Page 81 of Bitten Shifter

“Oh,” I say faintly, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. My mind is a blank slate. Merrick loves me.Me.How is that even possible?

He kisses my forehead—soft, reassuring—and pulls away. “Come on. While everyone finishes prepping, we need to talk about who you are. Your place in the pack.”

“What I am, you mean? A sigma?” The word feels heavy on my tongue, and I swallow nervously.

“Yes.” He leads me from the armoury, down the corridor, and into his private office. The quiet is a stark contrast to the hum of preparation outside. My nerves jitter in my stomach. I don’t know what being a sigma really means, but I pray it isn’t something bad.

Before I can slump into one of his visitor’s chairs, Merrick scoops me up effortlessly and sits me on his desk. He nudgesmy thighs open and steps between them, his presence a mix of warmth and dominance that steals my breath.

“Sigmas are very rare,” he says, his voice low and measured, as if sharing a secret. “They exist outside the traditional pack hierarchy. Not alphas, not betas, but something entirely their own. Successful, respected, but rebellious. Lone wolves who are untouchable. They bring balance, Lark, and because of that, we protect them. We cherish them.”

I stare up at him, my pulse quickening. “So… what does this mean for us?”

His gaze softens, though his expression remains intense. “It means,” he says, brushing a kiss on my nose, “I’m the luckiest man alive. The last known sigma died over two hundred years ago. You are something my kind has only whispered about. You can’t be commanded by an alpha. Your healing, your shifting—it will all be faster, stronger. And your gifts…” His lips quirk into a small smile. “We will discover them together. I will be with you every step of the way.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice catching on the sudden emotion rising in my chest.

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s an honour to help my mate.” His thumb brushes my cheek, lingering near my lips. “Can I kiss you?”

The question steals the air from my lungs. I swallow hard, my eyes wide as they meet his.

“Courage, mate,” he murmurs, his breath feathering over my lips, warm and teasing. I nod, unable to form words, and then he leans in.

The moment his mouth meets mine, it’s like a bolt of lightning hits me—fire and electricity racing through my veins. His scent surrounds me, intoxicating. My entire body shudders, and I lose all sense of reason. My hands reach up instinctively,threading through his hair and pulling him closer as my body arches into him.

He tips me back over the desk, and I don’t care when he follows me down. I don’t think. Thought is obliterated, replaced by sensation—his lips firm and sure, the sweep of his tongue making me tremble, burning heat surging through every inch of me.

I’m gone.

Nothing exists except this kiss, this man, and the fire he has lit inside me. I’ve never known a kiss like this. It’s…everything.

A loud fist pounds on the door, rattling the frame. “Come on, you two! We’re loading up!” Riker’s voice booms, equal parts exasperated and amused.

Reluctantly, Merrick and I pull apart. My lips tingle, still buzzing with sensation. I can’t help but touch them, breathless.

“He has impeccable timing,” I rasp, trying to collect myself.

“The absolute worst.” Merrick’s voice is low, rough, and edged with frustration. “If he were not so damn useful, I’d kill him—just so I could keep kissing you.”

He helps me down from the desk with infuriating care, his touch lingering. Then he takes my hand, weaving his fingers through mine as though he refuses to let go, and together, we head outside to join the others.

Chapter Thirty-Four

He kissed me.I almost choke on the thought. And wow—that kiss. Let’s just say I didn’t know people could kiss like that. The connection, the fire, the everything. It’s both exhilarating and terrifying. How can a kiss make me feel so unmoored yet so grounded at the same time?

When I get outside, I still feel dazed and have to shake myself awake.

There are seventeen of us—three groups of four, then our group of five. I’ve made the numbers wonky.Great start, Lark.

Each team has its own transport, sturdy vans with heavily tinted windows and bench seating in the back. It’s a very different experience from the time I was stuffed into one of these.

Our vehicle is the last to pull away from the kerb. As we drive, familiar streets roll past my window. My old workplace disappears behind us, and further down, I spot the massive oak tree and… I squint, pressing my palm to the window and leaning in so far, my cheek smushes against the glass.

I stare back at the empty plot where the house used to stand. “The wizard’s house is gone,” I say, disbelieving.

“Yes,” Merrick says. “With everything that happened, I forgot to tell you. It disappeared the day you were abducted.”

A small, distressed noise escapes me before I can stop it. “Gone? Just like that?”

---