Ryder stood in front of me, his chest heaving, eyes blazing with an intensity I’d never seen before. A low, guttural growl escaped his throat, directed straight at Lucian. The tension in the room felt like it could snap at any moment. Lucian's arm, still possessively wrapped around my waist, tightened slightly, and for the first time, I could feel the weight of the situation press down on me.
The scent of the mate bond hit me all at once. It was overwhelming, intoxicating, like something delicious I’d never tasted but craved. It didn’t make sense. How could Ryder, my own brother, be the one my wolf recognized as a mate? The pull was undeniable, even as my mind struggled to reject it. I tried to think clearly, but every inhale filled my lungs with Ryder's scent, a mixture of woodsy pine an
