MARIA.

I gathered whatever strength I had left and shoved Aidan away from me.

The moment I was free, my instincts kicked in and I rushed toward Noah, wanting to pull him out of the chaos before things got worse.

But before I could reach him...Davian suddenly grabbed my waist.His grip was firm, pulling me straight back against his chest in one swift motion.

I froze for a split second.

"Let go of me!" I snapped, struggling immediately.

But he didn’t release me.

Instead, he tightened his hold as though I belonged there.

"He deserves it, Maria," Davian said coldly.

I turned my head sharply to glare at him, irritation already boiling inside me.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

His expression didn’t change.

"You are our mate," he continued firmly, as if that explained everything. "How can he dare to covet you?"

The possessiveness in his tone only made my anger spike further.

At this point, I was beyond irritated.

Completely fed up.

Without thinking twice, I lifted my leg and stepped hard on Davian’s foot.

"Ah—!" he hissed in pain, his grip loosening instantly around my waist.

I used that opportunity to break free.

The moment I was out of his hold, I spun around immediately.

"Adrien! Damien!" I yelled loudly, my voice cutting through the noise. I forced myself to breathe steadily despite the chaos. "Stop!"

Both of them hesitated for a fraction of a second.

"Remember the oath!" I added sharply.

That single word was enough.

Immediately, both Adrien and Damien froze mid-motion, their fists pausing in the air as though someone had pressed pause on them.

I rushed forward without wasting another second and reached Noah.

He was still standing, though clearly injured.

"Are you okay?" I asked quickly, my eyes immediately scanning his face.

His lips were swollen and a small trace of blood lingered at the corner of his mouth.

The sight made something inside me snap instantly.

A wave of anger burned through my chest.

Pure rage.

The quadruplets were absolutely unbearable, dangerous and impossible to control.

I turned sharply toward them again.

And that was when Davian spoke, his voice suddenly laced with panic.

"Maria...your eyes...they’ve changed."

I blinked slightly, and my expression darkened.

"Get out," I said coldly.

My voice was low at first, but then it rose harder and stronger.

"ALL OF YOU—GET OUT!"

The room went silent for a split second. I was even slightly surprised by how loud it echoed.

Without wasting time, I helped Noah up properly and just then...the door swung open.

Eight heavily built guards marched inside immediately, filling the room with authority.

Noah must have mind-linked them.

They all bowed at once.

"Greetings, Alpha Noah!" they echoed in unison.

Noah straightened slightly, despite his injuries.

"Hold them," he ordered calmly.

Immediately, the eight guards split into pairs.

Each pair moved with precision, grabbing one of the quadruplets firmly and restraining them in place.

Within seconds, all four of them were held down in a single straight line.

They struggled violently against the iron-like grip of the guards, but it was useless.

They couldn’t break free, not even slightly.

"If this had happened in Moonbridge Pack," Noah said coldly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade, "I might have let it go..."

He paused, slowly and deliberately.

Then his eyes moved from one of them to the other, as though he was studying them like objects that had disappointed him.

"But right here in Moonfall Pack," he continued, his tone darkening, "I will not tolerate it."

His presence alone filled the room with pressure.

"This is my territory," he added firmly. "I make the rules here. And your actions are an insult."

Silence followed immediately.

Noah didn’t waste another second speaking to them.

Instead, he stepped forward, and without warning...he slapped each of them across the face one after the other.

The sound echoed sharply in the room.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

All of them flinched at the impact, their heads snapping slightly to the side.

The guards held them steady so they couldn’t retaliate.

"How dare you, Noah!" Aidan roared instantly, struggling violently against his restraint. His eyes burned with fury.

"You ungrateful bastard!" Damien yelled next, his voice sharp with rage.

"I am so disappointed in you," Davian said more quietly, his voice cold but pained, his face still pale from his injuries.

Adrien, however, remained silent for a moment. He stared at me and then at Noah, and something unreadable flickered in his eyes before his expression hardened.

"You will pay for this," he said finally, his voice low yet dangerous.

As he struggled harder against the guards holding him down.

"Take them away," Noah ordered dismissively, not sparing them another glance.

As though they no longer mattered.

The guards immediately obeyed.

Without hesitation, they dragged the quadruplets out of the room, still struggling and shouting behind them.

And only when the door finally closed...did the tension in the room begin to ease.

I let out a slow breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding in the first place.

It left my lungs in a controlled release, as though my body had been tensed for far too long without me noticing.

My shoulders dropped slightly afterward, the tightness easing just a fraction as relief finally began to settle in.

Noah was still standing there in front of me.

Injured, yes—but still composed, still upright, still stubbornly trying to act like he was fine.

I didn’t argue with him.

Instead, I stepped closer and guided him gently toward the bed, making sure my grip was steady as I helped him sit down.

"Stay still," I murmured softly, already turning away before he could protest.

My feet moved quickly as I searched for what I needed to treat his wounds.

Bandages.

Antiseptic.

Anything I could use.

But even as I worked, my thoughts refused to settle properly.

They kept circling back, sharp and restless, refusing to quiet down.

"The quadruplets have gone too far today," I muttered under my breath, my fingers tightening unconsciously around the cloth in my hand as frustration built again.

Far too far.

And the more I replayed everything in my mind, the more that frustration only deepened, sitting heavily in my chest without any sign of fading anytime soon.