As the weeks and months went by, Cobra found himself becoming more daring and reckless in his attempts to get closer to Anastasia.

He started following her home from school, watching which route her car took through the town streets.

Sometimes he even managed to slip past the security guards and into the packhouse grounds.

On those thrilling nights, he would make his way up to Anastasia’s bedroom and lurk in the shadows, simply gazing upon her sleeping form for hours.

He drank in every detail like a man dying of thirst - the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, the tiny wrinkle in her brow as she dreamed, the slightly parted fullness of her lips.

His entire world narrowed to the vision of her at peace, beautiful and untouchable as a classical marble statue.

From the balcony, bathed in moonlight, he kept his yearning vigil while Anastasia slumbered unaware of the dangerous devotion born in the shadows mere feet away.

His obsession was all-consuming, inescapable, growing stronger and more unhinged with each heated glance and forbidden intrusion into her private sanctuary.

Cobra’s roving eyes caught on a delicate silk scarf draped over the back of a chair.

He recognized it instantly - the soft powder blue hue that brought out the dark brown depths of Anastasia’s eyes, the subtle floral pattern he had admired from afar as she wore it casually knotted at her throat.

Unable to resist, he crept forward like a thief and snatched up the gossamer fabric, cradling it covetously.

Cobra brought the scarf to his face, inhaling the lingering floral fragrance that was utterly and unmistakably Anastasia.

His eyes fluttered closed as he became intoxicated, every fiber of his being overwhelmed by her essence.

The satin caressed his flushed skin as he pressed it harder against his greedy nose and lips in a desperate bid to capture more of that tantalizing aroma.

His pulse thundered in his ears, heart battering wildly against his ribcage as the scarf’s satiny whispers set his nerves ablaze with fevered yearning.

In that heated moment, it was as if he could taste her sweet dark femininity, feel her very presence ghosting across his hungry senses.

A guttural sound, half groan, and half whimper escaped his constricted throat.

Only the slight shift of Anastasia’s sleeping form had him recoiling sharply, shoving the scarf hastily beneath his shirt.

He scrambled back into the shadows, chest heaving with mingled lust and shame at how utterly unraveled he had become over something as simple as a scarf.

Yet the intoxicating perfume still clung to him, inflaming his baser urges even as the gravity of his trespasses weighed down upon him like lead chains.

———-

As high school gave way to impending adulthood, Cobra knew his time in Anastasia’s orbit was running out.

She began seriously dating an omega boy (Nickolas) from another elite family - a sophisticated, cultured young man who matched her refinement and pedigree.

With a sick feeling, Cobra watched as the relationship blossomed, his own chances of ever being noticed by his muse dwindling to nothingness.

Yet still the searing need to be worthy of her burned on, becoming his sole purpose.

He vowed to remake himself into the perfect man, one who could stand at her side as an equal, valued and cherished instead of worshipped from afar like a deity.

The haunting specter of his current self faded as he focused every ounce of his being on the brilliant future he would construct - a future in which Anastasia would be his adoring wife.

-Flash back’s End:

Anastasia and Liam stared at Cobra in shock after the mind-blowing words he had just said.

"But you know what the best part is?" Cobra purred with a sinister smile. "I’m your fated mate."

Liam let out a mocking scoff.

Of course, this madman would sprout such delusional lies.

Liam was her one true fated mate, bound by the unbreakable laws of their kind.

Even if he has rejected, everyone has only one fated mate.

But Anastasia’s sharp intake of breath made the hairs on the back of Liam’s neck stand up.

He turned to see her eyes blown wide open with disbelieving shock, her hand clutching as if she couldn’t breathe.

That’s when Cobra’s overpowering scent washed over them both - the unmistakable primal musk marking him her fated mate.

A strangled cry ripped from Anastasia’s throat as her inner wolf howled in utter confusion deep within her.

The deafening roars by her inner wolf echoed relentlessly through her mind. ’Mate. Mate. Mate. MINE!’

