"I will go to the palace and bring the real proof that it was the Alpha King who destroyed our pack," Renzo announced with determination.

Lucien and Ronan, who had been deep in conversation near the gazebo, turned their heads sharply toward him. Renzo closed the distance between them, his expression hardening. "I will also bring the proof that he’s the one who conspired with the witches to ambush you, the same trap that cost your parents their lives."

"I won’t allow you to enter the palace," Lucien stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"He knows the hidden routes," Grayson interjected, stepping forward to defend his brother’s plan.

"You two have suffered enough," Lucien replied, his voice firm. "The investigation... I will handle it personally with the help of someone trustworthy. Besides, if I let you go, Leia will spend every moment worrying."

"Lucien is right," Ronan added, aligning with his brother.

"Leia doesn’t even like me that much anyway. She thinks her uncle is out to get her," Renzo muttered, rolling his eyes.

"That’s not true. Leia is simply frustrated with you because you don’t let her do what she wants," Ronan countered smoothly. "Lucien used to keep her on a tight leash, and she would rebel against him just the same. As for your skepticism regarding us, we understand. Any guardian would worry for their daughter when she has multiple mates. Trusting just one mate is difficult enough, but she has three."

"I don’t want her getting pregnant so early. She’s still young and she should be enjoying her life," Renzo stated, clearly uneasy with the knowledge that she was currently alone with Kieran while he was in heat.

"Kieran won’t do anything that would burden Leia," Lucien assured him. "And even if it happens, I’m only stating a possibility, we are prepared to take full responsibility. We have no intention of ever abandoning her. Once everything settles down, we plan to propose to her."

"What kind of perfect timing are you three waiting for?" Grayson questioned, looking between them. "If you truly want her, then propose to her now. There is no such thing as a perfect time. You have to create one."

"We will."

Lucien and Ronan replied in unison, exchanging a brief look.

~~~~

"Yes, you can mark me," Leia whispered. She had already accepted Lucien’s mark, and she felt no hesitation or shame in taking Kieran’s as well.

He lifted his head sharply, staring down into her eyes. "Are you serious?" he asked, needing to confirm she wasn’t just caught up in the moment.

"Yes. You’re my mate, and I’m ready for yours too," Leia said, a small smile gracing her lips.

At her words, her scent flared, filling his senses and immediately triggering the raw instincts he had just been trying to suppress. The sheer force of her pheromones overwhelmed his restraint.

"Can I kiss you now?" His gaze dropped to her lips, fixing on them with intense focus.

Leia watched the visible swallow that moved down his throat.

Instead of answering, she took the initiative, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him down until their lips finally met.

The contact was explosive; his own pheromones worked their magic on her, igniting a sudden fire through her entire body.

The lingering taste of salt and potato chips mingled between them the moment Kieran began to deeply explore her mouth, his hand moving with a slow rhythm against her breast.

He shifted to nibbling at her lower lip, his thoughts entirely consumed by a driving instinct—to completely claim her.

Beneath him, Leia’s fingers were clumsy but determined as she worked on the buttons of his shirt.

Every time his teeth grazed her lip or his grip tightened, a shiver would ruin her focus, forcing her to lose her grip on the fabric.

Despite the friction, she managed to undo the final button and push the material off his shoulders.

Kieran pulled back slightly, pushing himself up onto his knees on the mattress to cast the shirt aside. The bright daylight filtering through the window caught the sharp lines of his chest and defined abdominal muscles, leaving Leia momentarily breathless as she looked up at him.

He grasped both of her hands, gently pulling her upright against him before his fingers found the hem of her top.

"Shall I?" he asked, his gaze locked entirely on hers.

"Hmm." Leia nodded, giving her silent permission.

He didn’t rush. He slowly slid the fabric up and over her head, and as the cool air hit her skin, she became shy.

Moving quickly, she gathered her long hair and draped it over her chest. Kieran caught the movement, a soft smile spreading across his face.

"What?" Leia asked, her cheeks immediately flushing with embarrassment.

"What are you hiding them from?" Kieran murmured, amusement lacing his deep voice.

"I’m not hiding anything," she replied, shaking her head defensively. "Why would I do that?" Despite her denial, her heart was drumming so violently against her ribs that she felt it might break through her chest at any second.

His gaze felt entirely different now, amplified by the heavy intensity of his rut. She bit down on her lower lip nervously, but the pressure was instantly replaced by the warmth of his thumb pressing against her mouth to stop her.

"Stop, or you’ll make yourself bleed," he whispered, leaning in close until his breath brushed against her ear. He planted a kiss on her bare shoulder while his fingers shifted to the strap of her bra. "Leia, tell me... if I go any further, you won’t regret this, will you?"

"Why would I regret it?" she murmured, her breath hitching as the tips of his warm fingers slowly traced down the cool skin of her arm.

His other hand slid to the back of her neck, anchoring her gently as he lowered her back down onto the mattress.

His mouth hovered just over the sensitive spot he had chosen for his mark, the heat of his breath making her skin flush. But the mounting pressure of his rut demanded more. Shifting his weight, his hand slid further down her back, and with a swift, practiced movement, he unfastened the clasp of her bra, freeing her breasts completely from the fabric.