Alec’s

It was worse at night. Worse under the soft glow of the moonlight. Worse when everything was quiet and the mask I wore all day finally cracked.

Alec's eyes dropped to my lips for the briefest second and then back up to meet mine. I knew he felt it too. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders tight. The restraint was there, barely contained.

I didn't move.

Neither did he.

He looked at me like he wanted something. No-needed something. And the truth

I didn't want to face was this: I wanted it too.

But it wasn't real. It couldn't be.

I could smell it on him-his desire. Knox clawed just beneath the surface, restless and wild. Then something shifted in his expression, and I knew he could smell mine too.

I felt his restraint like a second heartbeat in the room. The way his fists clenched at his sides. The way his chest rose and fell a little too quickly

His nostrils flared, and his eyes darkened as he took a step back. "I'll see you in the morning," he said abruptly, voice rough. Then he turned and left the room with a low growl, shutting the door.

I exhaled sharply and stared at the door.

It was just lust, I told myself. Nothing more. The bond, the full moon, the stress- we were bound to be overwhelmed. It didn't mean anything. I didn't feel anything. Except I did.

I groaned and buried my face in Aspen's hair, desperate for the grounding comfort of her presence. My body was still buzzing, nerves alight and skin tingling. It was infuriating to have this pull towards someone who had shattered me more than

once.

I turned over and stared at the ceiling, willing my body to relax, willing my mind to shut off.

Then, finally-finally-a familiar presence stirred inside me.

Nyx.

"You're back," I said softly through the bond.

"I am," she replied. Her voice was quiet, tired. Almost fragile.

Where were you? I was tempted to ask, but I didn't. I wasn't going to nag her when it was clear she needed time to deal with her demons.

Instead, I asked, "Are you okay?"

"I will be," she answered after a pause. “But it's not easy, Sadie. I-I just need time."

Ret

I nodded slowly. Like I said, I wasn't going to push her-not tonight. She was raw. could still feel her pain and heartache and it broke my heart knowing that she has carried all this pain alone. It destroys me knowing that she pushed her pain aside to help me deal with mine.

She was hurting, yet she was there for me every step of the way while I dealt with

my own heartbreak. I simply can't get over her selflessness.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not now,” she murmured. Again, I don't push her.

"I didn't know what you were going through back then when you were helping me with my own pain, but I

do now and I swear to be there for her like she was for me."

"Thank you, Sadie." she gave me her signature wolfish smile and it hit me straight

in the heart.

"I love you, Nyx."

"Love you too, Sadie."

"Tomorrow, we resume training. We have to be ready." She told me after a beat of silence.

"Agreed." This time I was going to take my training seriously, now that I know exactly what we are up against.

There was silence again. A soft, understanding silence. Then I found myself asking the one question that had been gnawing at me all day.noveldrama

"Are they mates?" I asked, "Kaden and Xena?"

She didn't answer right away. I could feel her pause. Feel her searching for the right words.

"Yes," she said finally. "They are mated."

I closed my eyes, letting the weight of that answer settle over me. There was

something... hollow about it. Something that didn't quite fit.

Before I could say anything, she added

"They are mated," she said. "But they aren't fated mates."

The words struck like a blade. Somehow, that made it worse. Made it wrong.

Because being mated without being true mates is unheard of

A bond not forged by the goddess is unnatural.

My chest felt too tight. My thoughts spun.

who is cannot mark someone

who isn't our fated mate, so if they

weren't true mates, how are they mated?