I am here to take you with me!

Ethan and Luca halted in their tracks, shifting back into their human forms. Hunter smirked at them, his tone mocking. "What happened, boys? Not ready for a fight? Not ready for blood?"

Luca clenched his teeth, trying to suppress his anger. After a moment, he responded, his voice steady but strained. "Our father has summoned you. He wants to meet you."

Hunter's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading into a cold glare. "Alpha Xander doesn't have the right to summon me," he said sharply. "But I’ll go—on my own terms. I want to meet the woman who dares to call me her mate."

Luca said nothing in response. With fists clenched, he and Ethan followed Hunter as he strode confidently toward the mansion. Each step felt like a struggle to contain their fury. They wanted nothing more than to kill this man—their enemy—but they were bound by their father’s command.

Inside the mansion, