Calvin's POV

"What the hell are you doing, Calvin!" Olivia yelled through the mind link, and I only rolled my eyes.

"Stop shouting, sis. You're carrying my nephews or niece in there," I teased, hearing her sharp scoff echo through the link.

"Calvin, I'm not joking. Release Lolita and Nora to me," she demanded.

"Lolita can come over, but Nora is a no," I said firmly. This time, I wasn't joking.

"Seriously?" Olivia spat. "And why is Nora a no? You clearly don't want to accept your bond, so free her."

"Never," I said firmly, cutting the link before she could say another word.

I exhaled, pacing across my office, fingers raking through my hair. My wolf growled deep in my chest.

"You know why you don't want her gone."

"Shut up," I muttered.

But I couldn't shake it. The thought of Nora leaving made my stomach twist. The thought of her stepping out of my territory, out of my reach, with anyone else's protection but mine, made my blood boil. I wasn't ready to admit it, not to Olivia, not to anyone, least of all to myself.

I dropped heavily into my chair, gripping the armrest. Why the hell did this girl have such a hold on me? I'd convinced myself that keeping her here was about safety, about protecting Olivia's friend, but deep down, I knew it was more. It was the same reason I'd driven to that damned party last night, the same reason her scent made my wolf lose control. I didn't want her gone because I couldn't stand the thought of someone else having her.

The memory of the kiss hit me again: the warmth of her mouth, the tremble in her breath, the way she'd looked at me afterward, equal parts anger and confusion. My chest tightened painfully.

"You're scared," my wolf said again, his tone calm now, almost knowing. "You're scared of what you already feel."

I clenched my jaw. "I'm scared… I don't want my heart broken for the second time."

My wolf stirred. He knew what I meant. If no one understood what I felt when my heart was broken by my first mate, he did. I was a shadow of myself. I almost committed suicide.

The memories slammed into me: that same hollow feeling, the constant ache in my chest, the scent of betrayal that lingered for years. The nightmares, the sleepless nights, the weight of pretending I was fine when I wasn't.

My wolf's voice softened, almost mournful. "She wasn't your mate, Calvin. She was your mistake. You know this."

"I know," I whispered. "But it doesn't change what it did to me."

Silence filled the room again. I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees, staring blankly at the floor.

"I can't go through that again," I said finally. "I can't love someone and watch it destroy me twice."

"This is different," my wolf argued quietly. "Nora isn't her. You know it."

"She's worse," I said bitterly. "Because she's mine."

My wolf growled faintly in disapproval, but I ignored him. The truth was simple, terrifyingly simple. I wasn't angry at Nora because I hated her. I was angry because every time she looked at me, she made me feel alive again. Because she could hurt me in ways no one else could.

I slammed my fist against the table, the sound echoing through the office. My breathing grew uneven, my chest tight. I'd built walls around my heart for years, thick, cold, and unbreakable, and somehow, in a matter of weeks, she was breaking through them without even trying.

"I can't fall for her," I muttered to myself. "I won't."

But even as I said it, her face appeared in my mind: those eyes, the stubborn tilt of her chin, the faint curve of her lips when she smiled. The same lips I'd kissed.

My wolf rumbled softly. "Then why does her name still make your heart race?"

I stood abruptly, pacing again, frustration clawing at my chest.

"Because I'm a fool. Because I can't stop thinking about her even when I try."

The door creaked slightly, and I turned sharply, but no one was there. Still, the faint scent of jasmine drifted from the hallway.

Nora.

My pulse spiked. I swallowed hard, trying to regain composure, but the ache in my chest only deepened.

"She'll be the end of me," I whispered.

And deep down, I knew my wolf was right. I wasn't keeping her here because I was confused. I was keeping her here because I was terrified that if she left, she'd take the last piece of me that still felt anything.

Suddenly, the faint scent of jasmine grew stronger, and before I could even steady my heartbeat, the door opened.

Nora stepped in, her chin raised, her eyes sharp and full of annoyance. She looked determined. That alone set every nerve in my body on edge.

"What do you want?" I asked, forcing my voice to stay calm.

She closed the door quietly behind her, then turned to face me. "We need to talk."

I didn't respond. I just leaned back in my chair, pretending to be uninterested, even though my pulse was hammering.

Her next words sliced through the silence.

"We have to reject each other."

My grip on the armrest tightened. "What?"

"You heard me," she said firmly. "This… whatever this is, it's not working. You don't want me, and I don't want to keep being treated like a burden."

I stared at her, unmoving. When I didn't answer, she stepped closer, her frown deepening.

"I came here to make it official. You can reject me now, or I'll do it myself."

I ignored her, turning my gaze to the window, but she didn't stop.

"Fine," she snapped. "Then maybe this will make it easier for you."

When I looked back at her, she lifted her hand, and my world froze. A silver ring glinted on her finger.

"What the hell is that?" I asked, my voice dangerously low.

Her lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "An engagement ring."

I shot up from my seat, disbelief flashing through me like lightning. "You're joking."

"No," she said, her tone calm deliberate. "I'm engaged, Calvin. I have a boyfriend back in Full Moon Pack. His name is Daniel. He's here now, actually. He asked me to marry him, and I said yes."

My heart slammed against my ribs. "You're lying."

"I'm not," she said quietly. "I came to tell you goodbye. We're leaving tonight to start preparing for the ceremony."

I laughed bitterly, but there was no humor in it. "You expect me to believe that? That you got engaged out of nowhere?"

She met my gaze steadily. "Believe whatever you want. But if you think I'm staying here just because you decided to keep me trapped, you're wrong. I've already sent word to the council. If you try to stop me, they'll consider it unlawful holding."

Her words hit me like a strike to the chest.

"Unlawful…" I repeated, my jaw clenching. "You reported me?"

She didn't flinch. "I did what I had to. You can't keep me here forever."

For a moment, I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. My wolf was growling so loud in my head it felt like thunder.

"She's lying," he snarled. "She's trying to make you let go."

But her eyes, damn her eyes, they didn't look like they were lying. The rage inside me tangled with something else, pain, raw and deep.

"So that's it?" I said, my voice low. "You walk in here, show me a ring, and expect me to believe you're happy with someone else?"

Nora took a step back, her breath uneven, but she kept her tone steady. "Yes. I'll be with someone who isn't bothered about my class."

That did it.

Before she could say another word, I closed the distance between us. My hand gripped her jaw, tilting her face up roughly, and without a thought, I crushed my lips against hers.

It wasn't soft.

It wasn't gentle.

It was desperate, angry, every ounce of frustration and longing I'd buried spilling out at once.

Her eyes widened in shock, her hands pushing hard against my chest, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. My wolf roared in approval, his growl vibrating through me. The feel of her, the taste of her breath, it was too much. Too real.

Then she shoved me back with all her strength and slapped me hard across the cheek.