Scarlett’s POV

​His arms were wrapped tightly around me, pulling me so close I could feel every heavy sound of his heart against my ribs. I hugged him back just as hard, burying my face in the crook of his neck. The smell of him—rain, forest, and the scent of our shared heat—swirled around me, making my head spin.

​I couldn’t understand it. We were no longer mates. So why was this love still so heavy? Why did it feel like my soul was still anchored to his?

​Then it hit me, a cold realization that made my blood run chill. We loved each other even without the bond. The fated connection was gone, but the natural love—the years of growing up together, the shared secrets, the deep-rooted affection—was still there. It hadn’t died with the bond.

​And that was exactly what scared me.

​If Leo could still love and want me this fiercely despite being married, despite having a new mate, then his brothers would be exactly the same. Liam and Leonard were just as stubborn, just as loyal. If they saw me now, they wouldn’t care about their new lives or their new mates. They would drop everything to claim me.

​That was the trouble. That was why I had to stay hidden.

​I needed to give them those two years. I had to hope that in that time, Liam and Leonard would truly fall in love with their wives. I wanted them to have pups, to build families, to create lives so solid that when I finally revealed myself, I would just be a memory returned—not a wrecking ball to their happiness.

​"I have to go," Leo whispered, though he didn’t loosen his grip. "If I don’t leave now, I’ll never walk out that door."

​"I know," I breathed, forcing my arms to drop from his back.

​"Where do you stay, Scar?" Leo asked, his voice low and desperate as he finally pulled back an inch. "What pack do you live in? How do I find you when I return?"

​I looked into his eyes, my heart racing as I told the half-truth. "I live in the Silver Back pack. I stay with the Alpha and his family in the packhouse. Just come there... I’ll be waiting."

​He nodded, his jaw set. "Once the memorial is over, I’ll give an excuse to the others and come straight to you." He paused, his thumb brushing my cheek. "What do you want for your birthday? Anything, Scarlett. Just name it."

​"You," I whispered, the truth of my desire catching in my throat. "I want you."

​He leaned down and kissed me, a promise sealed in passion. "I’ll be back," he said. Then, his voice broke as he added, "I love you so much, Scar."

​I swallowed hard, looking at the pure sincerity in his eyes. It was terrifying. Was it really possible for a man to have a new mate and still love another woman this much?

I saw tears well up in his eyes, and I slowly reached up to wipe them away with my thumb.

​"I’m here," I said softly.

​"Please," he pleaded, his voice a panicked whisper. "Please don’t go away again."

​"I won’t," I lied, the word feeling like a stone in my chest. "But Leo, you have to go. From here in Nigeria to London, it will take you about six hours in your private jet. You need to get moving if you’re going to attend your mother’s funeral on time."

​I knew that when he reached that funeral, he would receive the shock of his life. Everything was about to change for him.

​He nodded slowly and stood up. I stayed on the bed, my eyes tracing every muscle of his naked body as he began to dress. God, I didn’t want him to go. I could see it in the way he fumbled with his buttons—he didn’t want to leave me either. Every piece of clothing he put on felt like a barrier being built between us.

​Once he was finished dressing, he climbed back onto the edge of the bed. He pulled me into one last, deep kiss that tasted of his love and desire for me.

​"I will be back before you know it," he promised.

​"I’m waiting," I lied again, and forced a small smile.

​He finally pulled away, his eyes lingering on mine until the last possible second. He reached the door, unlocked it, and gave me one final, long look before opening it and disappearing into the hallway.

​I sat there for a long second, my tears finally falling freely now that he was gone. My wolf was completely silent, mourning the loss of the bond all over again, while I felt a dull discomfort between my legs—a physical reminder of just how much Leo had claimed me.

​I forced myself to stand up. My legs were shaky, but I made it to the bathroom where the shower was still running. I stepped under the hot spray, washing away the scent of our sex, though I knew I could never wash away the memory. Once I was clean, I returned to the bedroom and pulled on my clothes. I didn’t even bother with my warrior armor; I had no reason to hide anymore.

​I took one last look at the messy bed and headed for the door. I just wanted to get out of the room and disappear before Leo had a change of mind and returned.

​I turned the handle and stepped out, but I didn’t even make it two steps into the hallway.

​The two Alphas who had been with Leo earlier were standing right there. They didn’t look like they were leaving; they looked like they had been waiting. As soon as they saw me, ugly smirks spread across their faces. Before I could react, they surged forward, grabbing me by the shoulders and shoving me backward into the room.

​I stumbled, my heart leaping into my throat. The sound of the door being bolted shut echoed through the room.

​"What is the meaning of this?" I snapped, my voice cold as I tried to summon the strength of the warrior I had become. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

​One of them stepped closer, his eyes traveling over my body with a disgusting hunger that made my skin crawl. He let out a dark, low chuckle.

​"Come on now," he said, his voice dripping with desire. "Alpha Leo has already had his fill of your tight little body. Now, be a good girl and see what a real pack of Alphas can do to you."