Chapter 48

Theo's POV Thinking back on our earlier passion, my heart was still pounding hours later. The intensity of what had transpired between us had shaken me to my core in ways I hadn't expected. In that moment of complete surrender, I had almost couldn't stop myself from marking her—the primal urge to claim her as mine forever had been so overwhelming it had taken every ounce of self-control I possessed to resist. The urge had shocked me with its ferocity. Was my attraction to her really this strong? I'd experienced desire before, of course, but nothing that came close to the consuming need I felt for Claire. It went beyond physical want—it was something deeper, more fundamental, as if every cell in my body recognized her as essential to my very existence. Even my wolf, usually so certain and decisive, admitted it didn't fully understand the pull we felt toward her. All it knew was that it desperately wanted Claire to be our mate, wanted to bind her to us permanently in every way that matte