Maria.

Noah’s eyes widened, his brows furrowed as if he was trying to read the situation, trying to understand what had just happened and why the air between us was suddenly charged in a way he hadn’t anticipated. I could see the tension in his jaw, the slight shift of his stance, as if every muscle in his body was ready to spring into action. For a moment, I felt almost guilty, but only for a heartbeat, because Darren had provoked this chaos, not me. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

I quickly smoothed my expression, forcing my face into a controlled glare aimed squarely at Darren. My heartbeat was racing, not entirely from fear or adrenaline, but from the thrill of having taken back control, of having drawn a line in the sand. I stepped forward slightly, letting the fire in my eyes speak louder than any words could.

"All I know," I said, my voice sharp and unwavering, "is you can’t win!"

Darren froze for a moment, his mouth slightly open as he processed the defiance in my tone. He took a deliberate step forward, his presence looming over us, as though he thought sheer intimidation could undo what had just happened.

Before I could react further, Noah shifted, stepping between us with a force that mirrored his protective intent. His voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Back off, Darren! She doesn’t want you anymore. Can’t you see that?"

For a second, Darren’s smirk faltered, but only slightly. His dark eyes glittered with a warning as he leaned closer, his tone low and dangerous. "Noah, I would advise you to sort your shit out with the quadruplets before you speak."

I felt my lips curl into a sly, defiant smirk. The audacity of Darren trying to lecture Noah—my Noah—was almost comical. My pulse raced as I realized I held the upper hand now. "That’s none of your business, Darren," I said firmly, my eyes locked onto his. "As you can see, we were in the middle of something before you decided to interrupt."

The way my words fell between us was deliberate. Sharp. I could see the frustration building in Darren’s stance, the tightening of his fists at his sides. And I reveled in it. The control felt intoxicating.

Without thinking, almost instinctively, I stepped closer to Noah. I reached for his hands, intertwining mine with his, feeling the solid warmth and unspoken promise in his grip. My heartbeat hammered in my chest, every nerve on edge, yet calm in a way that only he could inspire.

Then, before either of us could second-guess it, I leaned in and pressed my lips against his. The kiss was confident, claiming, and I could feel Noah responding instantly, his arms tightening around me as though he could shield me from the world.

He pushed me gently back against the wall, pinning me there with a deliberate strength that made my knees weak. His lips captured mine again, this time deeper, slower, and utterly consuming. Heat radiated through me, my body responding to his with a hunger I had tried to deny.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Darren’s reaction. His jaw clenched, fists tightening, his eyes flashing with anger and frustration. But I wasn’t intimidated. I wasn’t afraid.

Instead, I chuckled softly, a light, teasing sound that seemed to mock his fury. "Give up, Darren," I said, letting my words carry just enough venom to sting. "I am no longer yours!"

The defiance in my gaze met his steady, unwavering stare, and together, we created a boundary that no one—no matter how arrogant, angry, or entitled—could cross. My lips pressed again to his, slower this time, savoring the kiss, the moment, and the undeniable truth: Darren had lost, and I had claimed my heart, and my power in one fierce, unrelenting motion.

I was Maria.

And Darren? Darren could watch all he wanted, powerless, as my choice became undeniably clear.

Darren froze at the edge of the hallway, his chest heaving slightly, his gaze locked on us for what felt like an eternity. He didn’t speak, didn’t take a single step forward, as if the sight of us together had completely stripped him of words. His fists clenched and unclenched, his jaw tight, before he finally turned and walked away, his boots echoing against the stone floor.

I pulled away from Noah instantly, taking a step back, my lips still tingling from the intensity of the kiss. Relief washed over me in an unexpected wave, followed immediately by a thrill of triumph. My chest heaved as I watched Darren’s retreating figure, a small, victorious smile curving my lips for the first time in what felt like forever. The air around me seemed lighter, somehow, as though a weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying had lifted in his absence.

"Thank you, Noah!" I said, my voice a little breathless, still tinged with excitement. My eyes locked onto his, and I could see the subtle shifts in him, the tension in his jaw, the way his dark gaze softened as he looked at me.

"For what, Damsel?" he asked, leaning closer, his warm breath brushing my ear, making my pulse spike. His tone was teasing, light, but there was an undercurrent in it that I couldn’t quite place. Something dangerous simmered just beneath the surface.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself as a flicker of the earlier tension from Adrein’s presence returned. His lips had been forceful, dominant, intoxicating... and now Noah’s proximity, the heat radiating from him, threatened to ignite that same fire in me. My thoughts raced uncontrollably, images of Adrein mingling with the raw intensity of Noah’s presence.

"Baby girl," he murmured, his low voice vibrating through me, "what do you think about... we go into your room?"

My stomach twisted. My mind began to wander, imagining the possibilities, weighing the fear and desire, the tension and excitement. Would Noah be like Adrein? Would the same fire erupt between us, consuming me in ways I wasn’t ready for? The thought made my pulse spike in a chaotic rhythm, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath the surface of my consciousness.

Shit. Adrein. He had already awakened something in me, something primal, something that made me tremble even when I tried to resist. My body remembered him, and now Noah’s gaze, so intent and so commanding, threatened to awaken it again.

I shook my head quickly, trying to push the thoughts away, to regain some sense of control. My legs felt weak, but I straightened them, forcing myself to focus on the present moment.

"I... I mean..." I started, my voice a little shaky, unsure of how to phrase the whirlwind of emotions crashing through me. I looked up at him, trying to gauge the intent behind his gaze, trying to understand what he truly wanted from me.

Noah’s expression softened the instant he noticed my hesitation. He took a small step back, enough to give me space but not so much that the tension between us dissipated entirely. The lust I had glimpsed in his eyes moments ago, the raw hunger that had made my heart race, was gone, replaced with a calm, neutral smile that seemed to reassure me without words.

"I mean," he continued gently, "the swells on your skin... I can help you apply an ointment." His tone was patient, considerate, and I realized he had read my thoughts before I had even spoken them. He knew I wasn’t prepared for what he might want, and he adjusted instantly, showing me that he respected my boundaries, even if my mind still struggled with the lingering traces of desire.

I bit my lower lip, still unsure, still feeling the heat of the earlier moments pressing against my chest, my throat tight with uncertainty. I nodded slightly, acknowledging his words, appreciating his gesture, but I couldn’t bring myself to step fully forward, to invite him into my room just yet.

Noah’s eyes lingered on me, searching, measuring, as if trying to understand what was going on in my mind.

Did he think I was rejecting him? Was he interpreting my hesitation as refusal?