Aidan.

Aidan.

I hadn’t intended to slap Maria. Not like that. Not so suddenly, not with so many eyes watching. The moment had spiraled out of my control before I could rein it in, and all I could remember was the heat of Vanessa’s wrist in my grasp, the fury radiating off her as she struggled to land another blow.

I held her firm, stopping her hand midair, and in that split second, my mind raced faster than my heart ever had.

I couldn’t let Vanessa turn on me.

I couldn’t let the crowd twist the narrative.

And I definitely couldn’t afford to look weak, conflicted, or, worse, guilty.

So I did the only thing that came to me. The most instinctive, reckless thing.

I struck Maria instead.

The sound of the slap echoed louder than I expected, cracking through the tense air like a whip. For a heartbeat, everything froze. Vanessa stilled. The murmurs shifted. The balance tilted back in my favor.

Vanessa’s anger eased, just slightly, but enough. The crowd saw what they needed to see: an Alpha correcting a rogue, defending his fiancée, asserting control.

My reputation was intact.

My chest tightened at the cost of it, but I forced myself not to think too hard about that.

"Vanessa!" I called out sharply as I snapped back into the present.

She was already ahead of me, storming down the corridor, her strides fast and furious, shoulders stiff with restrained rage. I followed quickly, long steps eating up the distance between us.

The moment we were out of sight, away from prying eyes and curious ears, she spun on me, yanking her arm out of my grasp with force.

"Vanessa, let me explain," I said, my voice urgent now, lower, stripped of the Alpha authority I’d worn moments earlier. I reached for her again, needing to steady her, to stop her from walking away. "Please, hear me out."

She tried to pull away, but I managed to grab her arms and turn her back to face me, holding her there despite the tension vibrating through her body.

"Explain what, Aidan?" she snapped, her eyes blazing as they locked onto mine. "You were clearly kissing someone else. And not just anyone, your so-called personal maid. A rogue!"

The accusation hit hard, even though I’d expected it. I inhaled slowly, schooling my expression, forcing calm where none truly existed.

"Calm down, Vanessa," I said gently, deliberately softening my tone. "I honestly thought she was you."

The lie slid off my tongue smoother than it should have.

Her brows knitted together in confusion and hurt, and I pressed on before doubt could fully take root.

"The hallway was kind of dark," I continued, my voice steady, convincing even to my own ears. "She scented just like you, and for a moment... I completely lost myself. I truly believed you were the one standing there."

I pulled her closer, guiding her against my chest, my hand resting over her back as if grounding her there. "Listen," I murmured, tilting her slightly so she could feel the rhythm beneath my palm. "My heart, it beats for you. Only you. No one else."

Her body stiffened at first, then slowly, reluctantly, softened against mine. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"It was a mistake," I added quietly, letting a sigh slip out, as though burdened by guilt. "Nothing more than that."

Vanessa’s breathing was uneven, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. I could feel the storm inside her wavering, torn between anger and the comfort she’d always found in me.

I held her there, patient, saying nothing more. Sometimes silence did more than words ever could.

Inside, though, my thoughts churned.

I hated that I had to lie. Hated that the situation had spiraled this far. But hating it didn’t change the reality, I needed Vanessa calm, trusting, secure. The pack needed to believe the narrative I’d just sold them.

And Maria... Maria was collateral damage in a moment I couldn’t afford to lose control.

Vanessa finally exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing just enough to tell me the worst had passed, for now. I tightened my hold slightly, a protective gesture, one I knew she needed.

"It won’t happen again," I said softly, more promise than confession.

Whether I was promising her, or myself, I wasn’t entirely sure.

There was silence between us for a brief moment, thick, heavy, the kind that pressed against the chest and made every heartbeat sound too loud. Vanessa finally lifted her head from where it rested against my chest, her lashes damp, her eyes still shiny with unshed emotions. Then, slowly, she smiled. It was brief, fragile, but it was there.

"Okay," she said softly, her voice calmer now. "I’ll believe you this time. But next time... don’t let it repeat itself."

Relief washed through me, so strong I almost sagged. I leaned down slightly and patted her head, my lips tugging into a reassuring smile I had perfected over the years.

"Alright, baby," I said gently. "It won’t. I promise you. I’ll be more careful next time."

She nodded, seeming satisfied for a second, but I felt it, the shift in her body, the hesitation that lingered instead of fully melting away. Her fingers tightened lightly on my shirt, not in anger now, but in uncertainty.

"Aidan," she called quietly.

"Yes?" I replied at once, my chest tightening for reasons I couldn’t explain.

She hesitated, then looked up at me again, as though weighing her words carefully. "Can I ask you a question?"

The way she asked it, soft, cautious, almost seeking permission, made my heart start pounding faster than before. I nodded immediately.

"Of course," I said, trying to sound relaxed even as my pulse raced. "Ask me anything."

I searched her face, wondering what could possibly make her this hesitant. Vanessa was never one to tiptoe around her words. If something bothered her, she usually said it outright.

She took a small breath. "The competition," she said slowly. "Must you and your brothers really engage in it?"

I froze.

The words hit me harder than I expected, catching me completely off guard. For a split second, my mind went blank. This wasn’t what I had prepared myself for. Not this. Not now.

I forced myself to relax, schooling my expression before she could notice the hesitation. A smile curved onto my lips, easy, practiced, reassuring.

"Yes, baby," I said lightly. "Don’t read too much into it. It’s just a competition. Nothing more."

Her brows furrowed immediately, suspicion flashing across her face. She didn’t smile back.

"Is it?" she asked quietly. Then her tone sharpened, the softness giving way to something deeper, more personal. "Or is there something else you’re not telling me?"

She pulled back slightly so she could look at me fully, her eyes searching my face. "Answer me, Aidan. Why can’t you all just drop out of it? I don’t want my mate participating in it."

The word mate landed heavily between us.

I stood still, my arms still around her but my mind spinning rapidly. A thousand thoughts rushed through my head, pack duties, expectations, the Quadruplets, Maria, the unspoken rules that governed our lives, but none of them felt safe enough to say out loud.

Vanessa watched me closely, her grip loosening just a bit as she waited.

I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

How was I supposed to explain something that went far beyond simple words? How could I tell her that this wasn’t just about winning or losing, that it wasn’t something we could simply walk away from without consequences?

"It’s not that simple," I finally said carefully, my voice lower now. "The competition isn’t something we can just abandon because we feel like it."

Her expression darkened, hurt flickering across her features. "So my feelings don’t matter?" she asked softly.

"That’s not what I’m saying," I replied quickly. I reached for her again, cupping her face gently. I searched her eyes deeply, to ensure my words would sink into her. "Of course your feelings matter. You matter. More than anyone."

"Then why does it feel like you’re choosing that competition over me?" she whispered.

The question struck deeper than I wanted to admit. I stared into her eyes, seeing fear beneath the jealousy, insecurity beneath the demand.

"I’m not choosing it over you," I said firmly. "I would never do that. But there are responsibilities tied to who we are. Things that can’t be ignored."

She looked away, biting her lip, clearly unconvinced. I hated the fact that she wasn’t. The silence returned, tenser this time, heavier.

I tightened my hold on her, pulling her back against me. "Trust me," I murmured. "Please. I promise you, no matter what happens in that competition, you are still my priority."

She didn’t answer right away.

Instead, she rested her head back on my chest once more, listening to my heartbeat, as if searching for the truth in its rhythm.