Damien.

Everything happening was beginning to take a toll on me.

I could feel it, slowly, steadily, like a weight pressing down on my chest with every passing moment. The tension, the confusion, the constant shift in everything I thought I understood... It was exhausting.

But even with all of that....There was one thing that bothered me more than anything else.

The fact that I couldn’t mark Maria.

My grip tightened slightly around the book in my hands as the thought resurfaced again, sharper this time, more frustrating. I leaned back slightly, exhaling through my nose as I tried to steady my thoughts.

It didn’t make sense.

None of it did.

I hadn’t felt it.

That *itch* they all talked about, that uncontrollable pull... that burning urge to claim her, to mark her, to seal the bond.

Nothing.

And it was driving me insane.

My wolf had already recognized her.

Accepted her.

There was no doubt about that.

So why was it so difficult for me?

Why was I the only one left out?

I flipped the page of the book again, my eyes scanning the words quickly, almost impatiently, as I searched for something—anything—that could explain what was happening.

But there was nothing.

Nothing new.

Nothing helpful.

Just the same explanations, the same theories, the same endless cycle of information that led nowhere.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as frustration crept in again.

I hadn’t gotten a single clear answer.

But from everything I had read so far—everything I had researched—one thing remained consistent.

She couldn’t fully be ours...not unless all four of us marked her. That was the condition, that was what sealed the bond, without it, everything remained incomplete, unstable and uncertain.

"What exactly is wrong?" I muttered under my breath, my voice low, almost lost in the silence of the room.

My gaze lingered on the page for a moment longer before I finally moved to close the book, my fingers brushing against the edge as I pushed it forward.

But then, something caught my eye.

I froze.

My hand stopped mid-motion as a single line, buried within the text, pulled my attention back instantly.

My brows furrowed.

Slowly, I leaned forward again, my fingers pressing down on the page to keep it open as I focused on the words more carefully this time.

Reading them again.

And again.

> *Possibility of being a twin, alternating the bond, causing it not to be fully formed. One must reject for the other to claim.*

My breath hitched slightly.

I stared at the line, my mind trying to process it, to make sense of what I was seeing.

A twin?

Alternating the bond?

Causing it not to fully form?

"What exactly is the meaning of this?" I murmured under my breath, my voice barely audible as my eyes remained fixed on the words.

The more I read it, the less it made sense, or perhaps....The more it made sense in a way I didn’t want it to.

My fingers tightened slightly against the page.

Could that be it?

Could that be the reason?

The thought formed slowly, hesitantly, as if my mind was reluctant to even consider it.

Could Maria be a twin?

I leaned back slightly, my brows pulling together as I shook my head almost immediately.

No! That wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be and yet, the words remained there, unchanged, unanswered and refusing to be ignored.

I closed the book abruptly, the sound of it snapping shut echoing louder than it should have in the quiet room.

My mind was already racing.

There was no point sitting here any longer.

I needed answers.

And there was only one person who could give them to me.

Maria.

Without wasting another second, I pushed myself to my feet and headed straight for the door. My steps were quick, almost impatient, my thoughts still circling around the words I had just read.

*A twin... alternating the bond...*

It didn’t make sense and yet, it refused to leave my mind.

I reached Maria’s door in what felt like seconds and knocked, once, then twice.

Silence.

My brows furrowed slightly.

"Maria?" I called out, my voice firm but controlled.

Nothing.

No response.

A strange unease crept in.

I waited a moment longer, my gaze fixed on the door as if expecting it to open at any second.

It didn’t.

I exhaled sharply.

I didn’t have time for this.

Without thinking further, I reached for the handle and pushed the door open forcefully, stepping inside almost immediately.

The room was empty.

Completely.

My eyes swept across the space quickly, scanning every corner, every detail, as if she might somehow appear if I looked hard enough.

But she wasn’t there.

Nowhere.

"Damn it..." I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair as frustration began to build again.

Where else could she be?

The question lingered, but it didn’t matter.

I needed to find her.

I needed to ask her.

Because if anyone knew the truth....It would be her.

My jaw tightened slightly as I turned to leave, my mind still racing, but then...I stopped.

A thought crossed my mind, sharp and clear.

No! I was wrong.

There was someone else.

Someone who might know.

Someone who had been closer to all of this than anyone else.

Without hesitation, I turned and moved again, my steps even faster this time, more urgent. I didn’t bother slowing down, didn’t bother thinking twice as I made my way through the corridors.

My destination was clear.

The discipline room.

By the time I reached it, my breathing had slightly quickened, not from exhaustion, but from the urgency building inside me.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Patricia!"

My voice echoed through the room, sharp and commanding.

She reacted instantly.

Her head snapped up, her eyes locking onto mine, confusion flickering across her face at my sudden appearance. It was clear she hadn’t expected me.

That didn’t matter.

I stepped forward, my gaze fixed on her, my expression serious.

"I need you to answer me truthfully," I said, my voice rising slightly, carrying a weight that made it clear I wasn’t here to play games.

But instead of responding the way I expected...She rolled her eyes.

"If it’s about who sent me," she said casually, leaning back slightly despite her situation, "then I’m not saying a word."

I clenched my jaw.

I wasn’t in the mood for this.

"Just shut up!" I snapped, the irritation in my voice no longer hidden.

Her expression shifted slightly at that.

But I didn’t give her time to react.

"Is Maria a twin?" I asked finally, the question coming out more directly than I intended.

The moment the words left my mouth, everything changed.

Patricia froze.

The nonchalance she had been holding onto disappeared instantly, replaced by something else.

Shock.

The same shock I had felt just moments ago.

My eyes narrowed slightly as I watched her reaction closely.

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she stared at me, her expression shifting into confusion.

"What twin?" she asked.

And just like that, I knew...she hadn’t expected that question either.