Royal Gala, Balcony Overlooking the glowed behind him, casting fractured light on silks, diamonds, and dangerous smiles. The music was soft, but the tension in the air buzzed like static.
Noah stood on the balcony, above the crowd, watching them all like a patient wolf among clueless prey.
But his eyes—
They only followed one.
Sam.
His true blood alpha.
The one who kept pretending this bond wasn't real.
The one who burned like caffeine and war.
And the fool who thought distance could protect him.
Noah leaned against the marble rail, sipping from a crystal glass of wine he didn't taste. Every second that passed, the bond pulled.
He could feel Sam's discomfort, the way the alpha shifted restlessly, jaw tense, eyes everywhere but on him.
Good. Let him squirm.
He tilted his head slightly—and whispered one word to the guard beside him:
"Bring him."
---
Private Garden Terrace, Minutes Later
POV: Sam
Sam followed the royal guard silently, unsure why he even allowed it.
But his gut told him.
He already knew.
The second the doors closed behind him, and the air filled with roses and stone…
He saw him.
Noah.
Dressed in deep royal green, hair slicked back, a silver chain around his neck like a leash he refused to be led by.
He turned slowly, calm… too calm.
"Took you long enough."
Sam's chest tightened.
"What do you want, Noah?" he said, his voice low, controlled.
Noah walked toward him.
Not quickly. Not seductively.
Possessively.
"You."
Sam's breath caught.
Noah stopped right in front of him, close enough to touch.
"You can lie to your brothers. You can even lie to yourself. But you can't lie to me, Sam."
"This can't happen." Sam said through clenched teeth. "You're royal. I'm—"
"Mine."
The word was soft.
Sharp.
Final.
Sam didn't move. Couldn't.
Because deep down… part of him knew Noah was right.
But still, he whispered:
"It's not just me."
Noah's eyes glinted.
"I know. Max. Silas."
That stopped Sam cold.
"You know?"
Noah smirked, stepping even closer. His hand brushed Sam's chest—right over his heart.
"I know everything. And tomorrow night, by the end of this gala… I'll start claiming what's mine."
He leaned in. Breath warm against Sam's ear.
"All of you."
And then he walked away.
Slow. Confident.
Leaving Sam frozen beneath the moonlight, heart racing like a hunted thing.
---