Maria.

I didn’t realize how long I had been sitting there, lost in my own thoughts, until my mind started spiraling again.

Time had passed without meaning. Minutes and maybe more. Everything around me had faded into the background, leaving only the noise in my head—loud, relentless, impossible to quiet.

Everything felt... wrong.

Not just confusing, not just complicated but totally wrong.

Adrien’s mark burned faintly beneath the scarf wrapped around my neck, a subtle heat against my skin that refused to be ignored. It wasn’t painful, not exactly, but it was there. Constant. Persistent. Like a reminder etched into me that something irreversible had already happened.

Something I couldn’t undo.

Davian’s actions came right after, tangled with that memory, making everything even harder to understand. His presence, his choices they blurred whatever clarity I thought I had left, leaving behind nothing but questions I couldn’t answer.

And Noah...

My chest tightened slightly at the thought of him.

Noah, who made my heart soften in ways I didn’t understand, in ways I didn’t want to admit. There was something about him that felt different, something that didn’t fit with the chaos surrounding everything else, and yet, even that only made things more confusing.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Who was I even bound to?

The question echoed in my mind, heavier each time it surfaced.

Who was telling the truth?

Or...Was I just being played by all of them?

The thought made my stomach twist.

My fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the kitchen counter, the cool surface grounding me just enough to keep me from getting completely lost in it.

Frustration built slowly inside me, sharp and restless. I really needed to think this through. I needed to sort through this but every time I tried, the pieces refused to fit.

"Hey, Damsel... what’s going on with you?"

The familiar teasing voice cut through my thoughts like a blade, sudden and sharp enough to pull me back into the present.

"...You look like you could kill someone."

I didn’t turn, didn’t even spare him a glance.

Vincent.

Normally, I would have reacted.

Rolled my eyes or thrown a sarcastic remark his way, anything to flow with him.

But not today.

Today, I didn’t have the patience.

"Not now, Vincent," I muttered flatly, my gaze fixed ahead, my tone leaving no room for humor.

There was a brief pause behind me and a shift in the air.

"Come on, Maria..." his voice softened slightly this time, losing that usual teasing edge. "How about you flee with me?"

That made me turn.

Slowly.

My brows furrowed as my eyes met his, something inside me tightening at the change I immediately noticed.

Something was off.

Vincent wasn’t smiling.

There was no teasing glint in his eyes.

No playful arrogance.

Nothing.

He was... serious.

Completely serious.

For a moment, I just stared at him, my mind trying to catch up with what I was seeing, what I was hearing.

"...What?" I asked, my voice lower now, cautious, uncertain.

"I mean it," he said, stepping a little closer, his gaze steady, unwavering. "Let’s leave this place. You and me." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

My heart skipped slightly.

"Vincent..." I started, my voice barely above a whisper, unsure of what to say.

My throat felt tight, my thoughts jumbled, and yet the words pushed their way out. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t defiance. It was just... uncertainty. I didn’t know how to begin, didn’t know if I even should.

His gaze didn’t waver. Not an inch. Not a flicker of amusement, not a trace of doubt. He stood there, steady, unshaken, and somehow that made the weight of everything pressing down on me feel even heavier.

"There’s nothing here for you, Maria," he said, his voice low but carrying a sharp edge that made my chest tighten. "You’re stuck in the middle of something messy. Dangerous. And it’s only going to get worse."

I swallowed hard. The words hit harder than I expected. Because a part of me already knew he was right. Deep down, a small voice whispered the truth I didn’t want to face: he wasn’t exaggerating. I was tangled in something I couldn’t control, something I wasn’t ready for. Something that could hurt me in ways I wasn’t prepared to handle.

But still... I forced out a small laugh, shaking my head as I stood up. The sound was light, airy, like I was brushing off the tension that clung to the room.

"You’re being ridiculous," I said lightly, forcing my shoulders to straighten, trying to act as if his warning didn’t land anywhere near my core. I brushed past him, keeping my pace brisk, deliberate, hoping to cover up the way my heart still thumped against my ribs. "I don’t have time for this."

