Aidan.

I loved the reaction I was getting from her. I had to let her know exactly where she belongs.

She shouldn’t be having any funny idea about leaving us. She would stay close to us and serve us.

"No, you are wrong Alpha Aidan, you can’t keep me here."

What?

My wolf was restless, pacing wildly beneath my skin, rejecting everything she had said. There was no doubt, no confusion in him.

She is ours.

Yet... she had looked me straight in the eye telling me I can’t keep her here.

Before I could make sense of anything, she moved away from me, standing just a few steps away, her expression guarded, her body tense.

And I moved.

Without thinking, I closed the distance and grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward me.

"What exactly is your problem?" I demanded, my voice low but edged with frustration. "Why are you acting like..."

I didn’t get to finish, as a figure emerged from nowhere and I clenched my fists in anger.

What is he doing here now? He just seems to be everywhere and it’s getting annoying.

Noah.

His presence alone shifted the air. His eyes locked onto my hand gripping Maria, and something dark flickered across his face.

Before I could react, he strode forward and forcefully pulled Maria away from me.

"Get your hands off her," Noah snapped, his tone sharp and protective.

I clenched my jaw instantly. "And what exactly is your problem, Noah?" I shot back. "Since when did she become your responsibility?"

He stepped in front of Maria, shielding her slightly with his body.

"Shouldn’t you be more concerned about your position as an Alpha?" he countered coldly. "Or better yet...your reputation?"

I frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Noah let out a dry laugh, shaking his head.

"Don’t act clueless. You’re engaged, Aidan. Or have you forgotten that already?"

The words hung in the air, echoing loudly within my head. For a split second, I paused but it didn’t matter.

"I don’t think that’s any of your business," I replied, my voice dropping dangerously low.

Noah didn’t even flinch.

"Oh, it is my business," he said firmly. "Because I’m not going to stand here and watch you ruin everything while dragging Maria into it."

My eyes darkened. "Ruin everything?" I echoed.

"Yes," he continued, his voice unwavering. "You have a Luna-to-be waiting for you. So tell me, what exactly are you doing getting this close to Maria?"

My fist clenched at my side, my nails biting into my flesh. Naoh was slowly getting on my nerves.

"And what exactly is your business with her?" I fired back.

Noah didn’t hesitate, instead, he looked straight into my eyes, muttering words each words slowly.

"It’s my business because I’m protecting what’s mine."

There was a Silence.

My chest tightened.

Before I could respond, Noah’s arm slid around Maria’s waist, pulling her closer to him in a possessive gesture that made something inside me snap.

"Newsflash," he added casually, though his tone carried a sharp edge. "We’re getting engaged."

My head snapped toward Maria instantly.

Her, as I watched her carefully. For a moment... just a moment... she hesitated before she smiled. And that smile felt like a blade to my chest.

She stepped closer to Noah, fitting into his hold like she belonged there.

"My baby," Noah said softly, his voice lowering as he looked at her. "Didn’t you tell them?"

My heart pounded violently.

Maria tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile.

Then she turned to me.

"As you can see," she said calmly, her voice steady, "Noah and I are getting engaged."

The words hit harder than any blow.

She continued, almost casually, "Unlike to some people, I’m not just a...rogue." Her gaze held mine for a brief second before she added, "Noah is my soon-to-be husband."

My chest burned.

"Now, if you would excuse us," she finished, her tone polite but distant, "we have a lot to do."

Noah gave me one last look.

It lingered for a second longer than necessary heavy, deliberate, like a silent warning wrapped in calm restraint. There was something in his eyes, something unspoken yet clear enough to send a chill down my spine.

Then he turned.

Without hesitation.

His arm tightened around her, pulling her closer against him, possessive, certain. And just like that, he began walking down the hallway as if nothing could stop him... as if this was already decided.

I couldn’t move.

Couldn’t breathe.

Everything in me locked up, my body refusing to respond as I watched them take those steps away from me.

"No... STOP!" I said suddenly, the word tearing out of me before I could think.

They both stopped. The movement was immediate, their steps halting in sync, but neither of them rushed to turn.

"That’s not possible."

My voice came out rough, strained, like it had been dragged through something sharp before escaping.

Maria didn’t turn.

Not even a glance.

"The competition," I continued, forcing the words out through clenched teeth, holding onto the only thing that still made sense. "You’re still part of it. You’re still the prize."

That made Noah scoff. A low, amused sound that grated against my ears.

"Competition?" he repeated, like the word itself was laughable. He glanced back at me then, his expression calm, almost bored. "That’s just for fun," he said dismissively. "Whoever wins... wins."

Then his eyes hardened slightly, the faint amusement fading into something more serious. More dangerous.

"But I’ll challenge the winner if I have to," he added, his voice steady, unwavering. "Because Maria is already mine."

Silence fell, heavy and suffocating, and worse Maria didn’t argue nor did she deny it.

Instead, she simply walked out with him like his words didn’t need correcting, like they were true.

And I stood there...Frozen.

Completely still as everything inside me shattered into something wild and uncontrollable.

"We had just marked her!" My wolf howled in rage.