For the first time, something flickers behind his eyes.
Not fear.
Possession.
“You don’t understand,” he says quietly. “This is how mates are made. How bonds are sealed.”
“No,” I hiss. “This is how monsters justify what they do.”
He stares at me like he doesn’t hear the words at all.
And in that moment, I realize the most terrifying thing of all—
He truly believes this is love.
The candlelight wavered as Tobias stepped closer, shadows crawling over the walls like they were alive.
“I’m actually glad,” he said quietly, “that you stopped drinking the tea.”
My breath caught.
“What?”
He smiled like he was sharing a secret. “Four days, right? I could tell. Your eyes are clearer. Your scent is different. Stronger.”
My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin.
“You see,” he continued, “