It was impossible...it couldn’t be real.

Yet her most basic instincts were screaming an undeniable truth.

Somehow, someway the moon goddess gave her two fated mates.

Liam’s devastated expression blurred in her vision as the revelation made her head spin.

Two bonded mates...it was unheard of, a paradox that shattered their entire reality into chaos.

"I’m sorry for the shock, my love," Cobra crooned, taking advantage of their stunned state to caress Anastasia’s frozen cheek.

"But you know how long I’ve waited for this moment? Ten agonizing years and I’ve finally reclaimed what was always mine."

His fingers trailed down her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps as his gaze darkened with undisguised obsession. "I was nothing more than an outcast wolf in your pack once. But I reinvented myself into someone worthy of you."

Tearing her dazed eyes from Liam’s devastated expression, Anastasia finally found her voice amidst the splintering reality.

His sinful mouth curved into a triumphant smile. "I formed my own pack from scratch and clawed my way up to power and status until I became someone of importance - all for you, my love. So I could finally rightfully claim my place at your side as your mate, and as your everything."

Cobra’s eyes glittered with a decade’s worth of pent-up obsession. A happy psychotic grin formed on his face "And now that I have found you again, I’m never letting you go, my love."

Anastasia gulped, her mind whirling as she struggled to process this earth-shattering revelation.

With forced calm, she asked, "Why did you attack us then?"

Cobra fidgeted, a flicker of shame crossing his features. "Well, because even though I have this whole pack now, I was still considered a rogue outcast in your pack. They would never allow me to get near you, to explain. Or even talk to you."

His expression hardened. "So I had to find a way to get your attention, by any means necessary. I’m sorry for the violence and damage, my love, but I’ll make it up to you. I’ll rebuild everything in your... our pack stronger than ever before."

Liam shot Cobra a withering glare, realizing with dawning horror how utterly delusional the unhinged guy had become.

Cobra actually thinks Anastasia will just accept him, and combine their packs as if his actions were some grand romantic gesture.

Keeping her tone measured in an effort to avoid inflaming Cobra’s evidently fragile state, Anastasia asked, "What about the Luna pack?"

A feral grin slowly stretched Cobra’s lips, his eyes glinting with undisguised insanity and malice. "Ah yes, forming that alliance with Luna was a clever move, my love. But not nearly clever enough to escape my notice."

He tsked in mock sympathy. "Unfortunately, I need to take control of the Luna pack’s territory for the Midnight pack. Don’t worry though, I’ll allow you to remain the head alpha if it pleases you. I won’t kill anyone you don’t want me to. I’ll do anything for you, my love."

Anastasia’s chin lifted in quiet defiance as she glared at the unraveling wolf. "Your love? You shot me, poisoned me with silver that could kill me. How does that make me your love?"

Alarm flickered across Cobra’s expression, his brows drawing together in concern. "I know, my love, I know. It pained me to do that, but it had to be done. I couldn’t risk you trying to run from me, from our destiny."

His voice dropped to a fervent whisper. "But the amount of silver wasn’t enough to kill you, I swear it. I could never let any harm come to you. I would do anything for you to forgive me."

Weighing her next move carefully, Anastasia remained silent for a beat before nodding once. "You say you’ll do anything for me?"

Cobra’s eyes shone with a desperate need for her acceptance as he nodded rapidly. "Yes, yes anything at all my love. I’ll move realms, burn down cities, and slaughter entire packs if that’s what you wish. I just need you to stay with me, to be mine."

A fleeting look of calculation passed over Anastasia’s lovely features before she met his gaze levelly. "Okay. I’ll stay with you under one condition."

A look of awed devotion washed over Cobra’s expression as if she had just granted him the greatest gift. "Anything, my love. Name your condition."

Steeling herself, Anastasia replied in an implacable tone. "Set this guy free and let him go back to his pack. That’s my condition."