Noah.

"I am so sorry, Alpha!" the healer cried out instantly.

The old man fell flat to the ground immediately, his forehead nearly touching the floor as his entire body trembled visibly.

"I was only thinking about my patient’s condition," he added quickly, panic thick in his voice.

Even his fingers were shaking badly.

Cold fear filled the room instantly.

I stared at him without sympathy.

"Don’t you ever try this again with me," I said coldly, each word leaving my lips with dangerous sharpness.

The healer lowered his head even further immediately.

"Yes, Alpha," he whispered weakly.

"I have something far more important to attend to," I added firmly before turning around to leave the room.

I did not want to remain there any longer. My mind was already drifting back to Maria again.

But then, just as I took another step toward the door...A strange tug suddenly pulled harshly against my chest.

I froze instantly.

My breath hitched.

And then my wolf stirred violently inside me.

"Mate!"

The word echoed sharply inside my head, and my eyes widened instantly.

What?

No.

That was impossible.

A wave of dread crashed into me immediately as my body stiffened.

Slowly, and almost fearfully, I turned my head slightly and then my gaze landed on Sonia.

My heart skipped violently.

For a moment, I could not even breathe properly.

How?

How was this even possible?

We had spent so much time together already, countless meetings and countless conversations.

She had been around me almost constantly ever since arriving here.

So why now?

Why was I only feeling the mate bond now?

Barely two days before my wedding.

Two days before marrying Maria.

My wolf stirred restlessly again, almost trying to push me toward Sonia, but I clenched my fists tightly and forced the feeling down immediately.

No.

I refused.

No matter what happened, I would never accept this bond.

Never.

Not when Maria already occupied every part of my heart, not when I had already chosen her.

I shook my head firmly, almost as though I could physically throw the feeling away.

Then without sparing Sonia another glance, I turned around sharply and walked out of the room.

The hallway suddenly felt suffocating as my thoughts spiraled violently inside my head.

Sonia was my mate.

The thought alone made me feel sick.

I walked straight back toward my study without stopping once. The moment I entered, I slammed the door shut behind me before falling heavily onto my chair.

My chest rose and fell unevenly.

I dragged both hands through my hair roughly.

How was I supposed to face Maria now?

How?

The irony of the entire situation hit me like a slap across the face.

I had asked Maria to reject her mate, and yet now...I could not even reject mine.

Not while Sonia remained unconscious and unstable.

I clenched my fists tightly against the table. I lowered my head into my hands. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

This could not be happening.

I had to keep this from Maria.

At least for now.

Because how exactly was I supposed to explain this to her?

How could I look her in the eyes after demanding loyalty from her while fate suddenly decided to bind me to another woman?

I could already imagine the hurt in her eyes, the disappointment and the betrayal.

A sharp ache spread through my chest instantly. "Arrrrrrgggghhh!"

A frustrated scream tore out of my throat violently as I slammed my fist hard against the table.

My breathing turned rough immediately afterward.

I leaned back heavily in my chair, staring blankly ahead.

"Moon Goddess... why?" I muttered hoarsely.

Without realizing it, a tear slid slowly down my cheek. The warm drop traced past my jaw before falling onto the table before me.

I froze instantly.

A tear?

I clenched my jaw tightly and wiped it off immediately, but the ache inside my chest only deepened further.

I couldn’t betray Maria’s trust, and not after the way she had slowly begun opening her heart to me, not after she had chosen me despite the bond tying her to the quadruplets.

The thought alone made guilt spread through me violently.

I leaned back heavily against my chair and shut my eyes tightly for a brief moment.

Honestly, after marrying Maria, I had hoped I would never discover my fated mate.

I had already made peace with that possibility long ago, because Maria was enough for me.

She was supposed to become my chosen mate, and after the wedding, a new bond would naturally form between us.

One stronger than anything else.

At least that was what I had believed, but now, everything suddenly felt uncertain.

I dragged a frustrated hand through my hair roughly.

How exactly was I supposed to overcome this?

How was I meant to stand before Maria and pretend everything was still fine?

My chest tightened painfully.

"No matter what," I muttered firmly under my breath, clenching my fists tightly by my side, "I will stay with Maria forever."

The words came out low but resolute.

I needed to hear it myself, and I needed to remind myself what truly mattered.

"Fated mate or not," I continued after a pause, "it won’t affect the bond that will be formed."

Yes.

That was the truth.

I had already made my choice ...and my choice was Maria, not some suddenly awakened mate bond that appeared at the worst possible moment.

I inhaled sharply before straightening slightly in my seat.

Then I reached out through the mind link immediately.

"Odion."

The connection formed instantly.

Within barely fifteen seconds, the door to my study opened and Odion stepped inside.

He was my Gamma and one of the few people I trusted completely.

"Alpha," Odion greeted respectfully as he bowed his head slightly.

I lifted my gaze toward him slowly.

For a brief second, I considered whether I should even tell him anything regarding the mate bond.

But no.

The fewer people who knew, the better. At least until I fully understood what exactly was happening.

"I need you to keep an eye on Sonia," I said calmly, forcing every trace of inner turmoil out of my expression.

Odion immediately straightened slightly.

"She is currently in a coma," I continued, "but I feel this entire situation is suspicious."

Because honestly, it truly was, as everything about this felt too sudden. Almost as though fate itself was deliberately trying to sabotage my wedding.

And I hated that feeling deeply.

"Report every movement to me," I added firmly while staring directly at him.

Odion nodded instantly without hesitation.

"Yes, Alpha."

He did not question me, and that alone eased a little of the pressure building inside my chest.

Odion turned around immediately and walked toward the door. The moment he left the study, silence settled heavily around me once more.

I leaned back slowly in my chair and finally released a long breath. A small sigh of relief escaped my lips.

At least now, someone I trusted was watching Sonia closely.

Because no matter what happened...nothing must ruin my wedding.