Se connecterAudrey's POVThe Pack Council chamber looked exactly like something out of a supernatural horror movie—all dark wood paneling, ancient tapestries depicting wolf battles, and seven stern-faced elders sitting in high-backed chairs that probably cost more than my entire college tuition.I stood in the center of the room, flanked by my three mates, trying very hard not to throw up on the marble floor."This is a terrible idea," I muttered under my breath."Too late now," Luca murmured back, his hand finding mine. Through the bond, I felt his steady confidence, his absolute certainty that we were doing the right thing.Adrian stood on my other side, his beta instincts on high alert, scanning the room for threats. Theo was behind me, close enough that I could feel his warmth, his usual playfulness replaced by focused intensity.The head elder—the same silver-haired woman who'd delivered my mate-or-die ultimatum at the party—leaned forward in her chair. "Sutton Warner, also known as Audrey.
Adrian's POVThe moment I burst through Luca's bedroom door, I knew exactly what was happening.Audrey sat in the center of the bed, wrapped in Luca's arms, her eyes wide with panic as magic crackled around her like lightning. Vines had completely overtaken one wall, flowers blooming and dying in rapid succession. The air smelled like ozone and crushed petals.One bond. She'd formed one bond, and it was tearing her apart."She needs all three," I said, my voice cutting through the chaos. "Now."Theo was already moving, his witch-born instincts recognizing the magical imbalance. "One bond can't ground her. She's too powerful. We need to complete the triad."Luca looked up at me, and for once, there was no rivalry in his eyes. Just desperation. "Then do it. Both of you. Before this kills her."I didn't hesitate. I crossed to the bed and pulled Audrey from Luca's arms into mine. She was shaking, her skin almost feverish, power rolling off her in waves."Adrian," she gasped, clinging to m
Audrey's POVI found Luca in his room an hour after he'd stormed out, sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands."Hey," I said softly from the doorway.He looked up, and the raw emotion in his amber eyes made my chest ache. "Hey yourself.""Can I come in?"He nodded, and I closed the door behind me, suddenly very aware that we were alone for the first time since... well, since everything had gotten complicated."I'm sorry," we both said at the same time.That broke the tension. Luca's mouth quirked in something almost like a smile. "You don't have anything to apologize for.""Neither do you." I moved closer, perching on the bed beside him. "You were right. We've been keeping secrets, sneaking around. That's not how this is supposed to work.""I was being a jealous asshole," Luca countered. "Adrian's right—what happens between you and him is private until you want to share it. I don't get to demand full access to every moment of your life just because my wolf has decide
Theo's POVIf there's one thing I've learned from a lifetime of being unwanted, it's that chaos makes the best cover.While everyone else was losing their minds over the exploded car and screaming about fae conspiracies, I grabbed Audrey's hand and pulled her toward the stairwell that led to the academy's roof."Theo, where are we—""Trust me," I said, glancing back to make sure no one was following. "You need a break from being stared at like you're either a threat or a science experiment."She didn't argue, which told me exactly how rattled she was. Audrey Warner didn't do quiet compliance—she did stubborn independence with a side of attitude. Seeing her this shaken made my wolf restless and my protective instincts kick into overdrive.The rooftop was officially off-limits, which made it perfect. I'd discovered the access panel months ago and had been using it as my hideout whenever pack politics got too suffocating."Wow," Audrey breathed when we emerged into the late afternoon sun
Audrey's POVSo here's a fun fact nobody tells you about having three supernatural boyfriends—or whatever the hell they were: you spend a truly alarming amount of time trying not to die.Also, library research is way less sexy than romance novels make it seem."This book smells like something died in it," I complained, wrinkling my nose as I flipped through a leather-bound tome that had probably been ancient when my great-great-grandmother was born. "Like, recently died. And then was resurrected just to die again.""That's probably because it's bound in actual skin," Theo said cheerfully from across the table, not looking up from his own decrepit manuscript. "See the texture? Definitely skin."I dropped the book with a yelp. "You could have led with that information!""Where's the fun in that?" His grin was absolutely unrepentant."I hate you," I muttered, using a pencil to nudge the book away like it might bite me."No you don't." Theo's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You think I'm ch
Luca's POVI stared at the bloody note until the words blurred.“Choose your mate by the blood moon, or we choose for you.”Two weeks. Fourteen days to convince Sutton that I was the right choice, while knowing damn well she'd just fucked Adrian in the woods and kissed Theo under a car.My wolf snarled, pacing inside my chest like a caged animal. *Ours,* he insisted. *Should be ours.*But she wasn't. Not entirely. And that was the problem."Luca?" Theo's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "You still with us?"I looked up to find all three of them watching me—Theo leaning against the kitchen counter, Adrian standing protectively close to Sutton, and Sutton herself wrapped in one of my shirts because her clothes were... elsewhere.Seeing her in my clothes while smelling like Adrian's wolf made something violent twist in my gut."I'm fine," I lied. "We need to organize security. Now.""Agreed," Adrian said, his hand resting possessively on Sutton's lower back. I forced myself not t







