Mag-log inRHYSâ POV.My eyes broadened before his fingers tightened and a sharp pain shot through my throat as my back slammed against the wardrobe.âBraydenâŠâHis grip became harder.âYou know something!â he shouted.I grabbed his wrist, trying to loosen his fingers, but he was far stronger than me.My lungs struggled for air.I could feel panic creeping into my chest, but I forced myself not to fight him blindly.I looked directly into his eyes.Those icy-gray eyes were no longer the eyes of the Alpha King. They belonged to a terrified man trapped inside a memory.âBraydenâŠâ I rasped.He squeezed harder.I struggled to breathe.Then an idea came to me.âIf you kill meâŠâ I managed to whisper as I forced the words out. ââŠyouâll never know who was standing at the edge of that cliff.âHis grip suddenly loosened.The pure white white glow in his eyes vanished. I took a desperate breath when his fingers slowly slipped from my neck.I coughed violently as I stumbled backward, one hand immediately c
RHYSâ POV.I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and shook my head, trying to get the last bits of water out of my hair. When I opened my eyes, I noticed that there were no water stains left on the mirror, which meant my hair was finally dry enough.A small smile touched my lips as I hung the hair dryer back in its place before making my way out of the bathroom.I looked around the room.Brayden still wasnât back.He had left earlier in the evening, and even when Remus and I had dinner, it had been just the two of us. And Zinnia later took Remus to his quarters so he could take his bath and sleep. I walked over to the bed and settled beneath the blanket, pulling it over my body as I tried to get some sleep. Maybe it would be better if I was already asleep by the time Brayden returned.That way, I wouldnât have to see him.I wouldnât have to feel the things I wasnât supposed to feel for him.I turned onto my right side.Then I froze.That was the side of the room where Brayden woul
THIRD PERSONâS POV.The underground cave was unusually quiet. Only the faint crackling of the torches mounted against the stone walls disturbed the heavy silence. Their flames flickered restlessly, casting long shadows across the cold chamber and making the figures seated inside appear even more ominous.Cedric held himself stiffly, his hands resting on his thighs, while Victor looked considerably more uncomfortable. Neither man dared speak too loudly in the presence of their superior.âThe situation at the palace did not go as we expected,â Cedric reported carefully. âThe Alpha King showed up earlier today with his new mate.ââYes, Black Wolf,â Victor added with a nod. âAnd unfortunately, Mia, who we expected to become Luna, was rejected.âCedric continued, âShe was humiliated in front of everyone when she had expected to be chosen, but the Alpha King brought his new mate, a male omega before us. And a son he claimed to be his.âAt that, Victor let out a quiet breath.At the center o
THIRD PERSONâS POV.Tyler sat down beside his daughter and looked at her with a mixture of worry and affection. Seeing the tears still lingering in her eyes, he gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.âOh, my love. Iâm so sorry about what happened today.âMia didnât say a word. She simply stared out the window, her eyes distant as though she were trying to process everything that had happened.âIâm really sorry,â Tyler added softly, running a comforting hand over her back.Mia swallowed hard before slowly pulling away from him.âDad, didnât you see? I was going to marry the Alpha King. Then what happened?â she asked, tears streaming down her face.Tyler lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes for a moment.âIâm so sorry.âMia scoffed. He finally looked back at her.âI didnât know the King was going to show up with a mate. The Prime Minister had already made sure you were going to become his mate. We had already told the King that you were the most suitable woman fo
BRAYDENâS POV.I should never have touched him.That was the first thought that cut through the haze the moment my mouth left his.The second thought was far worse.I was hardâPainfully, humiliatingly hard.The second I had pulled his arm above his headâthe same way I had pinned him against his own front door the night beforeâmy body had stopped listening to reason. His sweet, warm addictive chocolate-milk scent had thickened the instant I got close. It wrapped around my lungs and sank straight into my blood.Grey had gone feral.{Take him. Right here. On that sofa. He already melted into the kiss. You felt it.}Yes, I had felt it.Rhysâ lips had been soft at first, startled, then they had parted under mine. His fingers had tightened under my grip. His chest had pressed against mine until our heartbeats tangled. For a few seconds there had been no contract, no Assembly, no dead omega from six years agoâonly the heat of his mouth and the way his body answered mine.Then I had tasted h
RHYSâ POV. I slowly turned my face away and leaned back into the sofa as if he hadnât just stared straight into my damn eyes. Then came the soft click of his footsteps against the tiled floor as he walked further into the room. His scent drifted toward me. I immediately recognized it. That deep, vanilla musky scent. My thighs involuntarily pressed together as I tried to hold my breath, desperate not to inhale more of Braydenâs scent. Why was this becoming so unbearable for me? And why was he releasing his scent all of a sudden? The clicking of his shoes stopped. I turned my head. Brayden had settled onto the couch opposite mine, his eyes still fixed on me. âMy Luna, how are you doing?â he asked, his voice carrying a teasing edge. I raised an eyebrow. âWas that supposed to be a question, Alpha? Iâm clearly not fine. I can barely breathe with that musky scent of yours filling the air.â His expression changed. Before I could react, he rose from the couch. In the blink of







