Stripes of A Divine Goddess

Amara

It started with the system.

Of course it did.

I was minding my own damn business, wiping down the kitchen counter for the third time that morning, trying not to stare at Winston sitting shirtless again (because the house apparently decided he didn't need clothes today), when I got the ping.

New System Quest: Accept your bonded mate.
Reward: +1 Stat Boost. Mate Bond Activated. House Upgrade: Shared Territory.
Optional Bonus: Sexual Completion of Bond — Doubles XP. Unlocks Pack Leader Title.

I stared at the message. Blinked.

Then I cussed out loud.

"Excuse me?!" I barked at the air. "Y'all trying to assign me a d—"

Reminder: Delaying the completion of a mating bond may result in emotional instability and/or growing heat symptoms.

I read that three times just to make sure it said what I thought it said.

"Oh, so y'all really want me to pop it wide open for Mr. White Tiger 'cause y'all said so?" I hissed under my breath. "Beast God must be drunk."

But the truth was, the pressure in my chest—the heat low in my belly—had been building ever since Winston stepped foot inside this house. His voice, his scent, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that existed? It was wearing me down.

And this morning?

This man had the audacity to cook breakfast shirtless and quiet while humming like his spirit was at peace. Eggs, meat, fresh greens. The whole house smelled like cinnamon and masculinity. I didn't know whether to smack him or sit on his face.

I was losing it.

⸻

I caught him in the hallway later, folding blankets for the girls like he was part of this house already. He looked up when I approached, eyes lighting up like I was the sun.

"Amara," he said gently. "You smell different."

My knees damn near buckled.

"Yeah," I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to act unbothered even as my core pulsed. "System said some stupid mess about bonding and 'emotional instability.' Like I'm about to break just 'cause you got pretty eyes and a voice like a thunderstorm."

His brows raised. Slowly.

"You are in heat."

"Excuse me—what the f—"

He stepped forward. Close. Too close. "It's not your fault. Your body knows before your mind accepts it. I won't touch you until you ask." He leaned in, voice low and lethal. "But when you do... I will ruin you."

My breath left my body.

I stared up at him, heart pounding, hands clenched at my sides.

"You can't say shit like that to me," I rasped. "You don't get to walk around here fine as hell, cooking and folding and talking about ruining people like that's normal."

"I am your mate," he said simply. "Nothing about how I want you is normal."

I lost the thread of everything after that.

I didn't remember deciding to do it.

All I knew was one moment I was yelling at the system in the hallway and the next, I was dragging Winston into my bedroom by the collar of his tunic, slamming the door with a mental command that sealed it shut.