. This revelation stirred a deep turmoil within me, a complex tangle of resistance and discomfort that I couldn't easily shake off. It wasn’t that I begrudged Trevor and Kyla their own moment of commitment. But this ceremony – it was meant to be a sacred seal on the bond between Lexi, Clay, and me. It was our moment to sanctify the union of our souls, a ritual marking our journey and struggles, our love, and resilience. The idea of sharing this intimate event felt like it would somehow lessen the profound significance it held for us. With a heavy heart, I found myself voicing my concer

Waking up the following day, I was filled with a sense of purpose and excitement. Today was the day I would finally reveal the surprise I had been meticulously planning for Lexi. "Why don't we go apply for your degree today?" I suggested casually to Lexi, trying to mask the anticipation in my voice. "I need to grab a few things from the gallery anyway."In reality, the gallery held more than just a few forgotten items. For weeks, I had been covertly orchestrating the transformation of the second floor into a dance studio, a dream space for Lexi. But this secret was mine alone. Neither Lexi nor Luke knew what awaited us there.Luke, who had been unusually quiet, hesitated at the suggestion. "I think I'll stay home, not feeling that well today," he said, a hint of anxiety tainting his words. I knew the real reason behind his reluctance. His growing apprehension about the spell and what Professor Gray might reveal. The weight of the unknown was clearly taking its toll on him.However, I

"It's about the dark magic, Luke," Gray's words haunted the air. The room seemed to shrink ."You bound their feelings, your connections, through that spell. And it seems you never broke it."I looked at Lexi, her face etched with shock, then to Clay. His look was dark, stormy, a hurricane about to break. "You didn't break the spell?" Clay's voice was a dangerous growl. "All of this... Us... because of your fucking spell?"The accusation in his voice beat at me more brutally than a lash. "I... I didn't realize, Clay. I thought it was broken. You saw it turn to ash!" My voice quivered. The room spun, the enormity of my mistake crashing over me like a relentless spiral."You didn't realize?!" Clay's voice boomed, shaking with fury. "You wrapped us, her, in something you couldn't even control? Damn you, Luke!" His control shattered like glass. In an instant, he was on me.The blow landed hard against my jaw, making me stagger backward. Physical pain shot through me, but it was nothing com

The following day, with the weight of the previous night's events still pressing heavily upon me, I found Trevor. He needed to know what had happened, why we had to delay his and Kyla's marking."Trevor, we had to break the spell," I explained, my voice hoarse from emotion. "We need to fix this first, to get our bond back. Can you... can you put off marking Kyla for another moon cycle? I really want to be there for it. I missed so much else."Trevor's expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Of course, Luke," he said. "Take care of yourselves first. We'll wait."Relief washed over me. I couldn't have handled the thought of missing such a moment for him and Kyla, especially after I had already missed so much in his life.In the living room, Lexi spoke softly to her omegas, telling them we'd handle this privately. I watched, admiration mingling with a strange nervousness in my gut.As Lexi started dressing in casual clothes, Clay stepped in, his voice carrying a weight o

The playful tension escalated when I pushed Luke down onto the beanbag, straddling him. His reaction was immediate. He leaned back on his hands, eyes locked onto mine. Like he was literally seeing me for the first time. Leaning down, I kissed him with a passion that sparked through my veins. He returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm but unexpectedly pulled away.His eyes searched mine, rich with a new intensity. "You can get pregnant now," he said, his voice a mix of caution and wonder.I couldn't help but laugh lightly, a little amused and intrigued. "Now? Couldn't I always?"Luke's explanation was earnest, filled with a seriousness I hadn't often seen in him. "Well, yes and no. I mean, your human side could always take over if we were... relentless. But now, marked and fated from the start, we have the... blessing."The word 'blessing' sounded bizarre and otherworldly in this context. I couldn't suppress a chuckle. "That sounds so strange, but I'll take your word for it. We should