Calvin''s POV


    FOUR YEARS BACK


    The morning had been peaceful until I looked up from my te.


    Nora was standing across the table, holding a tray, serving breakfast like a maid. The sight made something inside me snap. My wolf growled low in my head, his anger rising just as sharply as mine. She was more like a friend to Olivia, so why was she serving us breakfast?


    My chair scraped the floor as I stood. "Who asked you to serve breakfast?"


    Every eye at the table turned toward me. Nora froze mid-motion, her hands trembling slightly as she held the jug of milk.


    "I—"


    "You are not a maid," I cut her off sharply, my voice dropping low,manding. "You''re a guest in this house. Know your ce. Get out."


    The silence that followed was heavy. Even Mother paused mid-bite, her eyes flicking from me to Nora with quiet suspicion.


    Nora looked at me—no, through me—with those soft hazel eyes that had haunted my dreams for months. I could see the flicker of hurt behind her calm expression, but she bowed slightly and turned to leave without a word.


    The moment she disappeared through the door, I realized my hands were shaking.


    Mother''s tone was gentle but probing. "Calvin," she said, her brow arching slightly. "That was rather harsh. What exactly did that girl do to make you so angry?"


    I clenched my jaw. I didn''t answer. How could I tell her that every time I saw Nora, my pulse quickened—that every night, I dreamt of touching her, kissing her, iming her? That the reason I was angry wasn''t because she was serving us but because her presence rattled me.


    My wolf scoffed inside me. "All this is on you. You''re the one refusing the bond."


    "Shut up," I muttered under my breath.


    He growled back. "You think ignoring it will make it go away? She''s your mate, Calvin. You can smell her in your soul."


    I shut my eyes, forcing a deep breath, trying to drown the voice. But even then, her scent lingered—sweet jasmine with a hint of rain. It pulled at something primal inside me.


    Mother was still watching. "You seem… unsettled," she observed softly. "Is there something I should know about this girl?"


    I shook my head quickly. "No, Mother. Nothing."


    But she didn''t look convinced. Her lips curved slightly, the way they always did when she sensed I was hiding something.


    I grabbed my cup, downed the rest of my drink, and rose from the table. "If you''ll excuse me, I have things to attend to."


    As I left the dining room, my wolf continued. "You can lie to her, to yourself, to everyone… but you can''t lie to me."


    I stopped in the hallway, hands clenched. "I don''t want her," I hissed under my breath.


    My wolf''s lowugh echoed inside my mind. "Then why does her name make your heart race?"


    I didn''t answer. I just kept walking, but deep down, I knew the truth I didn''t want to face.


    I managed to keep my distance from Nora for the rest of the morning, though every time I caught even a whiff of her scent, my wolf stirred restlessly inside me. I told myself it was better this way. It was better I kept my distance so I wouldn''t get my heart broken for the second time. I may have survived the first heartbreak, but this? I couldn''t.


    But that peace didn''tst.


    Just after midday, Lolita came running into my office, her face bright and a little too cheerful for my liking. "Alpha Calvin," she said, breathless but smiling. "Olivia sent word. She wants me and Nora to return to the Full Moon Pack immediately. We''ll be leaving tomorrow."


    The words hit me like a blow to the chest.


    Leaving.


    Tomorrow.


    Nora… gone.


    I blinked slowly, forcing my voice to stay even. "Olivia wants you both back?"


    Lolita nodded eagerly. "Yes. She said she''s pregnant! She needs us."


    I was shocked about Olivia being pregnant. In fact, that didn''t bother me. What bothered me was this news.


    For a moment, I couldn''t speak. My chest felt too tight. It shouldn''t have mattered. If anything, this should have been good news. Out of sight meant out of mind. That was what I told myself every time I caught my thoughts wandering toward her.


    But the truth? The thought of her leaving made something ugly twist inside me.


    I turned back to my desk, pretending to shuffle through some papers. "When exactly did she say you''d leave?"


    "Tomorrow morning," Lolita repeated. "After breakfast."


    Tomorrow. That soon.


    My wolf''s voice slithered through my head, amused and taunting. "So she''s really going. You should be happy."


    But I wasn''t.


