Noah.

I had never felt more relieved than I did in that moment, never felt such quiet satisfaction settle so deeply in my chest, than when I saw Maria’s peaceful smile.

It was small. Fragile. Almost like it didn’t belong in a place like this, in a world that had done nothing but try to break her. And yet there it was, blooming softly on her lips as she rested against me, her arms wrapped tightly around my torso as though I were the only thing anchoring her to the ground.

She held me like she was afraid I would disappear if she loosened her grip.

And that alone was enough to ignite something fierce inside me.

My arms tightened around her instinctively, not because she asked, but because the thought of letting her go, even for a second, felt unbearable. The warmth of her body against mine, the steady rhythm of her breathing slowly evening out, the way her fingers curled into my clothes... all of it carved itself into me.

Right then, one thing became painfully clear.

I would win the competition at all costs.

Not for pride.

Not for power.

Not for the pack.

But for her.

Whatever stood in my way, rules, politics, even the Quadruplet Alphas themselves, I would deal with it later. I could sort out my fractured relationship with them later. I could face their judgment, their anger, their disappointment later.

For now, all I wanted was this.

Her.

Seeing Maria in pain had always hurt me more than any wound I had ever taken in battle. Every tear she shed felt like it burned straight through my chest, leaving an ache that never truly healed. That ache had been what drove me to the Alpha’s vault in the first place, logic abandoned, caution forgotten. I knew what I did would come with consequences. Severe ones.

But I would face the punishment later.

If it meant keeping her safe, I would do it again.

"Maria," I called softly, my voice breaking the quiet cocoon around us.

"Yes?" she replied, lifting her head to look at me. Her eyes were still glossy, but there was a calm in them now, a softness that made my resolve tremble and harden all at once.

Before I could overthink it, before doubt could creep in and steal the moment, the words left my mouth.

"Be my Luna."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Even as the words hung between us, I felt it, the familiar ache tightening in my chest, the one that always came when I laid my heart bare. I knew, deep down, that she might reject me again. She had every reason to. Her life had been nothing but broken promises and forced bonds.

But I didn’t care.

I would keep asking.

Again and again, if I had to. I would keep choosing her, keep standing in front of her, until one day she no longer felt like she had to run.

Still, the ache remained.

"It’s okay if you don’t want to answer now," I rushed to say, the words tumbling out before fear could make me regret speaking at all. "I won’t force you to, but..."

A sharp knock echoed against the door, slicing through the moment like a blade.

I stiffened.

"Who is it?" I asked, my voice immediately shifting into command.

There was no response.

Only servants ignored a direct question like that.

"Come in," I echoed after a brief pause.

The door opened slowly, and a rogue stepped inside. His head bowed slightly, posture rigid, respectful. His presence alone told me this wasn’t something trivial.

"Alpha Noah," he said carefully. "The Quadruplet Alphas want to see you in Alpha Davian’s study room."

The words landed heavy.

Of course they did.

The past I had been avoiding had finally caught up to me.

I felt Maria tense against me, her fingers tightening just a fraction, and instinctively, my hand moved to her back in a reassuring gesture. Whatever awaited me in that study room, I would not let it touch her.

I lifted my gaze to the rogue and dismissed him with a brief wave of my hand. "You may go."

He bowed again and retreated quickly, closing the door behind him.

The silence returned, thicker this time, pressing in from all sides, heavy with words neither of us dared to voice. It settled between us like a weight, unmoving, suffocating. I lowered my gaze back to Maria, my expression steady, my resolve unshaken despite the storm stirring beneath it.

Whatever the Quadruplet wanted from me... they could wait. Just a moment longer wouldn’t kill them.

But the instant I stepped out of my room, the fragile warmth I had shared with Maria shattered. It drained away, replaced by something cold, something that crawled beneath my skin and tightened around my chest. The corridor leading to Alpha Davian’s study stretched endlessly before me, far longer than it had any right to be. Each step echoed too loudly, the sound of my boots against stone magnified in the stillness.

