CHAPTER 21

DRAKE POV

Lillian tasted like victory and stolen moments.

My lips moved against hers with a hunger that should have scared me, but all I could think was mine, mine, mine. The way her fingers tangled in my hair, the little whimper when I nipped her lower lip—every sound, every touch fed the beast inside me that had waited a decade for this.

I pulled back just enough to see her face….flushed, lips swollen, eyes dark with the same need that is burning through my veins.

“Tell me again,” I demanded croakily.

She arched her hips against me, her nails searing my shoulders through the fabric. “I am yours.”

Kael howled happily. My teeth ached to mark her, to brand that perfect throat where everyone would see….and know she is mine. My fangs stretched—

Then reality crashed in.

Andre.

I wrenched away so fast the railing creaked under my grip. Then I asked painfully, “What about your bond with Andre?”

Lillian’s breath hitched. The scent of bergamot and vanilla soured with guilt as she avoided my eyes, “I will talk to him today.”

The words should have calmed me down, but they didn’t.

A mating bond wasn’t some casual tie to be severed over a balcony confession or a surge of emotion. It was soul deep, primal. And Andre was my brother in all but blood.

Salome’s knock brought us back to reality. “Lily? Your mother is asking of you.”

Lillian hesitated and brushed her fingers with mine. A silent plea.

“Go.” I breathed as I forced myself to release her. “But take Lucas as escort. Do not ever leave the pack grounds alone.”

As she disappeared inside, I pressed my forehead to the cool stone. Ten years of restraint all brought to the knees because of a single kiss.

And now I had to face the repercussion.

The armory smelled of steel and silver. I stayed there in darkness, as I ran a jarred rock down my favorite blade, the rhythmic scrape filled the silence as I waited for the inevitable.

The door slammed open.

Andre stood framed in the doorway, his golden eyes wolf bright with fury and Lucas hovered behind him, uncharacteristically grim.

“You knew.” Andre asked calmly, his voice barely human.

I set the blade down carefully and asked, “Knew what?”

“That she is my mate!” He snarled.

Kael shifted uncomfortably beneath my skin, but I kept my tone even. “She was never yours.”

Andre lunged forward, his arms aiming for my neck, but Lucas caught him around the waist, not before his claws cut through my shirt.

“Easy!” Lucas grunted as he struggled to hold him back.

I didn’t flinch, I just stared at him blankly and asked, “you felt it too, didn’t you? That kiss.”

The pain that flashed across Andre’s face was worse than any physical blow.

Lucas shot me a warning look and said sharply, “Drake…”

I walked round the weapons table and stopped just inches away from Andre and snarled, “tell me honestly…has she ever looked at you the way she looks at me?”

Andre clenched his fist painfully, “The bond—”

“Fuck the bond.” I snarled as I moved inches towards him, letting my Alpha power roll off me in waves. “If it was real, she would have chosen you.”

For a heartbeat, I thought he might throw his fist at me. Then his shoulders slumped. “You are really doing this.”

Not a question. A surrender.

Lucas released him slowly. “Andre—”

“No.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I saw them together, Lucas. We both did. The way she…” His voice broke.

The scent of his anguish…soured pine and citrus….clawed at my conscience. This was Andre. My brother. The man who had carried me bleeding from the border wars.

And I was causing him pain over a woman.

I reached out, then let my hand fall. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

Andre’s laugh was empty. “Just wanted her enough to do it anyway.”

The truth landed like a blade between my ribs.

Lucas cleared his throat and said loudly. “Tournament starts in two days. We need to be united, especially now that the Eastern Pack—”

“Save the pep talk.” Andre stood up abruptly and placed back his cold mask of indifference. “I know my duty.”

He turned on his heel and left without another word.

Lucas whistled. “That went well.”

I retrieved my knife and ran it once more along the edge. “He will challenge me.”

“Would you?”

The question made me pause. If our positions were to be reversed…if Andre had claimed the woman who hunted my dreams…would I have walked away so easily?

The answer twisted in my gut.

Minutes later, the door burst open once more.

This time, it wasn’t Andre, neither was it Lucas who had excused himself earlier.

Josh.

“We need to talk.”

I set the sharpened knife down once more carefully. “About?”

“Don’t play dumb.” He kicked the door shut. “I saw you with Lily.”

Ah.

I leaned back, crossing my arms defiantly and asked, “And?”

“And?” Josh mimicked, his voice high pitched. “She is Andre’s mate! Or did you forget the part where he is your best friend?”

Kael growled under my skin. “She was never his, Josh.”

Josh slammed his fist on the weapons rack, sending daggers clattering. “That’s bullshit! I was there when the bond snapped into place. Saw how it wrecked him when you two kissed.”

The image of Andre collapsing during our balcony moment flashed behind my eyes and I shoved it aside.

“You think I wanted this?” I walked towards him slowly, letting my Alpha power roll off me in waves. “I stayed away for ten years—”

“You don’t get to play victim.” Josh stood his ground, green eyes blazing. “Andre has been by your side since you were pups. Took a fucking bullet for you last winter. And this is how you repay him?”

I closed my eyes as the words washed over me.

Josh wasn’t done. “You know what is funny? Lily never looked at Andre the way she looks at you. He knew it too. Still chose to love her anyway.” His voice dropped. “Guess loyalty only goes one way.”

I moved before I could think, slamming him against the wall, I snarled, “Careful, pup.”

Josh bared his throat…not in submission, but outright challenge and snarled back, “Do it. Prove me right.”

Our chests heaved in unison, the air thick with aggression and obvious truth.

Then—

“Enough.”

Lucas stood in the doorway, arms crossed. “Eastern pack scouts just breached the southern tree line. They are heading for the old research facility.”

I released Josh with a snarl. “How many?”

“Five. Maybe six.” Lucas’s gaze snapped between us. “Andre is already mobilizing a team.”

Of course he was. Even heartbroken, my beta put the pack first.

And the realization tasted like ash

Josh straightened out his shirt with frown. “I am going with them.”

Like hell. “You are staying—”

“And do what? Watch you destroy my best friend?” He spat at my feet. “Fuck your orders.”

The door slammed behind him.

Lucas whistled. “Well, what just happened? I had only left for few minutes.”

I picked up my blade and was already half way to the door, when I paused to look at him….

“Just me reaping the fruits of my actions.”