    "Tell her you guys can''t leave yet," I said suddenly.


    Lolita blinked. "What?"


    I looked up at her, keeping my tone sharp and authoritative. "It''s not safe."


    Her brows furrowed. "Not safe?"


    "Yes," I said quickly, thinking fast. "My trackers reported rogue activity near the borders two nights ago. They''re still investigating. Until they confirm it''s clear, no one leaves the territory."


    Those were lies.


    Lolita frowned. "But… the message said—"


    "I don''t care what the message said," I cut in, my voice firm enough to make her flinch. "You''ll both stay a few more days. Three at least. If the borders are secure by then, you can leave."


    Lolita hesitated, clearly unsure whether to argue or obey. "Should I… tell Nora?"


    I nodded once, curtly. "Yes. Tell her it''s my order."


    She nodded quickly, bowing before hurrying out.


    The moment the door shut, I exhaled slowly and leaned back in my chair, dragging a hand down my face.


    I leaned back in my chair, staring nkly at the papers scattered across my desk. The words blurred together. My mind wasn''t on pack business. It was on the sound of herugh, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous, the calm in her voice that somehow always managed to ground everyone—except me.


    "What the hell is wrong with me…" I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.


    My wolf chuckled low. "You already know what''s wrong. You''re fighting what''s yours."


    I ignored him. But as the hours passed, that restlessness didn''t fade. I went over patrol reports, met with warriors, even sparred in the training yard, but nothing helped. Every time the wind shifted, I swore I could catch her scent—jasmine and rain. It haunted me like a curse.


    By evening, I couldn''t sit still any longer. I needed air.


    I stepped outside, letting the cool twilight breeze hit my face. Thepound was quiet, thest rays of sunlight bleeding into the horizon. I took the path that led past the garden, hoping the walk would clear my head.


    That''s when I saw Lolita.


    She was sitting under the maple tree near the fountain, a book in her hands, her legs folded neatly beneath her. She looked rxed,pletely at peace. That wasn''t what caught my attention.


    What caught my attention was who wasn''t there.


    Lolita and Nora were always together—inseparable. If you saw one, you''d see the other. But right now, the space beside her was empty.


    My brow furrowed.


    "Lolita," I called, walking toward her.


    She looked up immediately, startled. "Alpha Calvin."


    "Where''s Nora?" I asked, trying to sound casual but hearing the edge in my voice anyway.


    She blinked. "Nora? Oh… she went out."


    "Out?" My jaw tightened. "Where?"


    Lolita hesitated, clearly unsure if she should answer. "Um… a birthday party."


    "A what?"


    "A birthday party," she repeated.


    I frowned. "Whose party?"


    Lolita''s fingers tightened around the edge of her book, her eyes flicking away nervously before she finally answered. "Gamma Austin''s," she said softly. "It''s his birthday. He… invited her personally."


    Her words hit me like a de to the gut.


    Austin. One of my Gammas.


    He personally invited Nora?


    My jaw clenched. Austin was good-looking. Too good-looking. He was charming too, the kind who smiled easily and made everyone feelfortable. Including, apparently, her.


    I forced my expression to stay neutral. "I see," I said quietly.


    Lolita looked uncertain, like she was about to say more, but I turned on my heel before she could.


    The moment my back was to her, my wolf''s growl vibrated through my chest.


    "Austin invited her? Personally?" he snarled. "You''re going to let that slide?"


    I didn''t reply. My vision had already started to blur at the edges, fury clouding everything else.


    The thought of Nora at a party—dressed up, smiling, maybeughing with him—was enough to make my heart hammer violently against my ribs.


    Austin''s hand on her waist. Her smiling up at him. Her scent mixing with his.


    The images struck me like lightning.


    My wolf growled again, louder this time, his tone dark and possessive. "He might be touching what''s ours."


    "Shut up," I hissed, though I didn''t mean it.


    I didn''t head toward my quarters. I didn''t even think. My body moved on its own, fueled by possession  I''d been trying to bury for weeks.


    By the time I reached the garage, my breathing was uneven, my control dangerously thin. I yanked the keys from the hook, slid into the driver''s seat, and drove toward Austin''s home.