In the early days of their bond, Avery had cycled through several communication crystals, but each time, Hudson was the first to intercept them, branding his personal frequency onto the stone before she could even protest.

Before their formal Mate-Contract, Hudson would declare with a haughty, protective growl, "If you find yourself in the thick of it, send a pulse to me. Do not keep the frequencies of those younger males in your circle. They are pups with no scent of the real world—clueless and dangerous. You are too trusting, and I will not have them leading you into a trap."

Once the contract was sealed, his tone grew more...