Aidan.

I had always believed she needed us, that no matter how much she resisted, how much she tried to push us away, deep down, she craved the bond, our presence, our touch, she couldn’t possibly do without us.

That was what I told myself.

What I held on to.

But the moment she shoved me...everything shattered, the thoughts I held into broke because It wasn’t a weak push, nor was it hesitant. It was firm...decisive... real and in that instant, I understood.

She wasn’t joking.

She wasn’t playing hard to get.

She meant every word she had said.

My pride, well, it collapsed completely. All the confidence I had built over the years as Alpha, all the authority I carried, it felt meaningless now, slipping through my fingers like sand.

The pack was already unstable, everything around me was falling apart and yet, the one thing I couldn’t fix... was the one thing I wanted the most in my life.

Maria.

I wanted her, not just as an obligation, not just as a bond and truthfully not just because she was my mate.

So how was I supposed to stand there and watch her leave?

I couldn’t.

I had tried everything, thought of countless ways to keep her here. I had gone over every possible rule, every law that could bind her to this pack but there was nothing—nothing strong enough, nothing that would hold her back against her will.

And somehow, without even realizing when it happened...I had become desperate.

Truly desperate.

"Maria, please stay," I heard myself say again, this time louder, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. "I’m willing to acknowledge our bond publicly, Maria. I’m really sorry."

The apology felt strange on my tongue, unfamiliar but it was real. For the first time in a long while... it was real.

She looked at me, clearly stunned, her expression frozen as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing.

And I understood why because even I could hardly believe myself. But I couldn’t let her think this was some act... some strategy.

So before I could think twice, I dropped. My knees hit the ground, the impact echoed softly in the room, but to me, it felt deafening.

"Let’s start afresh," I said, lifting my head slightly to look at her, my voice stripped of everything but sincerity.

For once, there was no pride, no authority, it was just plainly me.

Her response came quickly.

"Start what exactly, Alpha Aidan?" she asked, and the disgust written plainly across her face made something twist painfully inside me.

Still, I didn’t back down.

"The whole bond... everything," I replied, my eyes searching hers desperately, hoping—just hoping—she would see me, understand me, at the very least take pity on me, even for a little while.

But she didn’t, and her expression didn’t soften, her gaze didn’t waver either.

"No, Alpha Aidan... it’s too late," she said, her voice clear, loud enough to leave no room for misunderstanding.

How was it too late?

The question echoed loudly in my mind, refusing to settle, refusing to make sense.

Was it because of Noah?

The thought came uninvited, sharp and bitter, twisting something deep inside me. In all my life, I had never been one to dwell on regrets. I made decisions, stood by them, and moved forward.

But now...

Now, I regret it.

I regretted the day we saved him.

The day we brought him into our lives.

Because now, he stood as the one thing threatening to take everything away from me.

He was biting far more than he could chew.

"It isn’t, Maria!" I pleaded, my voice cracking slightly as I shifted closer to her, still on my knees. Pride no longer mattered—nothing did.

"Give me... give us a second chance," I continued, my words rushing out as desperation took over. I paused briefly, swallowing hard before adding, "Please... I’m ready to do anything to make amends. Just... a second chance."

The words hung in the air between us, heavy, fragile but she didn’t move toward me. If anything, she stepped backwards slowly and deliberately.

And with that single step, it felt like she was putting an entire world of distance between us.

Her head shook lightly, but the message was firm.

"There is no second chance, Alpha Aidan," she declared, her words final and unyielding.

My chest tightened painfully.

"Don’t say that... please," I tried again, my voice softer now, almost breaking under the weight of it all. "We already marked you, Maria. The bond is already solidified."

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as I forced the next words out.

"Seeing you with another man... it will be the death of me."

For a brief moment, there was silence and then she broke it.

Maria chuckled.

The sound was light, but it cut deeper than anything else she had said.

"Then do me one favor..." she began, pausing just enough to make my heart drop. "Just die."

The words hit harder than any blow.

I went completely still.

Every word I had been about to say lodged in my throat, unable to come out. It was like everything inside me froze at once.

She meant it.

Or at least...

She wanted me to feel like she did.

And it worked.

Because in that moment, it felt like my entire world was collapsing all over again, piece by piece, right in front of me.

I opened my mouth, desperate to say something, anything, to stop this, to fix this, to hold on to whatever was left.

But before a single word could leave my lips...

The door opened. The sound was sudden and sharp as it snapped me back instantly.

I turned and then, the moment I saw them— the figures standing there with their eyes fixed on me, watching and taking in everything, a wave of embarrassment crashed over me like never before.

Because I, the Great Alpha...was still on my knees.