MARIA.

I picked up the letter slowly, my fingers brushing against the edges as I stared at it for a moment longer than necessary. My brows furrowed slightly, a faint crease forming between them as curiosity gnawed at me.

Who would send me a letter?

And why now?

Carefully, I began to open it, taking my time, making sure not to tear any part of it by mistake. My movements were deliberate, almost cautious, as if the paper itself held something fragile, something important.

My heart beat a little faster.

I still didn’t know who it was from but something about it didn’t feel ordinary.

My curiosity got the best of me.

Slowly, I unfolded the paper, my eyes scanning the words the moment they came into view.

And then...

I froze.

My breath caught slightly as the words registered in my mind, leaving me completely dumbfounded.

> *You want to know where Noah is, then...*

My grip on the letter tightened unconsciously.

Noah?

The name alone sent a jolt through me, my pulse quickening instantly as a thousand thoughts rushed through my head all at once.

Who sent this?

How did they know....

I didn’t even get the chance to finish reading it, as I heard footsteps approaching.

My head snapped toward the door, my body going rigid as the sound grew clearer with each passing second.

Panic surged through me.

Without thinking, I quickly folded the letter and dropped to my knees, shoving it under the bed in one swift motion. I didn’t bother to straighten it, didn’t bother to seal it back the way it was.

I just needed it out of sight, from how mysterious it came, then no one else had to know about it.

I wasn’t even sure if it was meant for me...

But then why mention Noah?

The question lingered, heavy and unanswered, just as the door suddenly burst open.

The loud sound snapped me out of my thoughts instantly, my head jerking up as I straightened.

For a brief moment, I expected to see Anabel standing there.

And honestly, I was ready for her but it wasn’t her.

It was Adrein.

"Maria!"

The way he said my name, soft, almost cheerful, immediately made me roll my eyes in irritation.

Seriously?

I couldn’t even begin to understand when we had gotten to this point. When did he start acting like we were close? What exactly gave him the right to walk in here and call my name like that, like nothing had ever happened?

"Come on," he said, stepping further into the room, his lips curling slightly as he looked at me. "Can you give me a hug?"

He even rolled his eyes playfully, like some kind of puppy trying to win affection.

I stared at him.

Unimpressed.

"Get out," I said flatly, my hands curling into fists at my sides as irritation flickered through me.

"Maria, relax," he replied, not taking me seriously at all as he took another step closer.

That only made it worse.

"See, I know I haven’t entirely been good to you..." he continued, his tone shifting slightly, becoming softer now. "But I’m sorry."

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then my expression hardened.

"You’re sorry?" I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief as I stared straight at him. "And what exactly does that have to do with me?"

My words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t take them back.

"Maria... I was wrong, I admit it. But don’t push me away... I can’t live without you. You remember what the healer said."

His voice dropped, softer than I had ever heard it, almost desperate, but it didn’t move me.

Before I could react, his hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me toward him. My breath hitched slightly as the sudden closeness caught me off guard. His warmth pressed against me, his breath hot against my skin, sending a wave of discomfort through me rather than anything else.

"Can you give me a chance to prove it..."

"Second chance?" I cut in sharply, my voice slicing through his words before he could finish.

My eyes locked onto his instantly, my expression hardening as every ounce of patience I had left disappeared.

"Are you kidding me, Alpha Adrien?" I asked, my tone laced with disbelief and anger. "Don’t think for a second, that just because you took that arrow for me, I’m going to feel indebted to you."

His grip on my waist tightened slightly, but I didn’t stop.

"I’ve suffered far worse than that," I continued, my voice steady but filled with everything I had endured. "At the hands of you... and your brothers."

The words hung between us, heavy and unavoidable.

I paused, my gaze searching his face, his eyes were only inches away from mine now, but whatever he expected to find there wasn’t what he got. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"So please..." I added finally, my voice quieter now but no less firm, "...get out! I need to rest."

For a second, I expected him to let go, to step back, to finally understand but instead—

He pulled me closer.

Before I could react, his lips crashed against mine, sudden and forceful, claiming me in a way that made my body go rigid.

My mind went blank, then chaotic but this wasn’t right. Nothing about this felt right because at that moment....It wasn’t him I was thinking about.

It was Noah.

Every thought, every emotion, every worry, it all circled back to him, filling my head completely, leaving no room for anything else.

Panic surged through me.

I pushed Adrein away with all the strength I had, breaking the contact abruptly. My chest heaved as I stumbled back slightly, my heart racing.

Before he could say anything....

My hand moved.

The sound of the slap echoed sharply through the room as my palm connected with his cheek.

"I said get out, Alpha Adrien." My voice was cold.

For a brief moment, silence filled the space between us.

Adrein’s head tilted slightly from the impact, but instead of anger, something else crossed his face.

Amusement.

Slowly, he lifted his hand, touching his cheek as if testing the sting, his gaze returning to me with an intensity that made my stomach tighten.

He looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.

"I don’t know what came over you, Maria," he said, his tone calmer now, almost thoughtful. "But I’ll make you crave me again."

The confidence in his voice only irritated me more, but I didn’t respond.

I didn’t care.

Not anymore.

He held my gaze for a second longer before finally turning, his steps unhurried as he made his way to the door.

Then he left.

The door clicked shut behind him and the moment it did...I moved quickly.

I dropped to my knees and reached under the bed, my fingers searching until they found the folded paper. My heart was already racing again, but this time, for a completely different reason.

The letter.

I pulled it out, my hands slightly shaky as I unfolded it again, my eyes immediately scanning the words.

> *You want to know where Noah is, then come to the forbidden area alone. Do not tell anyone, and do not bring anyone.*

I froze.

Completely.

My grip on the paper tightened as the words sank in, each one heavier than the last.

Alone.

No one else.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest, the silence of the room suddenly deafening as a thousand thoughts rushed through my mind at once.

This wasn’t just a message.

It was definitely a trap.

And yet...

Noah was involved.

Which meant... I didn’t have a choice.