Page 40 of Knox's Fate

"Reprieve?" Knox stepped closer, his presence enveloping her. "Or is it anticipation?"

"Perhaps both," she whispered, her breath catching as he reached out and traced a calloused finger along her jawline. The contact was electric, igniting a fire that threatened to consume her.

"Let's not keep you waiting, then," Knox murmured, his lips grazing her earlobe, sending shivers cascading down her body.

Without another word, he scooped her up over his shoulder in a swift, fluid motion. Ruby gasped, her world upending as she found herself carried away from the scene outside in the compound and into the privacy of their room. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, each step Knox took amplifying the heat pooling in her belly.

Once behind closed doors, Knox set her down gently. His hands roamed over her curves with proprietary eagerness, peeling away layers of clothing with an urgency that matched the throbbing pulse between her thighs.

"Knox," she breathed out, her voice laced with need. His name was both a plea and an invocation as he pressed her back against the softness of their bed.

"Ruby," he answered, a growl underlying his words. He captured her lips in a kiss that seared straight to her soul, full of promise and possession. His tongue delved into her mouth, tangling with hers in a dance as old as time itself.

Their bodies melded together seamlessly, a perfect alignment of desire and intent. Every touch from Knox was a revelation, each caress a journey deeper into the throes of passion. Ruby arched beneath him, a keening moan escaping her as he lavished attention upon her sensitive flesh.

“Mine,” he growled as he thrust into her.

He thrust with a savagery Ruby had never experienced before, joining them together in a primal dance of lust and desire. She cried out, her nails digging into his back as she clutched him to her, desperate for him to fuck her harder than ever before. But instead of complying, he kissed her with a fierce, yet tender passion, easing out of her body before plunging back in again with an intensity that left her gasping for breath.

"Yours," she gasped, the word torn from her in the midst of their coupling.

"Always," he affirmed, his movements becoming more insistent, driving them both toward the precipice of ecstasy.

Together, they climbed higher, chasing the explosive release that hovered just within reach. When it came, it was all-consuming, a tempest of sensation that left them clinging to each other as they rode out the waves of pleasure.

Every sigh that escaped her lips, every touch of her hand on his skin, only fueled the fire between them. It was a connection unlike anything she'd ever felt before, a raw and carnal bond that transcended physical pleasure. And when she tightened around him and screamed his name, it was as if he could no longer hold back the animalistic urges coursing through his veins. He pounded into her with a primal fury that consumed them both,unleashing a wave of overwhelming ecstasy that left them both trembling in its wake.

In the aftermath, as their breathing slowed and their limbs entwined, Ruby felt a profound connection to the man beside her. They were bonded now, in body and spirit, and no matter what lay ahead, this moment was a testament to their unity.

Back at the compound, the transfer of the prisoner signaled a turning point. But here, in the sanctuary of Knox's arms, Ruby found a different kind of resolution—one forged in the heat of shared passion and whispered promises as dawn crept across the sky.

The following afternoon, bathed in the golden hue of twilight, Ruby watched as Knox's silhouette merged with the dimming sky. His shoulders had borne the weight of turmoil and triumph, yet they remained unbowed. His resilience, that unwavering command of every situation, left her awestruck.

"You can't keep staring at me like that," Knox said as he reached her, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through Ruby's bones. "Time to decide, Ruby. Are you with me or not?"

She hesitated, caught in the gravity of his gaze. "With you?" The words felt small in the expanse of their meaning.

"Completely," he clarified, the annoyance from earlier still lining his tone. "You can't straddle the line between your old life and what I'm offering. You'll be my mate, through and through. And with that bond, you'll inherit the power to shift at will."

The idea of such freedom, to run on four paws or stand on two legs, ignited something primal within her. To be claimed by Knox, to truly belong with him—it was both a risk and a promise.

"Okay," she whispered, her decision solidifying like the earth beneath her feet. "I choose this. Us."

Nods of approval rippled through the gathered crowd as they moved to the heart of the compound where the elders awaited. In the center stood an ancient figure, his eyes glowing with the wisdom of countless moons. He motioned them forward to the sacred stone that bore the marks of generations.

"Offer your hands," the elder instructed, his voice threaded with the power of tradition.

Ruby extended her arm, palm up, feeling the cool kiss of evening air against her skin before Knox's warm hand clasped hers. The blade he held glinted briefly before it bit into her flesh—a sting, then warmth as her blood welled up to mingle with his.

"By blood and spirit," Knox intoned, his eyes locked with hers.

"Bound for eternity," the elder echoed, wrapping a ceremonial scarf—a tapestry of their people's history—around their joined hands. Tendrils of ruby red and midnight blue snaked around their wrists, sealing the pact.

The scarf tightened, knitting their wounds and destinies together. A hush fell over the assembly as the elder spoke ancient words, binding their lives in the eyes of the clan and the spirits of the forest.

Ruby felt a kind of shift inside her, a stirring of power that resonated with Knox's energy. Her heart beat in time with his, a drum call to the wildness that awaited. She was his, utterly and irrevocably, and in that moment, she understood the true depth of their connection.

The celebration pulsed all around them like the heartbeat of the forest, alive and vibrant. The clan seemed to be genuinely happy for them both. Laughter danced on the air, mingling with the scent of pine and the rich aroma of roasted meats. Ruby felttheir approval, their curiosity, their silent blessings for the union that had just been sealed.

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