Chapter 150

Claire's POV For several minutes afterward, we lay tangled together, our breathing gradually slowing. His weight on me was comforting rather than crushing, and I found myself reluctant to let him move. Eventually, though, he rolled to the side, pulling me with him so that my back was pressed against his chest, his arm securely around my waist. "That was..." I trailed off. "Incredible," he finished for me, placing a soft kiss on my shoulder. "I wanted to mark you just now, leave my scent all over you," he murmured against my neck. "Mark?" I questioned. He chuckled softly. "Didn't you say you're a werewolf now? I thought you'd have learned more about our ways by now." I caught the teasing tone in his voice and swatted at him playfully. He tightened his hold, pulling me closer against his chest before explaining. "Marking is a claiming ritual. It officially establishes the mate bond and warns off any competitors. It's a declaration that you're mine." I noticed how he emphasized the word "