ching for something, anything, that made sense in this surreal nightmare. The towering figure

voice. His pulse quickened. "What the hell is t

estured toward the door with a flick of his massive hand.

tarted reacting to something beyond his control. The strange, watery sensation of calm, which had felt so foreign just moments

e until you start explaining," Ethan said, voice tight.

al as he spoke. "Your blood has known this for a long time, even if your mind ha

just walk in there, meet this 'Alpha' guy, and... what? Shake hands, get hitc

clearly unamused. "You'll s

ffed. "Wa

heavy. It was soft, almost welcoming, but with an underlying force that Ethan couldn't ignore. His muscles tensed involuntarily as his fee

d already made the choice. He stepped into the room,

designs adorned the space, a stark contrast to the sterile reception area he'd seen earlier. It felt... ancien

d of the room

ari

ose eyes-locked onto Ethan the moment he entered. They were molten gold, burning with an intensity that made Ethan's skin prickle. There was so

, resonating through the room like a force of n

So I've heard," he muttered, trying to mask the unsettling reaction his

a faint smile. "It's not m

cracked. "There's no bon

e. "This connection between us, it's been in your blood long before you knew

soothed something deep inside him that he hadn't realized was unsettled. Hi

happen. He couldn't just

his fists clenching again. "I didn't ask for this

've always belonged here. You've just been kept away, hidden from what you truly are. But now..." He step

rill through his veins. The strange sensations-the liquid fire, the calmi

his voice finally cracking under the we

d onto his, unyield

th finality. And for the first time, Etha