“I don’t understand your question,” River replied in a shy and confused voice.
But he spoke again. Heiko's words echoed through the air between them like a thunderclap.
“Tomorrow, we will be mated officially.”
Her lips parted in confusion, her voice trembling. “This means that… I passed the test?”
She looked almost dizzy with disbelief, her hand reaching out slightly, as if she needed something solid to anchor her to the moment.
Heiko didn’t answer right away. He was watching her too closely, far too carefully. His inner beast growled quietly inside him, alert and restless.
Her shock looked real. Her confusion—genuine. But that only made things more complicated.
He spoke slowly, deliberately.
“Yes… you glowed.”
She gasped softly, her mouth dropping open.
“But…” he continued, voic
