Semua Bab Chosen By The Lycan King: Bab 171 - Bab 180

Jessica/tessa pov.I stepped out of the dungeon, my mind a mess of thoughts that refused to settle. I could still feel the warmth of his fingers against my skin, the way the golden light flared between us. It wasn’t possible. It shouldn’t be possible.How could I have two mates?There was only supposed to be one. One fated mate chosen by the moon, or—if you were unlucky enough to lose that bond—someone you chose for yourself. I already had both. A fated mate who had cruelly rejected me, and Zane—my chosen mate. The man who stood by me through everything, who never once let me fall.And yet… Adrian.The name itself made me feel sick. His touch had done something I didn’t want to admit. It made my chest tighten and my lycan stir like it recognized something ancient and dangerous.“Jess.”I blinked and looked up, colliding into Zane’s chest. His hand caught my arm. He looked down at me, brows furrowed. “What’s wrong? Did he say something to you?”His voice was sharp, protective—too prot

Jessica/Tessa pov.I thought about Linda’s words all night. Her logic made sense. If this man really was my fated mate, then rejecting him was the only way to end it before things got worse. The connection between us—whatever it was—had already caused too much confusion. I couldn’t let it destroy everything I had with Zane.So the next morning, I made up my mind. I was going to end it.When I got to the prison, two guards opened the heavy doors. The air inside was cold, and I could already feel my heart pounding in my chest. Adrian sat inside the small cell, calm as ever, his hands resting loosely on his knees like he was sitting in a garden instead of behind iron bars.He looked up as soon as I stepped in. “Jessica,” he said softly, as if he’d been waiting for me.“Don’t call me that,” I said quickly, trying to sound firm. “We need to talk.”He smiled faintly. “Then talk, I’m here, all yours to listen.”I walked closer but didn’t step too near, not wanting to pay attention to his wo

Tessa/jessica pov“Just like your mother.”Those words clung to me like smoke as I stepped out of the dungeon, refusing to leave no matter how hard I tried to push them away. My heart was still pounding from the moment he said them. My palms were damp, my fingers trembling, and the dim corridor ahead of me felt unreal — like I was walking inside a dream I didn’t want to be part of.What did he mean?How could he possibly know anything about her?My mother died before I could even form memories of her. She had died saving me.The cool hallway air brushed against my face, but it didn’t calm the heat pulsing faintly at my neck. The warm, golden mark Adrian left there — the one I tried not to think about — throbbed like a quiet reminder of something dangerous. Something I shouldn’t feel drawn to.I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to focus on my steps, when a distant voice echoed down the corridor, muffled and hard to place.“Tessa—”I didn’t react at first. My mind was still in tha

Zane pov.If there’s another word that could describe how I feel, I’d use it. Because jealousy wasn’t enough. It didn’t even come close. What I felt burned deeper—raw, violent, like something feral was clawing to get out of me. I wanted to rip his head apart.He’s her fated mate.Then what about me?What the hell am I supposed to be? A replacement? A distraction until fate decides to pull her back to him?Even though she won’t admit it, the mate bond’s been bothering her more than it should. I see it in her eyes every time his name is mentioned, the way her body stiffens slightly before she pretends to be fine. She thinks she hides it well, but she doesn’t. And maybe that’s what hurts most.Because no matter what she says, it’s there. The pull. The bond. The thing I’ll never have with her.He has what I don’t—an actual bond with her. Something given by the goddess herself. Something I can’t fight or break or replace.And it’s making me feel so damn insecure.I try not to let it show.

Zane pov.I searched through every old book I could find that mentioned the history of the older packs. The shelves were covered in dust, most of the pages already falling apart, but I didn’t care. After what happened with Carter, I needed answers. He had said something before I was pulled away that didn’t sit right with me—something about Tessa’s mother and Adrian’s family. And then, just like that, Carter vanished. No trace, no witness, no body.I know Adrian had something to do with it. He has people loyal to him even while he’s locked up, and I’m not stupid enough to believe his influence ends at the dungeon walls.Still, I can’t tell Tessa about any of this. She’d think I’m being paranoid again. Jealous, even. And honestly, maybe she’d be right to think so. What proof do I have? None. Just a bad feeling that keeps eating at me every time I think about him. Every time I see that mark on her wrist that shouldn’t even exist.How could Adrian do anything when he’s trapped in there?