Chapter 140

My eyes drank in her beauty, unable to look away, even as confusion clouded her face. She looked lost, bewildered even, clearly unsure of what was happening or why it was happening. But then, I caught it, the flicker of recognition in her gaze as she scanned the three of us. She must have heard her wolf whisper the word ’mates.’

That word alone made my wolf, Shura, bristle with agitation. The possessiveness surged through us. The idea of sharing what was ours made his fur stand on end. A low snarl escaped my lips, and I snapped my jaws to the side in warning, silently daring the other two to come closer. I didn’t look away from her, but I made my message clear: back off.

But they didn’t.

And then I caught a scent that made my blood boil.

My head jerked to the side, eyes narrowing with fury as realization hit me like a blow to the gut.

Levi.

My Beta. My second-in-command. The one I trusted to stay back and watch over Claire. But instead… he had followed me here. And now, here he was, standing beside me, one of ’Addison’s mates?’

The betrayal hit hard.

He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to look at her like that.

The way his eyes devoured her, the raw hunger etched in every glance, the reverence in his expression, it was unbearable. He looked at Addison like she was his moon, his salvation… like just being near her made him come undone.

And it was killing me.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” The words tore out of me before I could stop them, even though deep down, I already knew the answer.

But the bastard growled at me.

Growled.

Like he’d forgotten the chain of command. Forgotten who stood above whom.

Shura, my wolf, immediately bristled, fury flashing like lightning through my veins. He felt challenged. Provoked. The tension in the air thickened like a storm about to break, crackling with the threat of blood and broken bones. Every eye in the venue could feel it; something dangerous was about to erupt.

But under the fury… I felt something worse.

Fear.

A deep, gnawing hurt that sank into my chest like rot.

Levi had been by Addison’s side for three years. Three fucking years. Guarding her. Supporting her. Protecting her through every storm, every damn hardship. Sure, it was his duty as her Gamma, but even duty couldn’t explain the depth of the bond they clearly shared.

They were close. Too close.

Closer than she and I had ever been.

And that scared the hell out of me.

Because he knew her better. He had seen every version of her, while I, Alpha or not, was still an outsider in the world she’d built without me. And right now? He had a better shot at claiming her heart than I ever did.

And it was tearing me apart.

I knew I had to step up because right now, I was the only one dragging a bad record behind me.

Then my eyes locked on the other man… and just my damn luck, it was him. The fiancé, the Alpha King, had arranged for Addison.

Of course. Of fucking course.

I’d always known redemption wouldn’t come easy, but standing here with these two? It was crystal clear, I was about to go through hell just to prove myself to my mate.

I moved in front of Addison on instinct, shielding her like a goddamn hen guarding its chick. Pathetic, maybe, but it was all I had left in this moment. One of them was her closest friend, her Gamma, the one who’s been by her side through everything. And the other? A man with a spotless slate. The Alpha King’s backing. A wide open runway to charm her, learn her, and win her.

And he looked the part too, strong, poised, dangerous.

A low growl rumbled from his chest, and his eyes flashed with warning, telling me to back off. To move aside. That Addison wasn’t mine.

Fuck that.

I growled right back, low and feral, Shura surging forward inside me, claws already at the edge. I wasn’t moving without a fight.

Then Levi joined in, his growl cutting across the tension like a blade. My own Beta. Growling at me. His Alpha.

The damn mate bond must’ve short-circuited his brain, because that mutt had forgotten everything, his rank, his place, his loyalty.

But I’m not backing down. And neither is Shura. He was already on all fours inside me, every muscle coiled tight, ready to tear into both of them.

Because Addison might not be mine yet, but I’ll be damned if I let anyone take her from me without a war.

“ENOUGH!”

That one word hit me like a brick wall, my entire body went cold, my ferocity gutted like a flame doused in ice water. Even Shura whimpered low in my head, like a scolded pup, tail tucked and ears down. He backed off without resistance, slinking into a seated position, head bowed… and for the first time in years, he whined. Not in anger. In shame.

And I? I stood frozen, spine rigid, blood running cold.

That one word, from her, stopped me dead like a dog on a leash.

I turned to face Addison. Her eyes swept across the three of us, curious, confused, maybe even a little overwhelmed. Of course, she was wondering why the hell she had three mates. Hell, I wanted to know too.

Was the Moon Goddess favoring me? Giving me a shot at redemption? A chance to make up for every fucked-up choice I’d made? Maybe. I’d take every punishment she threw my way if it meant earning Addison’s forgiveness—even her gaze.

But instead, it felt like she’d tossed me into a pit with two other rabid wolves to fight over the prize.

How the fuck was this supposed to work?

There’s no way in hell that I, or the guy who’s supposed to be her goddamn fiancé, would just sit back and accept this. And the idea that we’d share a mate with a Beta? It was a cosmic joke. A challenge. One that mocked everything we stood for: hierarchy, pride, dominance.

This wasn’t just a mating bond. It was a war waiting to ignite.

I didn’t know what to feel anymore.

But the moment Addison’s eyes met mine, everything, my rage, confusion, the madness clawing at my chest, just… dissolved. One glance from her, and I felt stripped bare. My lips parted, and before I could stop it, a soft whine escaped, low, helpless, aching. My emerald eyes locked onto hers, wide and wet, like some wounded dog craving its master’s mercy.

And that’s exactly how I felt.

She stood there, tall and regal, a quiet storm wrapped in elegance and authority. And god help me, I would’ve handed her my leash right then and there. Willingly. Gladly.

Because I am happy she was alive.

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