Scarlett's POV
His arms were wrapped tightly around me, pulling me so close I could feel every heavy sound of his heart against my ribs. I hugged him back just as hard, burying my face in the crook of his neck. The smell of him—rain, forest, and the scent of our shared heat—swirled around me, making my head spin.
I couldn't understand it. We were no longer mates. So why was this love still so heavy? Why did it feel like my soul was still anchored to his?
Then it hit me, a cold realization that made my blood run chill. We loved each other even without the bond. The fated connection was gone, but the natural love—the years of growing up together, the shared secrets, the deep-rooted affection—was still there. It hadn't died with the bond.
And that was exactly what scared me.
