The scent of fresh earth and crushed herbs clung to the air, mixing with the crisp evening breeze. The garden was one of the few quiet places left in the Crimson Fang stronghold, tucked away behind the stone walls where few bothered to linger.
Regina knelt beside a patch of wolfsbane, her fingers deftly plucking the delicate stems, careful not to bruise the fragile petals. The moon hung low in the sky, swollen and bright—a silent promise of the full moon that was only days away.
Her first shift was coming.
The thought unsettled her.
Across from her, Blue worked in silence, his strong hands gathering bundles of thyme and sage. He had always been steady, unwavering, the one person who had kept her grounded in Marco's absence.
He had always been safe. And he offered to protect her for good.
But tonight, there was something different in the way he moved, the way his eyes lingered on her a second too long, the way the space between them felt suddenly charged.
Regina felt it before he spoke.
"The full moon is coming."
She swallowed, focusing on her task. "I know."
Blue set his bundle of herbs aside, shifting closer. "You'll shift for the first time." His voice was softer now, but it carried weight.
She nodded. "I know."
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
"Regina, are you ready to be my mate?"
Her fingers stilled.
Regina turned to him, her silver eyes searching his face, but he was already waiting for her answer. She should have seen this coming. Blue had always protected her, had always been there when no one else was. He had been patient.
And now, he was asking for what he believed had always been meant to happen. She parted her lips, struggling for the right words, but they wouldn't come.
His fingers slid lower, grazing the curve of her waist before moving up, teasing, exploring.
"I can't wait to claim you, Regina," he murmured against her lips, his voice rough with desire. His hand cupped her breast, thumb grazing over her peak, drawing a sharp gasp from her.
Regina's breath hitched, a soft moan escaping her lips before she could stop it. She didn't push him away. And for a fleeting second, she let herself lean into it. She let herself forget.
Then—
The horn sounded.
The sharp, echoing blare shattered the moment, slicing through the night like a blade.
Regina jerked back, her pulse racing. Blue's hand lingered at her jaw for a moment before dropping away.
Then, they both turned. At the entrance of the garden, standing against the backdrop of flickering torchlight, was Marco. Regina's heart stopped.
He looked different. Taller, broader, his body carved with power that hadn't been there before. His dark hair was tousled from travel, the edges damp with sweat, and his cloak billowed slightly in the wind.
But it was his eyes that froze her in place. They weren't silver anymore. They were gold. Molten and burning, filled with something wild—something on the verge of breaking.
Regina opened her mouth, but no words came.
Marco had seen. He had seen everything. His gaze burned into her, then flickered to Blue, whose posture had already shifted into something defensive.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
Then, Marco moved.
Not rushed. Not reckless.
Deliberate.
He closed the distance between them, his boots crunching against the dirt.
And then—
He slapped her.
The impact cracked through the air, sharp and unrelenting.
Regina stumbled, the sting blooming across her cheek, heat rushing beneath her skin.
A deep snarl tore through the night. Before she could react, Blue lunged. His fist collided with Marco's jaw, sending him staggering back a step. Marco barely flinched. He lifted a hand, running his thumb across the corner of his mouth where a thin trail of blood smeared against his skin.
Then, he smirked. When his golden eyes lifted again, they were feral. "I told you to take care of her," Marco said, his voice calm, deadly.
Blue didn't waver. "I did. She's mine now."
Regina's breath hitched.
Marco's smirk disappeared. His entire body coiled like a predator about to strike.
Regina stepped forward, caught between the two men, her pulse hammering. Between the one who had stayed for her. And the one who had fulfilled his promise to come back.