Adrien.

The certainty on Noah’s face sent a chill down my spine.

It wasn’t just confidence, it was resolve. The kind that didn’t shake, didn’t hesitate, didn’t leave room for doubt. He was hell-bent on taking Maria away from this pack.

Away from me.

My chest tightened at the thought, something sharp and uncomfortable settling deep within.

Then what would happen to me?

The question echoed louder than anything else. I could barely last a minute without her, barely breathe properly without that pull drawing me back to her, and now he wanted to take her even farther away?

Completely out of reach?

No! There was no way I was going to allow that.

"Let’s watch and see if you can, Noah," I said, forcing a smirk onto my lips, masking everything boiling underneath. I needed to look unshaken... in control... like I still had the upper hand.

Even if I didn’t feel it, because the truth was, I really had no idea what to do.

Everything I had been holding onto, the excuse of the competition, the structure that kept her here, it had all been brushed aside so easily by him.

And if Maria agreed to leave with him...then I was finished. Nothing could stop them.

My mind raced, searching desperately for something—anything—that could stop this from happening. A rule. A law. Something binding enough to keep her here whether she wanted to or not.

My brothers. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Would they have a solution?

Aidan...

Yes.

A memory surfaced instantly, clear and precise. Aidan’s voice, firm as he spoke to Maria—telling her she couldn’t leave just yet.

Five years.

That was it, I remembered it cleaeky now. He said that when she spoke about leaving before.

"Maria," I said quickly, turning to her, holding onto that thought like it was my last chance. "It seems you’ve forgotten, but you can’t leave the pack yet."My tone steadied as I continued."You can only leave after five years. And it’s barely a year."

For a brief second, I expected hesitation but instead, her reaction wasn’t what I thought it would be.

"Alpha Adrien," she replied immediately, her voice calm, steady, almost too composed. "I also recall your brother made that rule out of the blue." She paused slightly before finishing. "No rule governing it."

I felt it, that flicker, that momentary crack in my confidence. I paled—but only for a second before I forced it down, masking it quickly.

"Whatever we say becomes the rule, Maria," I snapped, raising my voice slightly, forcing authority into my tone as I faced her.

Then I turned to Noah, my expression hardening.

"And you, Noah... there is no way I would let you take my mate away from me. Law or no law."

The words came out firm, possessive and unyielding, making my point known.

But he didn’t back down, not even a little.

Instead, he stepped forward, closing the gap between us until we stood face to face, his eyes locking onto mine without fear, without hesitation, challenging me openly.

"There is nothing you can do, Adrien," he said calmly.

Like he already knew the outcome and before I could respond, before I could stop him, he reached for Maria and held her hands firmly, then turned away from me.

Just like that.

Stepping out of the room as if I wasn’t even there.

I rushed out immediately, my steps quick and unsteady as I made my way straight toward Aidan’s room. My mind was in complete chaos, thoughts clashing into each other with no clear direction.

I couldn’t think, not properly.

Everything felt like it was slipping out of control, like I was on the verge of losing something I couldn’t afford to lose.

My sanity.

Maria.

Both.

Aidan... he was always the calm one. The one who could think clearly even when everything around us was falling apart. If anyone could come up with something—anything—it was him.

I didn’t slow down.

The moment I reached his door, I pushed it open without knocking, barging straight into his study.

But then...

I stopped.

Abruptly.

The sight before me wasn’t what I expected.

Aidan stood there, but something was off. His posture was tense, his expression tight, like he was fighting something within himself. There was a storm behind his eyes, one he was clearly trying to suppress.

It was unsettling.

"Aidan, what’s wrong with you?" I asked, stepping fully into the room, my brows furrowing slightly as I studied him.

He didn’t even look surprised to see me.

"Nothing," he replied instantly, his voice cold, distant. "What do you want?"

I rolled my eyes without thinking.

Typical.

He had always been like this. Ever since we were kids. No matter what was bothering him, he would never say it out loud, never admit it. Just because he was the eldest... even if it was by just a few minutes.

Always carrying everything alone.

I opened my mouth to speak, but suddenly, my wolf stirred, sharp, alert and angry.

The scent hit me just as quickly, and my expression changed instantly as realization settled in.

"Why do you reek of Vanessa?" I asked, my voice dropping as I stared straight at him, my eyes narrowing slightly.

The question lingered heavily in the air.

Aidan’s expression shifted almost immediately, irritation flashing across his face.

"If you want to reek of her, her room isn’t that far from here," he shot back, his tone edged with annoyance.

That did it.

"Damn you, Aidan!" I snapped, my frustration boiling over as I took a step closer. "I can’t believe you’re busy having fun with someone else when our mate is about to leave the pack!"

The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t take them back.

Not when this was happening.

Not when Maria was about to walk away.

"What?" Aidan froze for a split second before standing up straight, his entire demeanor shifting instantly. The cold indifference vanished, replaced with something far more serious.

"Maria is leaving?"

There was no hesitation in his voice now, no distance, just focus.

He didn’t even wait for me to answer.

Without another word, he moved past me, storming out of the study with urgency I hadn’t seen from him in a long time.

I stood there for a second, watching him go and I felt it.

My wolf stirred again but this time, it was uneasy because something about his reaction didn’t sit right with me.

I didn’t want anyone reacting like that to anything related to Maria and not with the same intensity as mine.

Because deep down....I wanted Maria to myself but at the same time...I needed them, I needed their help.

Because if I didn’t...I might lose her for good.