Page 75 of Knotting on Heaven's Door

Hair damp from the rain, clinging slightly to her cheeks, jacket clutched around her body like armor. Her eyes lookedglassy, like she’d been crying. My wolf roared so violently I nearly staggered back.

“What happened?” I demanded, voice sharper than I meant. “Did someone hurt you? I swear to gods, Ada, I will—”

“No,” she whispered quickly, placing a small hand against my chest.

That one touch was enough to silence the storm inside me.

She hesitated, then lifted the takeaway bag in her other hand, greasy, steaming slightly, the unmistakable smell of fries and burgers hitting my nose like a memory.

Not the gourmet kind. Not even good fast food. The cheap, questionable kind sold out of a window in a rainstorm.

“I… I felt you were hungry,” she said softly.

My world stilled.

Shefeltme.

Gods.

There was no thought left in me after that—just pure instinct. I grabbed her, pulled her in like the air had been knocked from my lungs and she was the only thing that could bring it back. I kissed her like a madman, desperate, feverish, starved in every way that mattered.

And she didn’t even hesitate.

She dropped the bag on the counter behind me, arms wrapping around my neck, legs around my waist in one smooth, reckless motion. Like gravity had stopped existing between us and we just fell.

I carried her deeper into the apartment, rainwater soaking into my shirt where her body pressed tight to mine, but I didn’t care.

All I could think—over and over—wasmine.

We kissed like we were starving. Like we hadn’t spent the last two days apart but the last two decades.

Every touch, every gasp, every graze of her mouth againstmine—it all lit something in me I didn’t even realize was still alive.

She tasted like rain and salt and everything I’d ever fucking wanted.

We tumbled onto the couch, knocking over half the pillows and a lamp that didn’t stand a chance. I tried to ask—tried to be decent, the last shred of my control hanging by a thread.

“What about your three times rule?” I rasped against her lips, my voice already thick with the sound of need.

But Ada didn’t answer with words.

Her eyes darkened, a growl tore low from her throat, and then—

Her wolf surged.

I felt it before I saw it.

The moment her control snapped, something ancient and wild rose between us. Her scent changed, deepened, surrounded me like a velvet noose and I let it choke me willingly.

Then she bit me.

Right at the base of my neck. No hesitation. No pause. No fear. Her claim tore through my body like lightning, shaking me to my core.

And for the first time in what felt like years…

I felt peace. Real, bone-deep, soul-quieting peace.

Everything clicked into place.

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