53. The Forbidden Charm.

Adrian’s POV

The moment Caleb and I stepped into Matthew’s place, the air felt heavy—charged with power, authority, and a subtle undercurrent of expectation. Matthew, as always, seemed calm, but the way he looked at us told me that he already knew something had happened. I could feel the tension in Caleb beside me; his body rigid, his senses alert. My own wolf within me was restless, a storm barely contained by the thin veil of reason.

Matthew sniffed the air as soon as we entered. His sharp eyes flicked toward me, piercing, searching. I froze.

“Adrian,” he said, his voice low but carrying weight. “Did you… do it with ...?”

The question hit me like a blow to the chest. My pulse spiked. My wolf growled softly inside me. I wanted to deny it, to explain, but the truth had to come out.

“Yes,” I admitted, my voice low, almost a whisper. “I… she forced herself on me.”

Matthew’s expression shifted slightly, a mixture of concern and barely concealed anger. His lips pressed into a thin line as he looked at me.

“You need to calm down,” he said finally, but there was a strange calmness beneath his authority, a knowing that I couldn’t grasp. “Lucy used a forbidden charm on you. It’s designed to stimulate a wolf… to arouse him, make him susceptible. And she… she used it along with deeper things, desires you never knew you had. That’s how she got you to fall so easily.”

I felt heat rush to my face, a mix of frustration and helplessness. My wolf’s instincts wanted to lash out. I wanted to deny it. I wanted to control it. But even with my alpha strength, even with my will, there was nothing I could do.

Matthew’s voice cut through my swirling thoughts. “Look at me, Adrian. You pushed her far enough that she acted on her own. You didn’t want it to happen the soft way. You wanted to push her, and now… now the consequence is here. The glowing tattoo… it’s a sign. A sign you asked for, though you didn’t know it.”

I froze. My eyes flicked to my arm subconsciously, thinking about the glow on her skin, the mark that shouldn’t exist if I truly had no feelings for her. The idea that this was a “sign” made my chest tighten.

---

Caleb’s POV

I watched Adrian shift under Matthew’s gaze, his frustration evident. I knew him—knew every tense muscle, every quickened breath. And I understood the storm raging inside him.

Matthew was calm, almost unnervingly so, as he explained what had happened. He was right. The forbidden charm, the deliberate actions… Lucy had used everything in her arsenal to bind Adrian to her. It wasn’t fair, not in the slightest, and it was frustrating because Adrian’s wolf should have resisted, should have fought it. But somehow, against all odds, she had managed to leave a mark that could only appear on a Luna.

I could see the disbelief on Adrian’s face, his pride and alpha instincts struggling to make sense of it. He didn’t want to acknowledge it, couldn’t allow himself to feel anything for Lucy. But Matthew’s words had a weight to them, a truth that Adrian couldn’t ignore.

Matthew continued, and I listened carefully. “The glowing tattoo… it’s the sign you asked for. Whether you realize it or not, Adrian, you were meant to deal with this. It wasn’t a coincidence. And now, you have to face the consequences of the choices you made—both yours and hers.”

Adrian’s hands clenched into fists. “Consequences,” he repeated, voice low and sharp. “I didn’t choose this.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Matthew said flatly. “You didn’t want it to happen the soft way. You pushed her. Now you have to handle it.”

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Matthew’s POV

I watched them both carefully, weighing every reaction. Adrian was struggling with the realization of what had occurred. The tattoo, the charm, the bond—it was dangerous and unprecedented. Caleb, as always, was grounded, trying to keep Adrian tethered to reality.

But I knew my role here. I needed to protect Adrian, first and foremost. He was the Alpha, and the way Lucy had orchestrated this... plan … it was unnatural, forbidden, and manipulative. Yet it had worked. I could see it in Adrian’s posture, in the tension radiating from him, in the way his wolf churned beneath the surface.

I also had to admit something I hadn’t expected. Lucy had gone further than I could have predicted. She had executed a plan that required cunning, patience, and the precise use of forbidden powers. Whoever she really was, she had orchestrated this flawlessly. And I needed to understand it.

“Adrian,” I said, my voice calm but firm, “you need to calm yourself. The mark, the bond… it’s here. You cannot deny it, but you can manage it. You pushed her to act. That’s a fact. And now, you need to make sense of what comes next. You have to deal with it, whether you like it or not.”

I could see the frustration in both of them—the confusion, the anger, the fear. It was natural. They were alpha wolves, men used to control, to dominance. Yet here, both had been outmaneuvered, caught off guard by a mortal—or so they thought.

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Adrian’s POV

I sank into the chair, staring blankly at the floor. My wolf growled low, restless, but I forced it down. I couldn’t let my instincts take over here—not now.

Caleb’s presence beside me was grounding, a solid reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. But the truth was undeniable. Lucy had changed something fundamental. Something irreversible.

Matthew’s words kept echoing in my mind: “You asked for a sign, and now you got it. You have to deal with it.”

I gritted my teeth. How was I supposed to deal with this? I didn’t want to. I didn’t choose to feel this, didn’t want this bond, didn’t even want her. And yet… the mark glowed. The bond existed. And I could feel a pull toward her, subtle and infuriating, despite my absolute refusal to acknowledge it.

Caleb spoke then, his voice cutting through the fog. “We need to see Matthew’s guidance. We need a plan. We can’t act on impulse, Adrian. Not now.”

I nodded, silent, but my hands were trembling slightly. I hated that I felt something—anything—for Lucy. I hated that the mark was there, that it was glowing, that it was a testament to her victory over me.

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Caleb’s POV

I could feel Adrian’s turmoil radiating off him. I had been in his position before, to a lesser extent, but nothing like this. The bond, the Luna mark… that was unprecedented. And it terrified me—not for myself, but for him. He was the Alpha. The responsibility weighed on him more than anyone.

Matthew had given us direction, but even he couldn’t explain everything yet. Something unnatural had occurred, and we had to manage the consequences. Adrian needed to remain calm, strategic, and rational, even though his wolf was boiling beneath the surface.

I put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not alone, Adrian. Whatever happens, we’ll get through this. Matthew will guide us, and we’ll deal with her. Together. But right now… you need to breathe. One step at a time.”

Adrian exhaled sharply, leaning back into the chair. His eyes were dark, stormy, but there was a small flicker of trust in mine. That was all I needed to see.

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Matthew’s POV

After they left, I remained in my study, reflecting. The ritual Lucy had performed… it was clever, forbidden, and dangerous. She had manipulated Adrian, forcing him into a position that no Alpha should ever have been in. And she had succeeded in leaving the mark, in binding him in a way that was unprecedented in history.

I knew what had to be done. I had to get to the root of her plan. I had to understand what exactly she had done. Most importantly, I had to protect Adrian. He was in the most danger—emotionally, mentally, and physically. Caleb was strong, grounded, but Adrian… he bore the weight of the pack, the responsibilities of leadership, and now this… this bond, this mark, this manipulation.

I promised myself I would find the truth. I would uncover Lucy’s methods, her motivations, her intentions. And I would ensure Adrian was protected—no matter what it took.

The world was shifting. Powers were moving, secrets unraveling. And in the eye of it all, I had to act as the guide, the mentor, and the protector.