Maria.

I hadn’t expected it, not in the slightest.

One moment, I was struggling in Adrien’s grip, trying to pull away from him, and the next, his lips were on mine, firm, possessive, leaving me completely stunned. My mind went blank for a second, my body freezing as shock rooted me in place.

It felt unreal and wrong.

And yet....

"Mate!" Vernia’s voice echoed loudly in my head, rising with a force that caught me off guard.

I stiffened instantly, irritation flashing through me.

Damn it!

Of all times, she chose now to react?

I didn’t like this.

Acting on instinct, I bit down on his lower lip, expecting him to pull away, to finally give me space, but he didn’t. If anything, the opposite happened. His hold tightened, and he deepened the kiss, as though he was trying to prove a point...or perhaps reclaim something he believed was his.

My chest tightened in frustration.

I pushed against his chest, trying to force him away, but my strength faltered. Vernia’s presence surged within me, making my limbs feel weak, uncooperative, as though she was fighting against me from within.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to take control, suppressing her with everything I had. It took a moment, a frustrating, draining moment, but I managed to overpower her influence.

And the second I did, I shoved Adrien away from me with all the strength I could muster.

The sharp sound of my palm meeting his cheek echoed immediately after.

He staggered slightly, clearly taken aback, his expression shifting into brief shock as he processed what had just happened. But it didn’t last long.

Before I could step away, he reached out again, grabbing my hands as though afraid I would disappear.

"Maria," he said, his voice softer now, but laced with confusion. "I know you miss me too...why bother trying to hide it?"

His words stunned me for a completely different reason.

Miss him?

I stared at him, disbelief flashing across my face.

"I don’t know what you are talking about, Adrien!" I snapped instantly, my voice rising as anger replaced the shock. "Can’t you even hear yourself?" I added, my brows lifting in clear frustration. "I’m getting married in a few days, and you’re here trying to ruin my image!"

My words were sharp, deliberate, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

But he didn’t back down.

"To hell with the marriage, Maria!" he shot back, his voice rising just as quickly, his grip tightening slightly. "The marriage, it is all wrong...and you know it!"

Something in his tone, so certain, so convinced, only fueled my anger further.

"Enough, Adrien!" Noah’s voice cut through sharply, firm and commanding.

I turned instinctively, my breath still uneven, as he stepped forward, his expression darkened with restrained anger.

"The fact that I have been keeping quiet doesn’t mean I am a fool," he added, his gaze fixed on Adrien, unwavering and intense.

And just like that, the tension in the air shifted. What had started as shock... had now turned into something far more dangerous.

"You are a fool, Noah!" Adrien’s voice cut through the air sharply, filled with raw contempt.

The words hadn’t even fully settled before Noah reacted. In a swift motion, he grabbed Adrien by the front of his shirt, his grip tight, his knuckles whitening with restrained anger.

"Marrying someone else’s marked mate?" Adrien continued, unfazed, his lips curling slightly despite the tension between them. "Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?"

"Shut your mouth, Adrien." Noah’s voice dropped, low and dangerous, his hold tightening even more as he leaned closer. "Or I will shut it for you."

For a brief second, everything stilled.

The air between them grew heavy, charged, as though the ground itself was bracing for what was about to happen.

And just then, Adrien shoved him hard.

Noah staggered backwards, caught off guard by the sudden force. His footing faltered for a split second, and before he could regain his balance, Adrien moved again, fast and decisive as his fist connected with Noah’s mouth instantly.

The sound of impact echoed, sharp and sickening, and just like that...Everything spiraled.

Noah recovered almost immediately, his expression darkening as he lunged forward, returning the hit with equal force. Their movements became reckless, driven by anger and something deeper, something neither of them was willing to suppress anymore.

Blow after blow, with neither of them holding back.

Neither willing to stop.

"How dare you kiss my fiancée!" Noah barked, his voice rough with fury as he swung again, his breathing already uneven.

"How dare you try to marry my mate!" Adrien shot back just as fiercely, his own fists flying as he refused to yield.

Their voices overlapped with the sound of fists meeting flesh, the tension exploding into something uncontrollable. What had been a heated exchange had now turned into a full-blown fight, each of them pushing harder, faster, as though trying to prove something neither could put into words.

It didn’t take long before the noise drew attention.

Footsteps echoed from different directions as people began to gather, murmurs rising in confusion and shock. The sight before them, two Alphas locked in a brutal fight, was enough to send unease through the crowd.

And then the elders arrived.

Their presence alone shifted the atmosphere, their expressions stern as they took in the chaos before them.

"Grab them both!" one of the elders ordered sharply, his voice cutting through the noise with authority.

Without hesitation, two omegas rushed forward. They moved carefully but urgently, trying to get between the two Alphas without getting caught in the crossfire. It wasn’t easy.

Both Noah and Adrien resisted, their anger still burning, their bodies straining against the interruption. But eventually, with effort and persistence, the omegas managed to pull them apart, holding them back despite their struggle.

Both men stood there, chests rising and falling heavily, their clothes disheveled, their faces marked from the fight, yet neither looked ready to back down. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The tension lingered, thick and unyielding.

The elder who had spoken earlier stepped forward, his gaze hard as it moved between them.

"Both of you," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "to the council room."

And just like that, the weight of authority settled over the situation, signaling that this...was far from over.