Third Person's POV Kade drove Freya and Lana back to the high-rise apartment Lana had recently purchased. The storm outside had finally quieted, but the tension in Freya's chest hadn't eased. "Thanks for tonight, Kade," Freya said quietly as they reached the building entrance. Her voice was calm, but her fingers trembled slightly when she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Go home and get some rest." Kade leaned against the door, eyes steady on her. "Alright. But what I said earlier-think about it, Freya. Don't give me an answer now. You can take your time. As long as it takes." Freya only nodded, avoiding his gaze. He gave her one last glance before stepping into his car and driving away. The low growl of his engine faded into the night. As soon as he was gone, Lana slipped closer, her amber eyes bright with curiosity. "So," she whispered, "what did Kade want you to think about?" "Nothing," Freya said a bit too quickly, the tips of her ears burning. Lana arched a brow. "Nothing? Don't tell me he asked you to consider being with him." Freya sighed. "You really don't miss anything, do you?" "Of course not." Lana grinned. "Come on, Freya, Kade's not a bad choice. He's loyal, smart, and dangerously good-looking. The golden boy-and the only one who ever dares to talk back to his commander. Around everyone else, he's sharp as a blade, but with you, he's a pup waiting for your command." Freya shook her head. "I just ended things with Silas. I can't… not right now. Finding my brother comes first." "Speaking of that-didn't you meet him tonight?" Lana's tone softened. "Eric, I mean. Or… Parker now." Freya's chest tightened. "I did. I showed him the DNA report, but he said even if it's true, he'd rather stay as Parker Williams." Lana frowned. "That makes no sense. Eric was never one to chase after wealth or power. He lived for duty, for family. Why would he cling to the name of a pack he doesn't even belong to?" Freya's voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't know. But I'll find out." Her eyes darkened, a storm gathering in them-the mark of a Bloodmoon wolf. "Now that he's back in the Capital, I won't lose him again."Lana gave her a sympathetic smile. "You should rest first. You've been through too much today." Freya nodded, exhaustion washing over her. "I'll take a shower." She disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of running water filling the silence. Lana began tidying the apartment, but halfway through, the doorbell rang. She frowned. "Who could that be at this hour?" Maybe Kade forgot something? She opened the door-and froze. Victor stood there. Her heart stuttered. His dark shirt clung to his body, collar loosened, eyes gleaming like tempered steel under moonlight. "Victor?" Lana whispered, her voice catching. "What are you doing here?" "Why didn't you come find me?" His voice was low, rough, unmistakably dominant. Before she could react, he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. One hand slid behind her head, guiding her backward until her back met the cold wall. Lana's pulse jumped. "Why would I come looking for you? I had nothing to-" "Nothing?" His lips brushed her ear, his breath cool and steady. "Did I not leave an impression that night?" Her face heated instantly. "You mean the night you nearly broke my back? No, not at all. Your ‘technique' was… average." Victor's eyes flashed, dark amusement curling at the corner of his mouth. "Average, hmm? Then tell me, whose technique would you rate higher? I'd love to… study." Lana glared at him. "You can try the nightclubs. Plenty of experienced partners there. Maybe the great Victor Ashford could learn a thing or two." That earned her a low growl. He caught her chin between his fingers and bit her lower lip-not hard enough to break skin, but enough to make her gasp. "You really shouldn't provoke a wolf when you can't handle the bite." "Victor-" she started, but the rest of her protest was swallowed by his mouth. His kiss was rough, consuming, his scent-iron, cedar, smoke-coiling around her like a command. She struggled, pushing against his chest, but he only deepened the kiss, until she was breathless, her body trembling from the heat beneath her skin. "Stop-Victor, I-can't-breathe-" she managed between kisses, voice thin with panic and something else she refused to name. He finally broke the kiss, his breath ragged. "Then let me practice," he murmured, thumb brushing her swollen lip. "You said I wasn't good enough, didn't you? I learn fast." Her eyes widened. "You're insane." Before she could move, he lifted her effortlessly, carrying her down the short hallway toward her bedroom. "Put me down!" she hissed. "Victor, I swear, if you-" "Too late," he said simply. Lana froze as he nudged open the door with his shoulder. Her pulse hammered wildly. This man was chaos incarnate. Every rule she'd drawn for herself around him-distance, control, dignity-was crumbling. "Victor, you put me down right now!" she whispered harshly. "Freya's here-she'll hear-" From inside the bathroom came Freya's voice. "Lana, I'm done! Should I leave the heat on for you?" Lana nearly choked. "N-No! It's fine!" Victor smirked against her neck. "Freya's back, huh?" "Yes, and if she sees you-" she whispered, panicked. He tilted his head. "Then maybe I should say hello." Her blood ran cold. "No! Don't you dare." He studied her face, amusement fading to something sharper. "You don't want her to know about me," he said softly. "Why is that? Embarrassed? Or am I just your secret pastime?" Lana swallowed hard. His words hit too close. The truth was, she didn't know what to call whatever existed between them. He wasn't her mate. He wasn't her lover. But he was the only one who ever made her feel… undone. "Victor, it's not like that," she whispered. "Isn't it?" His voice was quiet, but the low rumble in it made her wolf stir uneasily. "You keep your distance, keep me hidden. Yet you tremble every time I touch you." Lana looked away, shame and anger twisting inside her. "You're impossible." He chuckled darkly. "Maybe. But you don't seem to mind." Freya's footsteps echoed faintly down the hall-she was heading back to her room. Lana tensed. "Just stay here until she's gone," she whispered urgently.