"You better.." his father retorts, "You have thirty days to restore the Council’s confidence in you. Fail... and Dorian might become the acting heir."

Thirty days.

He has just thirty days to fix this entire mess.

First things first, Anna.

Adrian storms into his car the moment his parents dismiss him. His hand tightens so hard on the steering wheel, the leather makes a stressed sound.

He reached the quiet, luxury hotel he’d booked for both of them three days ago, when Anna had given him an ultimatum to either stay around Nyra, or her.

The receptionist greets him knowingly, before handing him the room keys. He doesn’t even attempt to ask her why she’s staring-- everyone has seen Anna’s post in Moon-Crest by now.

And sure enough, he unlocks the door to find her still in bed, scrolling through her phone leisurely like she didn’t just destroy his entire life, and bond in an entire night.

He shoves the door fully open and strides into the room, without bothering with pleasantries.

"What the hell were you thinking posting that?" Adrian demands, voice shaking with rage.

He stops a few feet away from the bed, breathing hard. "Why did you leak those private messages? Do you have any idea what you’ve done? My parents saw everything. You’ve ruined my life!!"

Anna looks up slowly, her expression flat and completely unapologetic. She sets her phone down and leans back into the pillows crossing her arms.

"You humiliated me first, Adrian."

He stares at her, stunned. How the hell had he stayed with this girl for two years!?

What exactly did he see in her that made him approach her all these years ago!?

"Humiliated you? Because I scolded you over not caring about your own sister!? That’s why you blasted our personal shit everywhere?"

Anna stands up, eyes flashing. "Everyone thought we were the perfect couple. Then you called me selfish in front of everyone..." Her chest is heaving. "...for that whore!?"

"Don’t call her that!"

"You’re even defending her till now!?" Anna scoffs, "you cheated on me Adrian! Do you even understand that you’re supposed to be trying to make it up to me?!"

Adrian’s eyes darken. He goes down a route he’d promised he’d never go. "Coming from someone that cheated on me with my own cousin!?"

"W-what!?" Anna’s face turns pale. "You know what happened! I was- I was drunk!"

"And I was in rut! I called you first! You’re the one that rejected me!" Adrian argues, fuming.

"When I caught you both, I didn’t start a live broadcasting for you both did I? My parents still think that bastard is the perfect son, they’re threatening to replace me because of all the mess you’ve caused!"

"Please stop!"

"No, I won’t stop!" Adrian snaps, "I understood you then, why can’t you understand me now!?"

"Because you’re falling for her!" Anna cries, glaring at him. "I didn’t love him! I don’t love Dorian. But you..."

Her voice drops, "...you’re falling in love with Nyra. Don’t even try to deny it."

Adrian opens his mouth, the denial ready on his tongue. "I’m not--"

He stops. The words won’t come because he is. God he is. Nyra has been on his mind constantly. The way she smiles, the way she challenges him. It’s more than he wants to admit.

And the thought that she would see all those fucked up things he’d written about her, how is he supposed to mend their bond now!?

He runs a hand through his hair in frustration.

Anna watches his silence and lets out a bitter laugh. "See? You can’t even lie about it now."

"That’s not the point..." Adrian’s voice cracks with anger and disbelief. "This isn’t just about us. You destroyed my reputation. You dragged Nyra into this mess. Those messages were sent because I trusted you!"

Anna shrugs, wiping her tears.

"Well, I’m done protecting you, Adrian. I warned you this would happen. I told you not to get involved with her."

"So what!?" Adrian takes a step forward, narrowing his eyes, "You’re threatening me now?"

"I’m not threatening you, I’m telling you."

She takes a step forward, "If you walk away from me, I’ll make sure Nyra never has a peaceful day at the academy! I have the upper hand here Adrian-- I’ll know how to twist my girls and make her life hell."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" he shakes his head, unable to recognize her. "How did we get to this..?"

"You’re mine Adrian! Only mine! And I’m warning you-- if you dare me I’ll cook up even more rumors. I’ll isolate her, maybe add a sprinkle of little accidents. You know I’m not bluffing right!?"

Adrian’s blood runs hot. "Don’t you dare touch her. This is between you and me."

Anna tilts her head, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Then don’t walk away. Simple as that."

Adrian can’t believe what he’s hearing,

"Think carefully, Adrian. You know what I’m capable of."

"Fuck off, Anna!" He growls, turning away.

He slams the door hard behind him, the sound echoing into the night.

His heart pounds as he paces in the hotel hallway, fury and fear warring inside him.

Just what the fuck has he gotten himself into!?

--

Second on the list-- Nyra.

He needs to apologize no matter what.

He knows she won’t accept it. Heck, he wouldn’t even accept himself if he was in her shoes-- still, he has to try.

He taps into their bond, and is surprised he actually reaches her.

For the first time since, he feels it like an open book, for some reason the bond is unusually open today.

He can feel the pain, the regret, every vile word he’s thrown for years that still lingers.

The unwanted feeling she’s carried around for so long.

It hurts. It hurts so much that he’s bent over the staircase, clutching his chest in pain.

He-- he caused all this!?

How can he ever begin to apologize for everything he’s ever done!?

He closes the bond and pulls out his phone, to call his friends. He is going to need their help with this.

But he barely makes it down the second step, when a sharp pain slices through his chest from the bond.

What the fuck? He thought he had closed it?

No, but this pain is different.

He hits the floor hard, coughing as blood spills from his nose. It feels like the bond is being burned alive, his wolf shrieking like it is being ripped apart.

Nyra is trying to break their bond.

No. No....please...

His wolf slams so violently against his mind, howling so loudly Adrian almost goes deaf.

Find her. NOW.

Adrian doesn’t wait. He fights through the pain, jerking back to his feet. He doesn’t even bother getting into the car.

He shifts. Right there, on the staircase, bones cracking, until he fully transforms.

His enormous black wolf bursts into the night, sprinting through Moon-Crest Forest with only one thought.

Find her before it’s too late.