Realization

Adrian's pov

Kayla was finally relaxing around me. Finally trusting me. Thank the goddess!

That moment in our room—**her leaning into my touch, the way she didn’t want me to leave—**it felt like a wonderful breakthrough.

I wanted her to feel safe with me. I wanted to be the one she leaned on.

But then… I remembered something else. I remembered this evening with Hector. I remembered how she leaned in his arms earlier that night.

And my blood boiled.

I clenched my jaw, trying to push the image away.

She had looked so vulnerable. And he was the one who had been there to hold her. Not me.

I didn’t like that at all.

In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized something I hadn't let myself dwell on before.

And that was that I didn’t want Kayla around any other man.

I didn’t want her leaning on anyone but me.

And just like that—it hit me. I wanted Kayla as my woman.

Not just as my responsibility. Not just as my pack member. I wanted her romantically, sexually and, wholly as mi