After closing the door that separated his room from River’s, Heiko leaned against it, his eyes shut tight as he let out a long, weary breath. The events of the evening played over in his mind like an endless reel, each moment bringing with it a mix of irritation, pain, confusion, and resignation. All he wanted now was a long, hot bath to relax his tense body and wash away the strain of the night. But he hesitated, knowing that using the shared bathroom might inadvertently lead to another encounter with his chosen mate, and he had enough meetings for the day.
Mate… chosen mate. The words felt foreign, almost bitter, as they echoed in his thoughts.
He muttered them under his breath, testing how they sounded on his lips. They didn’t belong there. He had never believed he would have a mate,
