Page 121 of Heat Lightning

A life with my mate.

Max ended the kiss and pulled away, eyes shining with the same promises painted by my golden hopes. “You are meant for so much more than darkness, Atlas.”

And then he smiled. “Seal the bond.”

THIRTY-FOUR

ATLAS

Seal the bond.

Seal the bond.

Seal the bond.

A primal, choked-off growl came from deep inside, and I stood. Grasping his face, I slammed our mouths together, tasting him again after what felt like an eternity. Max moaned, plastering his body to mine, and I was gone.

The floodgates holding back my rut flung wide, sweeping me away in the depths of my need for him.

Mine. Finally, he’s mine.

Pupils blown wide, Max pulled back and stared at my mouth, hungry and searching. My vision flickered. The world around him blurred again, and I didn’t have words anymore except one.

“Mate,” I growled. The sweet tang of his slick made my mouth water; I needed to bury myself in him, needed to taste him and take him and fuse us together.

Seal the bond.

Seal the bond.

Atlas, seal the bond!

Max shook me by the shoulders, mouth moving, but I couldn’t understand him anymore. The world spun, and I fell on my back, landing on the soft bed.

My omega’s face appeared over me. He was definitely yelling something now, but I couldn’t make it out. Slipping further and further away from him, I tried to tell him it would be alright, that he was mine and I loved him, but my mouth wouldn’t form the words.

I didn’t want to leave. He was my home. Where would I go if I didn’t have him?

He’s ours, my alpha whined helplessly, clawing at its cage. Go back to him.

But I couldn’t. I’d waited too long, pushed Max away when he offered himself to me freely, and now it was too late.

Just as he disappeared from my vision altogether, warmth surrounded me. Something sharp pricked at my neck, followed by a great pressure. Like the deep thrum of a gong, heat and warmth and light shot through me. Chains shattered. Splintered to pieces, they fell to the ground, never to be needed again.

And I was home again.

My alpha stood, howling in triumph. Bright omega pheromones swirled and swirled through my blood. Suddenly, I was yanked out of the inky dark with a gasp, eyes flung wide open.

Max was here. Mate was here.

And he’d claimed me.

I felt it in the tingling at my neck and the fierce burning in his eyes. He was over me, and inside me. The glow of his omega—the true heart of him—danced through my veins, twirling and teasing my alpha with a flick of his tail until they darted off together, never to be separated again.

He wanted me. With all my flaws and secrets and fucked up need for violence, for vengeance, my mate wanted me.

My mate saved me.

“Max,” I said, finding words through the overwhelming emotions I couldn’t even begin to voice. “You did it. You—you⁠—”