Servants bowed as I passed. Rogues lowered their heads in silent acknowledgment. None of it registered. My thoughts were already bracing, hardening, preparing for whatever waited behind those doors.

The Quadruplet Alphas.

I didn’t need a prophet to tell me why they had summoned me.

I pushed the doors open without knocking.

Alpha Davian’s study was just as imposing as ever, dark wooden shelves lined with ancient tomes, the scent of parchment and power thick in the air. They were all there, standing in a loose formation as though they had rehearsed this moment. Four identical faces, four pairs of sharp eyes that immediately locked onto me.

Judgment.

Control.

Expectation.

I straightened my shoulders and walked in, refusing to bow.

"Why the sudden summon quadruplets?" I said, my voice steady despite the tension coiling inside my chest.

Davian was the first to speak. "Sit down, Noah."

I didn’t.

"I’m standing," I replied coolly.

A flicker of annoyance crossed each of their faces, but Damein stepped forward, folding his arms. "We heard about what happened earlier."

What exactly did Damien hear this time? I had always known him to be observant.

"We also heard," Adrein added "that you’ve been spending an awful lot of time with that rogue girl."

There it was.

I let out a short breath through my nose. "Her name is Maria."

That earned me a sharp look.

"This is exactly what we’re talking about," Davian said, his tone hardening. "You’re losing focus."

"On the contrary," I shot back. "I’ve never been more focused in my life."

They exchanged looks amongst themselves, silent communication passing between them like an unspoken agreement. Then Aidan, always the one who thought himself the voice of reason, took a step closer.

"Noah," he began, "this competition was never meant to be personal."

"Everything is personal," I snapped. "Especially when you’re talking about someone’s life."

His jaw tightened. "You are engaged."

The word hit like a slap.

"Anabel is our sister," Adrein added sharply. "Your engagement to her is not optional. It is a binding agreement between packs."

I clenched my fists at my sides. "An agreement I never consented to."

It was true, the moment they saved my pack from completely falling they had said I would give something in return. But they never asked. I looked up to them and saw them as my brothers. But last year, they had called and suddenly talked about me getting engaged to Anabel. I hadn’t said anything then and they didn’t either. I thought it was all a joke but I guess now it wasn’t.

"You owe us one thing Noah," Davian said. "Remeber, there are duties that needs to be fulfilled."

"And duty," Damien continued, "means knowing when to step back. You’ve proven enough by entering the competition. It’s time you withdraw and focus on preparing for your future Luna."

I laughed, short, bitter, humorless.

"Your future Luna," he emphasized. "Anabel."

The air in the room shifted.

I took a step forward, unable to hold it in anymore. "You want me to drop out of the competition," I said slowly, "because you’re afraid."

Their eyes darkened.

"You’re afraid I’ll win," I continued. "And if I win, Maria will be all mine."

"Noah," Davian said sharply.

"Don’t call my name," I snapped back. You want me bound to Anabel so you can keep Maria for yourself but have you ever wondered if she wants you?"

Aidan slammed his hand against the table. "Watch your tone, Noah!"

"No," I growled. "I’m done watching my tone."

Silence crashed down, heavy and suffocating.

"I will not drop out," I said firmly. "And I will not marry Anabel."

"You don’t get to make that decision," Aidan said coldly.

I met his gaze without flinching. "I already have."

"You’re choosing a rogue over your pack?" Davian demanded.

I didn’t hesitate. "I’m choosing what I have always wanted."

Their expressions hardened, disappointment giving way to something darker, anger, perhaps even betrayal.

"If you walk out of this study," Davian warned, "you will be declaring war against us."

I turned toward the door.

"Then so be it."

"Noah!" Davian barked.

I paused, my hand resting on the doorframe, and glanced back at them one last time.

"I will win the competition," I said, my voice calm but unyielding. "And when I do, none of you will decide my future for me."

Then I stormed out, the door slamming shut behind me, the sound echoing through the corridor like a declaration of war.