Aidan.

Something wasn’t right.

I couldn’t explain it but my chest felt tight, restless, like something beneath my skin was clawing to get out. I shifted in my seat, irritation creeping up my spine as the uneasy feeling refused to fade.

"What the hell..." I muttered under my breath.

Then it happened again, that sharp, unsettling sensation like something was scratching at me from the inside.

My wolf stirred, pushing forward, trying to take control.

A low growl rumbled in my chest as I clenched my fists. What is it? I demanded internally, trying to suppress it, but my wolf didn’t respond with words, only instinct. As I immediately felt a strong pull.

My breathing shifted instantly.

Without another thought, I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. My wolf surged forward, taking control faster than I could resist, guiding my steps with a precision that left no room for hesitation.

I followed.

No—I was being led.

Through the hallways, past corners, down familiar paths that now felt strangely foreign under the urgency pulsing through me.

And then, I stopped in front of a door.

Vanessa’s room.

My heart skipped.

And without hesitation, I didn’t knock as I shoved the door open.

BANG!

The door slammed against the wall as I stepped inside and froze.

Vanessa.

Maria.

They were struggling, locked in a heated fight, hands pushing, bodies clashing, tension thick and explosive between them. And then, they both stopped. Their movements freezing the moment their eyes landed on me.

"What the hell is going on here?!" I roared, my voice echoing through the room.

My gaze snapped to Maria, fury igniting instantly. "Maria! What the hell are you doing to Vanessa?!"

Without thinking, I rushed to Vanessa’s side, grabbing her arm gently, my expression shifting with concern. "Vanessa... are you okay?" I asked, scanning her quickly. "Did she hurt you?"

Vanessa looked shaken, but she nodded faintly and that only made relief washed over me.

My jaw tightened.

But Maria...She didn’t say a word. She just scoffed, a cold, dismissive sound that sent something sharp through my chest before turning on her heel, walking out.

Just like that.

Like I didn’t deserve an explanation for her actions, like none of this mattered. She didn’t acknowledge my presence as Alpha.

My fists clenched.

"I’m coming," I muttered to Vanessa, my voice low but firm. "I need to deal with her."

And then I was gone.

Chasing after Maria.

My wolf pushed harder, leading me faster until I saw her walking along the cold quiet hallway.

I didn’t call her name and without warning, I grabbed her hands roughly, pulling her back as I pushed her against the wall. Her back slamming hard against the wall with a soft thud, and my hand pressed beside her head, trapping her in place.

"What is wrong with you?" I demanded, my voice low but dangerous. "Why were you fighting with Vanessa?"

She didn’t answer.

That only made it worse.

"Have you forgotten who you are?" I continued, my tone rising. "You’re a rogue, Maria. Nothing but a rogue."

Her eyes flickered but I didn’t stop.

"You’re supposed to be serving the Luna. And instead, you’re fighting her?" I scoffed. "Do you want to be punished again?"

I didn’t get the chance to speak further as her eyes snapped to me.

Burning.

"Punish me?" she echoed, her voice trembling not with fear, but anger. "What more do you want to do to me, Aidan?"

I froze slightly.

But she didn’t stop.

"All the punishments... all the humiliation... all the insults you’ve already given me...what else is left?" Her voice cracked, but she stood her ground. "What new thing do you want to teach me this time?"

Something twisted in my chest, hard and uncomfortable but before I could respond, my wolf surged again violently.

My gaze dropped.

To her neck.

The scarf.

Something about it...I didn’t ponder on the thought and without thinking, I grabbed it and pulled it away.

The fabric slipped away and there it was.

The mark.

My breath hitched.

Rage.

Jealousy.

Possession.

It all exploded at once.

Before I could think, I moved. My lips crashed against her neck, as I buried my face there biting it hard, and marking her, claiming her.

The world went still as the moment stretched and then I pulled back. My breath uneven, as my mind is spinning.

What... did I just do?

My eyes locked on her neck.

The marks, they were not just mine and without knowing my chest tightened.

"They..." I muttered under my breath. "They marked her already?"

Anger surged instantly.

I was the first. The first among us.

So why did it feel like I was... late?

Why did it feel like something had already been taken from me?

My gaze snapped back to Maria, she was still standing there angry and burning. I watched her bend over calmly picking up her scarf as she wrapped it back around her neck.

Like what I did meant nothing and that irritated me even more but before I could speak...She pushed me hard, as i stumbled a step back.

And then...

*Crack*

The sound echoed sharply through the hallway. My head snapped to the side as silence followed.

Her cold furious voice registered in my head instantly.

"Don’t you ever try that again."

I slowly turned back to her.

Her eyes were blazing.

"You have no right," she continued, her voice shaking slightly but firm. "None of you have the right to mark me."

I scoffed, though something about her words unsettled me.

"You don’t understand," I said, stepping closer again. "It’s only natural."

She didn’t move.

"It’s only natural for us to be close to our mate," I continued, my voice dropping.

Her expression didn’t change.

"If something in your head is telling you otherwise..." I added, my gaze hardening, "...Or someone is feeding you with lies, then you’re wrong." I leaned slightly closer. "You are our mate, Maria..."

I paused briefly, taking a step back as I glanced at her, savouring each of her reactions, before gently grabbing her chin and pressing my lips against hers playfully.

"...And you’re not going anywhere."