He called again, his voice firmer this time. "Maria."

I paused. Just for half a second. My steps faltered, but only slightly. I didn’t turn back. Couldn’t. My instincts told me not to.

"I need to go give Luna Vanessa water," I added quickly, my tone casual, almost dismissive, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The words felt hollow even as they left my lips. It was an excuse. A weak one. But I didn’t want to stay there any longer, didn’t want to face whatever seriousness Vincent was trying to pull me into. Not now. Not when my head was already spinning, tangled with questions I couldn’t answer. Not when my heart was already overburdened with too much.

For a long, tense moment, there was silence behind me. His presence lingered, like a shadow in the room, heavy and unyielding. I felt a shiver run down my spine. A small part of me feared I had pushed too far, that in trying to escape the weight of the conversation, I might have lost him. Lost a friend. Lost a connection I wasn’t ready to let go.

"...Alright," he said quietly after what felt like an eternity.

I glanced back just enough to see him, to check, to breathe, and caught the faintest nod. One single, deliberate motion. He stepped aside to let me pass, giving me the space I demanded without breaking the hold of his presence entirely.

And just like that, I left. Disappeared into the hallway, letting the door between us feel larger than it was. Every step felt heavy with relief, yet edged with guilt. My shoulders loosened only slightly, my mind still spinning with Vincent’s words, with the weight of the warning he had given me.

But I kept moving. Forward. Away. For now. Because whatever mess I was caught in, whatever danger he spoke of, I wasn’t ready to face it—not yet. Not with my thoughts in the state they were in, not with my heart still tangled in everything that had come before.

I left. But his words stayed with me, lingering like a shadow I couldn’t shake as it kept replaying in my mind.

Flee with me.

Why would he even say that?

And why did he sound so sure?

I exhaled slowly, trying to push it aside.

One problem at a time.

By the time I reached Vanessa’s quarters, I was already preparing myself for whatever attitude she or Davian might throw at me.

But just as I approached...the door opened and Davian stepped out.

My steps faltered instantly.

His eyes landed on me dark, intense, intense and unreadable. For a brief second, neither of us spoke.

Then suddenly...His hand shot out grabbing my wrist.

"Alpha Davian—what are you—"

I didn’t get to finish.

He dragged me straight into his room.

The door slammed shut behind us.

"Alpha Davian!" I snapped, trying to pull free. "What is wrong with you?!"

He didn’t answer, instead, he turned sharply and before I could react...his lips crashed against mine.

My eyes widened in shock.

For a split second, my body froze.

As it was flooded with heat, yet confusion lurked around dangerously.

I hated how my body reacted.

How my breath hitched.

How my hands instinctively pressed against his chest instead of pushing him away immediately.

His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me closer like he wasn’t willing to let go.

And for a moment...Just a moment...I almost gave in.

Not until It hit me, like a flash.

Davian.

Vanessa.

Together.

The image snapped something inside me.

My eyes hardened instantly.

I shoved him back with force.

Smack!

The sound echoed sharply as my hand connected with his cheek.

Silence filled the room.

His head turned slightly from the impact.

I was breathing hard.

Angry.

Furious.

"How dare you?" I snapped, glaring at him. "What exactly do you think you’re doing?!"

He didn’t speak immediately.

Just stared at me.

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head.

"What? Did you suddenly forget you’re engaged?"

Still no response.

"Or should I remind you?" I continued, my voice rising. "Your precious Luna is waiting for her water."

That seemed to hit something in him as his jaw clenched.

But I didn’t stop.

"You don’t get to touch me like that," I added coldly. "Not after everything." I stepped back, putting distance between us. "Figure yourself out, Davian," I muttered, turning toward the door.

"And next time..." I paused briefly, glancing at him over my shoulder. "...keep your hands to yourself."

Then I yanked the door open and stormed out without looking back, without stopping.

Just walking away before I could lose control again.