Chapter 81
Annalise
"Victor, don’t," I warned again, but my voice was softer than I intended.
He didn’t back away. Instead, his grip on my waist tightened slightly, his golden eyes burning with intensity.
"You saw it, Annalise," he said, his voice low, persuasive. "The rope of fate connecting us. You have the wolf bond with them, but with me—you have the soul bond. We are meant for each other. I was born for you, to protect you, to stand beside you. You and I are the future of these people, of the Kingdom."
I swallowed hard, my breath uneven as I stared into those golden irises that mirrored my own.
"I know you feel it too," he continued, his tone almost pleading. "The pull, the attraction. You’re denying it because you’re scared—scared to open up again after what you saw. But belie
