I turned to Maison and Jackson, feeling the pull toward them with a clarity that was almost overwhelming. Without the suppression medicines, the mate bond hummed between us like a physical connection.
"My brother showed me the truth about the mate bond," I said, meeting their eyes steadily. "About what it could mean for all of us."
Jackson stepped forward first, his usual confidence tempered with uncharacteristic vulnerability. "What did you see?"
"Balance. Strength. An alliance that could reclaim what was lost." I took a deep breath. "But it has to be a choice—for all of us."
Maison moved closer, his grey eyes intense. "Nightshade chose you the moment you entered our territory. I was just too stubborn to listen."
"And Shadowfang has been driving me crazy for years," Jackson added wit
