Eve POV:
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing heart. This was insane. I couldn't trust him. Couldn't believe him. Yet, something deep down inside me—a tiny voice I couldn't ignore—whispered that maybe, just maybe, he was telling the truth.
"You're not my mate," I repeated, but the words felt hollow. I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.
Before I could even process my own thoughts, Marcus's voice broke through the silence, his words carrying the weight of someone who'd waited too long for an answer.
"If I'm not your mate, explain to me this."
His words hit me like a shockwave, and before I could respond—before I even had a chance to think—he was on me. So fast, I didn't even see him move. The next thing I knew, his lips were on mine, warm, demanding, and impossible to ignore.
