Noelle flipped through the pages of the old, slightly faded book with mild disinterest. His eyes skimmed over the contents—Alpha and Omega bonds, mating marks, heat cycles, and ruts. It was all basic information, with a roll of his eyes, he suppressed a yawn. None of it intrigued him. Not anymore.
Leaning back, he idly ran his fingers over the worn edges of the page, his gaze catching on the word mating mark. The idea made his heart beat faster, despite his earlier boredom. A mating mark. The thought thrilled and unsettled him, bringing a rush of longing he couldn't quite stifle. He imagined what it would feel like to bear Thorne's mark, a permanent, undeniable sign of belonging. Even if something ever happened to Thorne—a thought that sent a cold shiver through him—Noelle knew he could never be with anyone else. The idea was unthinkable. Impossible.
