Maria.

Anabel suddenly burst out laughing, not a soft laugh, not even a mocking one. It was loud, sharp and unhinged.

The kind of laughter that didn’t carry humor, only something broken beneath the surface, something barely holding itself together. It echoed in the space between us, sending a faint chill down my spine as I stood there, unmoving.

"You’re lying..." she whispered finally.

Her voice dropped, quieter now, but it trembled, just slightly, like she was trying to steady it and failing.

Her gaze locked onto mine instantly.

It moved across my face, scanning every inch of it as if she could find something—anything—a crack, a hesitation, a flicker of doubt that would prove her right. That would tell her this was nothing more than a bluff.

A game.

But there was nothing.

No hesitation. No denial. No weakness.

And somehow... that made it worse.

"No..." she muttered, her head beginning to shake slowly as she took a step back. "No, that’s not possible..."

Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, fingers curling into her palms as if she needed something to hold onto, something to ground herself. Her breathing shifted uneven now, slightly heavier as the truth started to sink in whether she wanted it to or not.

"You?" she let out a bitter laugh, but it didn’t carry the same force as before. It sounded forced. Hollow. "Engaged to Noah?"

I raised a brow slightly, watching her closely, watching her unravel.

"Yes, me," I replied simply.

My voice remained calm.

The contrast between us was clear.

Her eyes darkened at that.

For just a second, something dangerous flickered within them, anger, sharp and burning, mixed with jealousy and something even deeper, something more unsettling.

She laughed again, but this time it was different. It was Shorter and cold.

"I have heard all about your fake engagement, Maria," she said, her tone laced with mockery. "Forgive me for acting surprised."

Her hands moved then, smoothing over her dress with deliberate precision, as though she was piecing herself back together, rebuilding the composure she had just lost.

Then she stepped toward me, slowly and deliberately.

"Your fake engagement doesn’t change anything, Maria," she snapped suddenly, her voice rising again, sharper now, edged with frustration as she fought to regain control. "You think something fake makes you better than me?"

I tilted my head slightly, unimpressed.

"I don’t think anything," I said, my tone flat. "I know where I stand."

That hit her hard.

"You don’t belong here, Maria!" she shouted, her composure cracking completely now. "You don’t belong in this pack, you don’t belong near Noah, and you certainly don’t belong anywhere near the Alphas nor my brothers!"

Each word came out sharper than the last, filled with everything she had been holding back.

But I didn’t flinch.

I just stared at her.

"And yet," I said slowly, taking a step closer, my voice dropping just enough to carry weight, "here I am."

She went silent again.

Her lips parted, but no words came out this time.

Nothing she said was working.

Nothing was shaking me.

And that realization was eating at her.

"You should have listened," I continued, my voice quieter now, but far more dangerous. "I told you to leave."

The tension in the room tightened, thick and suffocating.

For a moment, it looked like she might say something else, might push further, might try to fight back again.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she swallowed hard, her gaze lingering on me for one last second, filled with something unreadable.

Then she turned slowly.

Each step she took toward the door felt heavier than the last, her pride dragging behind her like a weight she couldn’t carry anymore.

When she reached it, her hand paused on the handle.

"Just you wait, Maria!" She said, finally opening the door. "You will regret all you have just said."

With that, she walked out.

The door shut behind her with a soft click.

I stood there for a moment, unmoving, staring at the door as if expecting her to burst back in and take those words back.

But she didn’t.

She was gone.

A long breath left my lips as the tension slowly drained from my body. My shoulders dropped slightly, the strength that had been holding me up moments ago fading just enough for the exhaustion underneath to surface.

But it didn’t last.

Because the moment the silence settled...My thoughts rushed back in.

Noah.

My chest tightened instantly.

The anger, the confrontation, Anabel, none of it mattered anymore.

Not compared to this.

Not compared to him.

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing slowly now as my mind struggled to piece everything together.

Every second that passed felt heavier... more dangerous, like time itself was working against me.

Where could they have taken him?

The question echoed, sharp and relentless.

Why him?

Out of everyone...Why Noah?

What was the plan?

My thoughts spiraled, each one darker than the last, each possibility worse than the one before it.

My steps began to slow, gradually until they stopped completely.

Silence settled around me, thick and pressing, but something inside me shifted, growing stronger.

Determination.

My gaze hardened slightly, my jaw tightening as the uncertainty in my chest began to settle into something more focused.

"I’m coming for you, Noah," I whispered under my breath, my voice low but firm, steady despite everything threatening to shake it.

Because no matter what it took...

No matter what I had to face...

I wasn’t going to sit back and wait.

The decision settled deep within me, solid and unshakable.

And just as that conviction took root...

A sudden flutter broke the stillness.

I frowned slightly, my attention shifting as a pigeon flew in and landed right on my window.

For a moment, I just stared at it, puzzled.

Confused.

Then I noticed it.

A small piece of paper, carefully attached to its leg.

A letter.

My brows furrowed slightly as I stepped closer, curiosity and caution mixing in my chest.

Who would go through this much trouble...?

Who would be so secretive...To send me a letter?