Beta Aurelian’s eyes burned with an intensity I couldn’t look away from, his hands trembling ever so slightly as he reached into his pocket. With deliberate precision, he pulled out the Mate Bond ring—the one he had chosen for me with such care. His fingers brushed mine as he slid the ring onto my finger, sealing our connection with a silent promise that reverberated deep within me.
But before we could savor the moment, a guttural cry shattered the atmosphere.
“No!”
The room froze. The sharpness of the voice reverberated through the hall, making my heart skip a beat. My eyes snapped to the entrance, and there he stood—Alpha Lorcan, wild-eyed, breath ragged, clothes soaked in sweat and rain. His chest heaved with every labored breath. He had traveled through the night, driven by an obses
