LOGIN“You smell different.” My mind was racing too fast to process what he had just said,so I could only stare blankly at him.His frown only deepened.“Tell me,” he said, his voice low enough that only I could hear, “are you my mate?”I didn't know what to reply with. The ringing in my ear had distracted me from what he was saying. “Mate,” he growled. **** Adrian's intention was to make his stepbrother's life hell to live in. Little did he know that his stepbrother was his actual mate. Does he accept the bond or reject it?
View MoreAdrian’s POV The strike team moved within minutes of the order.No speeches. No hesitation.Weapons were issued from secured lockers. Ammunition checked and rechecked. Comms synced to short-range encrypted channels only.I ran final confirmations as we moved.“Team One, status.”“Green.”“Team Two.”“Green.”Stefan stood to my right, already armored, eyes forward. The mate bond was steady for now. Tight. Focused.I checked the roster one last time. Smaller than the original plan. Faster. Less margin.“Rules are unchanged,” I said. “No unnecessary engagement. Primary objective is disruption, not occupation. We do not linger.”Acknowledgements came back immediately.Transport lifted without ceremony. No lights. No markings.The ride was silent except for system indicators and breathing over comms.I felt Stefan shift closer as we neared the drop zone. Not a distraction. A confirmation.We were in this together.The estate perimeter came into view on the tactical display.Security cover
Adrian’s POVThe alarm activated.Not loud. Controlled. A low system pulse that meant one thing.Breach.I was already moving.“Lockdown. Level Black. Seal all exits.”Red indicators lit across the wall display. Gates closed. Internal doors sealed. Defensive systems armed.Stefan was up and pulling on clothes, tablet in hand.“East exit,” Dawson reported over comms. “No forced entry. Clearance override used.”“Whose clearance?” I asked.There was a pause.“…Yours, Alpha.”Stefan looked at me. “That can’t be right.”“It can,” I said. “Just unlikely.”I accessed the system.“Lauren. Logs.”“Reviewing now,” she replied. “Override was clean. No biometric conflict. No alert triggered.”“She didn’t break security,” I said. “She was authorized.”Which meant someone let her go.I stepped into the corridor. Guards were already moving into position.“Full personnel freeze,” I ordered. “Everyone stays where they are unless reassigned. No one leaves the compound.”Acknowledgements came in immedia
Stefan's POVAdrian's hands were everywhere. Mapping my body like territory he needed to memorize. Each touch deliberate. Possessive."You're thinking too much," he said against my neck."I'm not—""You are. I can feel it through the bond. Stop strategizing."He was right. Even now, part of my mind was cataloging risks. Tomorrow's operation. Weak points in our plan. Ways things could go wrong."Help me stop then."Adrian bit down on my shoulder. Not hard enough to break skin but enough to make me gasp. Enough to scatter my thoughts completely."Better?""Getting there."He pushed me back onto the bed. Followed me down. The weight of him grounding. Real. The mate bond pulsed between us, stronger than ever.I pulled him into another kiss. Slower this time. Less desperate. Savoring.His hand slid lower. Teasing. I arched into the touch."Adrian—""Tell me what you want.""You know what I want.""Say it anyway."The dominance in his voice made something in me settle. Submit. I'd spent so
Adrian's POV "From someone who got tired of Damian's schemes. Someone in palace intelligence who still remembers what they're supposed to stand for.""That's vague.""That's necessary. If I identify my source, they're dead. I can't give you more than this."I gestured to Lauren. She took the drive to analyze. Would take time to verify the contents but if Victoria was telling the truth, we'd just gained significant intelligence."Why bring this to us?" I asked. "You could have gone directly to the crown prince. Used it to secure your position with him.""Because Damian's people are watching the crown prince. Everything that goes to him gets monitored. But your network is different. Harder to infiltrate. If I give this to you, there's a chance it doesn't get back to Damian before you can act on it."Stefan studied her. "You're risking a lot. If Damian finds out you brought us this, he'll kill you. Slowly.""I'm already dead if I don't act. Damian's consolidating. Eliminating loose ends






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