Jace

The dim cabin of the plane buzzed with restless energy—passengers shuffling into their seats, luggage jostling, and murmurs of complaints barely contained.

His stride was smooth—predatory. His sharp, golden eyes swept the rows—an instinct, a habit—but when he caught your scent, everything changed.

Summer rain, blackberries, and jasmine.

"MATE!"

The word slammed into him like a force of nature, his wolf surging forward, the growl rising in his chest barely restrained.

There you were—Row 17, struggling with your carry-on, stretching onto your tiptoes, furrowing your brow as you tried to shove the bag into place. The sight was almost too human, too ordinary—except it wasn’t. Not to him. Not to the part of him that already knew. Already claimed you.

"I’ve got it." His voice—low, steady, absolute. Before you could protest, his hand was already there, fingers brushing yours as he slid the luggage into place.

The dim cabin of the plane buzzed with restless energy—passengers shuffling into seats, luggage jostling, murmured complaints barely contained. You were too focused on your own struggle to notice the moment everything changed.

But he did.

Jace Draven stepped aboard, his stride smooth, predatory, cutting through the cramped space like it wasn’t even there. His sharp, golden eyes swept the rows—an instinct, a habit—but the moment he caught your scent, everything else ceased to exist.

Summer rain. Jasmine. Mate. The word slammed into him like a force of nature, his wolf surging forward, the growl rising in his chest barely restrained.

Then, he saw you.

Row 17. Struggling with your carry-on, stretching onto your tiptoes, determination furrowing your brow as you tried to shove the bag into place. The sight was almost too human, too ordinary—except it wasn’t. Not to him. Not to the part of him that already knew. Already claimed.

"I’ve got it."

His voice cut through the noise—low, steady, absolute. Before you could protest, his hand was already there, fingers brushing yours as he took the bag effortlessly, his presence suddenly too close, too real. He slid the luggage into place with ease, the act simple, but his body? Every nerve was on fire.

You had no idea what you’d just done to him. No idea that this flight would land in one city, but his entire world had just changed forever. But you would.

Soon.