Chapter 135
Captain Lya Monroe POV
My legs were still shaky. My neck still throbbed. My dignity? MIA. There was a lion alpha’s mark on my shoulder, a possessive hand on my waist, and enough heat rolling off him to turn the moon to molten.
And gods help me, I didn’t hate it. We stepped off the garden path and reentered the ballroom like a damn hurricane and its eye.
Lyle kept me tucked to his side like someone might try to snatch me if he blinked. And from the way heads turned, wolves, witches, beast shifters, hell even a few Marines, it was like they felt the shift in me.
Not a wolf. But… claimed. Taya saw me first. She was barefoot on the dance floor, half drunk, fully glowing, Rylen behind her looking like a smug wolf husband.
She let out a full blown shriek. “NO FUCKING WAY!”
She flew across the floor in full glitter–gown glory and launched into my arms, hugging me hard enough to rattle my teeth. “Holy shit, you finally snapped and claimed a man! I thought I’d die first.”
I laughed. “Don’t tempt me.”
Lyle growled softly behind me. Protective. Possessive. And very not used to me being touched by anyone, even if that someone was a half drunk wolf in heels.
“Taya,” I said, pulling back from her. “This is Lyle. Lyle Vyrtec.”
She blinked once. “Wait…THE Lyle?”
Lyle dipped his head politely. “Alpha of the Southern Prides. Ruler of the Lion Clans.”
Rylen’s jaw twitched. “Didn’t think we’d see you at a mate ball.”
Lyle glanced down at me. “Didn’t think I’d meet someone who could out stare Veo and threaten to snipe me in the same night.” Veo purred inside him. “Ours. Ours. Ours.”
I elbowed him. “I warned you I’m not soft.”
He smiled like I was dessert.
Taya practically vibrated. “Okay, this is so hot, I need another drink. Monroe, you got mated to the king of the jungle. We need tequila
now.”
“After you,” I smirked, then turned as the crowd parted, Alpha King Draven and Luna Aelira walking toward us with a few nobles trailing
like shadows.
Shit, Lyle straightened beside me, full alpha posture, golden power rolling off him like heat from a wildfire. I squared my shoulders.
“Your Majesty. Your Grace.” I nodded crisply. “I was just dancing. And, apparently, I’m now mated to this oversized feline.”
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Chapter 135
Aelira’s smile lit like the stars. “Oh, darling. Welcome to the chaos.”
Draven eyed Lyle. “Didn’t expect to see a lion mated to a human, how wonderful.”
“I didn’t expect to leave with a mate,” Lyle said coolly. “Yet here we are.”
I stepped forward before the testosterone could spark a diplomatic disaster. “We’re working on mutual respect. Between species and spouses.”
Taya hollered from behind us, “Less politics, more dancing!”
Lyle growled at a wolf who looked at my ass too long. And just like that, I yanked him onto the dance floor.
“Come on, Lionheart. Show me if you can keep up.”
“I’ll do more than keep up,” he growled, spinning me into his arms. “I’ll ruin every man here for you.”
“You already did.”
Elowen POV
My dress sparkled like moonlight had been poured over sin.
I had no idea how many shots I’d taken, seven? Eight? Twelve?, but I was definitely floating. My cheeks hurt from laughing, my feet hurt from dancing, and my soul felt lighter than it had in months.
And honestly? I deserved it. So did my girls.
Taya, Lya, and Amaris were right there with me, swirling and giggling and screaming every time the bass dropped like we were teenagers again and not warriors, mates, or weapons.
“Lya,” I slurred, grabbing her hand mid song, “you got mated to the Lion King and didn’t tell me?!”
She smirked. “I wasn’t sure if it was fate or a fever dream.”
Taya snorted. “Either way, I support it. Alpha DILF energy.”
“EXCUSE me,” I cackled, “That’s Captain Monroe’s jungle daddy, and we respect the sniper.”
“I’ll shoot you myself,” Lya muttered, but she was laughing too hard to be convincing.
We were in a circle on the dance floor, our dresses swirling, drinks in hand, hips moving to the beat like we were summoning chaos itself…and I didn’t care that my hair was a mess or that I was definitely going to feel this in the morning.
Tonight? I was wild. I was free. I was untouchable.
Until I wasn’t. Until I heard it.
The collective, silent judgment of four fated mates hitting me like a supernatural wall of “you’ve had enough, little goddess.”
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10:57 Tue, Oct 7
Chapter 135
I turned. And there they were.
4:0
Bram, arms crossed, beard twitching, looking one step from hauling me off like a misbehaving cub.
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