Daniel.

I must definitely make Maria mine at all cost. Whether she rejected me now or not did not matter anymore. I would keep trying until she finally gave in.

As long as she was still unmarried—no, even if she eventually married someone else—I would still find a way to make her mine.

The thought alone made my chest tighten possessively.

Maria belonged to me.

No matter how much she tried to deny it, no matter how many hateful words she threw at the Quadruplets, the mate bond still existed. The moon goddess herself had bound them together. That alone was enough proof that she could never truly escape them.

And as for me...I was not willing to let go either.

All I needed to do was eradicate the Quadruplets completely. Once they were out of the picture, things would finally fall into place.

As for Noah, I did not even need to dirty my hands with him.

The Lycan prince already had him marked.

A slow smile spread across my lips at the thought. Noah was practically walking toward his own grave without realizing it. It was only a matter of time before the storm reached him too.

I leaned back against the chair for a moment before frustration suddenly surged within me again. Sitting still was impossible.

Maria’s face kept appearing in my mind—her voice, her scent and the way she looked at everyone else with emotions she had never given me in a long while.

I clicked my tongue irritably before standing up abruptly.

"I need some air," I muttered under my breath.

Without wasting another second, I stepped out of my room and headed outside. The cool breeze brushed against my face immediately, yet it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.

My legs moved subconsciously across the hallway. I was not even paying attention to where I was going until realization slowly dawned on me.

Maria’s room.

I had somehow found myself heading there again.

Pathetic.

I scoffed at myself quietly, but deep down I knew I could not stay away from her no matter how hard I tried. Since arriving at Moonfall Pack, I had already done a little scouting around the area. I knew exactly where her room was located without needing directions anymore.

The closer I got, the stronger the ache in my chest became, and then I finally saw them.

Four familiar figures sat directly outside Maria’s room.

The Quadruplets.

For a moment, I paused mid-step and simply stared at them.

Honestly, it was a ridiculous sight.

Four mighty Alphas—warriors feared across different territories—were seated on the cold floor outside a woman’s room like abandoned pups seeking affection.

Yet despite how pitiful they looked, hatred still rose sharply within me. My desire to kill them only deepened.

Were they stalking Maria now?

Why exactly were they sitting there like shameless guards?

Did they truly think this pathetic behavior would win her back?

I let out a dry scoff before deliberately clearing my throat loudly.

Immediately, all four heads snapped in my direction, their expressions darkened the moment they saw me standing there.

Interesting.

"Who would have thought," I said mockingly, folding my arms across my chest, "that one day four mighty warrior Alphas would be sitting outside a woman’s room seeking attention?"

My words dripped with disdain.

Adrien’s jaw tightened instantly. Damien looked away coldly while Aidan sighed in visible irritation.

But Davian...

Davian simply glared at me like he wanted to rip my throat out.

"Mind your business," he growled dangerously.

And instead of standing up like someone with dignity, he shamelessly adjusted himself against the wall and made himself even more comfortable on the floor as though he had absolutely no shame left in him.

I stared at him blankly for a second before laughing under my breath.

Unbelievable.

The great Davian had truly fallen this low over a woman.

Over Maria.

"You all look miserable," I added calmly, though the satisfaction in my tone was obvious. "Does she even know her loyal dogs are waiting outside her door?"

Adrien immediately clenched his fists tightly. "Watch your mouth," he spat.

"Oh?" I raised my brows mockingly. "Did I touch a nerve?"

The tension around us thickened instantly.

Aidan rubbed his forehead tiredly before speaking. "Daniel, leave before things escalate."

But I only smiled faintly.

Escalate?

Honestly, I would not mind that at all. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

I scoffed loudly, unable to hide the disdain written all over my face.

"All these acts will only make her despise you," I said without thinking twice. My lips curled mockingly as my gaze swept across the four of them seated outside Maria’s door. "You are literally sitting at her doorstep. How exactly do you expect her to move around freely when you know she clearly wants to avoid you?" I added with a sneer.

The hallway suddenly turned tense.

For a moment, none of them said anything.

But the murderous look that crossed Aidan’s face instantly told me I had touched a nerve.

He slowly lifted his head and stared directly at me with a deadly glare that could have frozen a weaker man on the spot.

"Keep talking," he said darkly, his voice low and threatening, "and I cannot guarantee your teeth will remain intact."

My fists clenched tightly by my side immediately.

The audacity.

Anger coiled violently within me like a raging beast threatening to break free.

How dare he speak to me with such arrogance when his days were already numbered?

Did they really think they still had the upper hand?

Did they truly believe they were untouchable?

I laughed coldly under my breath.

’How dare he speak to me like that when death is practically waiting for him,’ I thought inwardly, my jaw tightening.

But instead of backing down, I stepped forward slightly, my eyes fixed directly on Aidan.

"Pathetic," I spat with disgust. "You are all so desperate, and honestly it makes you look—"

I never got the chance to complete my sentence as everything happened too fast. Aidan suddenly stood up from the floor and lunged forward without warning, his fist collided with my face instantly.

Pain exploded across my jaw as my head snapped sideways from the impact. For a brief second, silence rang inside my ears and then rage consumed me completely.

I tasted blood in my mouth immediately.

"You bastard!" I barked furiously.

Without hesitation, I threw myself at him and punched him back just as hard. My fist landed against his cheek with enough force to send him staggering backwards slightly.

But before I could regain my balance properly, another force slammed into me from behind.

Damien.

He shoved me aggressively, and my body lurched backward violently. I nearly hit my head against Maria’s door, only at the last second did I manage to steady myself.

My breathing turned heavy instantly.

Unbelievable.

A sneak attack.

Of course.

That was exactly the kind of thing they were capable of.

Nothing had changed, not two years ago and still not now.

The Quadruplets were still the same ruthless people underneath all their pathetic begging and fake remorse.

My eyes darkened dangerously as fury completely swallowed every remaining trace of restraint within me.

The hallway suddenly felt suffocating.

Aidan wiped the corner of his lips where I had punched him while Adrien stepped forward protectively beside him. Davian’s expression had also turned murderous, while Damien cracked his knuckles slowly like he was preparing for another fight.

Four against one.

Cowards.

I let out a cold laugh that sounded almost unhinged, and then a dark thought crept into my mind, as my sanity was slipping rapidly, consumed by hatred and rage.

Why wait any longer?

Why keep holding back?

The perfect opportunity was literally standing right in front of me.

The Quadruplets were here, away from their territory, away from the protection of their pack.

I could finally make them pay for everything.

My fists tightened harder until my knuckles turned white.The murderous intent within me intensified sharply.

Yes.

Why wait anymore?

I could destroy them now.