Adrien.

I really couldn’t bear it anymore.

Even just a few minutes away from Maria felt unbearable, like something was clawing at me from the inside, refusing to let me rest. It wasn’t normal. Nothing about this felt normal anymore.

I had become addicted.

Addicted to her scent... to her presence... to *her*.

And I couldn’t help but wonder—was this the effect of her blood? Was this what it did? Because whatever it was, it had taken hold of me completely.

Earlier, the way she had spoken to me...Cold, distant and firm. I knew she meant every word. She was serious about pushing me away.

But what was I supposed to do?

How was I supposed to stay away when everything in me was pulling me back to her?

The most frustrating part wasn’t even that I wanted to be near her anymore.

No.

It had gone far beyond that.

My wolf... wanted more.

It wanted to claim her completely, to close every distance between us, to erase every boundary she tried to put up and worst to be inside of her. The urge was raw, overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

And the moment that thought settled...I completely lost it. My control slipped, and just like that, my wolf surged forward, taking over without hesitation.

Before I even realized what I was doing, I was already heading toward her room, each step felt automatic, driven by instinct rather than thought.

I reached her door and opened it slowly, and there she was, lying there... smiling.

Something about that smile pulled at something deep within me, tightening around my chest in a way I couldn’t explain. I didn’t know what she was thinking about... what had put that look on her face...but selfishly...I wanted it to be me, I wanted to be the reason she smiled like that.

And when she said she missed me too...damn, something in me softened instantly. It felt like everything inside me melted at those words.

But then, just as quickly, she asked me to get off her and that... that only made everything worse because I could feel it.

The way her body responded, the way she reacted to me, she clearly wanted this too.

I knew she did.

But she refused to admit it.

And that stubborn denial only pushed me further. If she wouldn’t admit it...then I would make her, I would break through that resistance...Until she couldn’t hide it anymore, until she asked for me.

But just as everything threatened to spiral further...A sharp intrusive knock came from the door. It snapped through the moment, dragging irritation to the surface instantly.

"Who is it?" I asked, my voice edged with annoyance, my patience already gone.

"Maria, it’s me....Noah!"

The name hit me like a blow instantly. Everything inside me collided at once, anger, jealousy, something darker, something far more dangerous.

My jaw tightened as I turned to look at Maria and the moment I saw the smile that formed on her face at the sound of his voice, it only made everything worse.

I rolled off Maria, the tension between us still thick, still charged, but I didn’t leave the bed. Instead, I shifted beside her, closing the distance again as I wrapped my arm around her waist from behind.

I pulled her back against me, fitting her perfectly into my hold as if that was where she belonged.

"Adrien, get off me!" she snapped instantly, struggling against my grip as her fingers tried to pry my hands away. "Noah is outside."

"And so?" I replied without hesitation, rolling my eyes as if his presence meant absolutely nothing. If anything, I tightened my hold slightly, drawing her even closer, my chest pressed against her back. "You can ask him to come inside," I added casually, my tone almost dismissive. "I don’t mind."

I felt her stiffen beneath my hold.

The shift was subtle, but unmistakable.

Every muscle in her body seemed to tense at once, like she had just realized something, or was about to say something she wasn’t sure she should.

"Are you—"

"Now... ask him to come in," I cut her off immediately.

My voice came out sharper this time, firmer, leaving no space for hesitation, no room for argument. The words weren’t loud, but they carried weight, enough to make it clear I wasn’t asking.

"Once he comes in," I continued, my tone steady, controlled, "I’ll let go of you and leave the room for both of you."

Silence followed, it was just a brief pause, but it stretched enough to make the tension between us feel heavier. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You better keep to your words," she said finally, her voice edged with warning, cautious but firm.

For a split second, something about that settled deeper than it should have.

Something I couldn’t quite name.

But I ignored it.

Pushed it aside.

Held onto the control I had instead.

"Noah, you can come in," she called out, her voice carrying just enough to reach beyond the room.

The door opened slowly and the moment Noah stepped into the room, I watched him closely and carefully as I didn’t miss a single detail.

The way he froze the instant his eyes landed on us, the way his body went rigid, the way his face drained of color completely, as if the sight before him was something he hadn’t prepared himself for.

His gaze moved between us, taking in everything—the closeness, the way my arms still wrapped around her and the fact that I hadn’t moved.

"Maria... what’s going on here?" he asked, his voice tight, strained with confusion and something deeper lurking beneath.

I felt Maria shift slightly in my hold, as if expecting me to follow through with what I had said, to let go... to step away.

But I didn’t.

I had no intention of leaving, not when he was standing right there, looking at her like that.

This wasn’t about keeping a promise anymore, this was about making something very clear.

"What does it look like?" I answered instead, my voice calm, edged with something deliberate as a slow, satisfied smile spread across my lips.

A victorious one.

Because at that moment, I hoped he understood it—who exactly Maria belonged to.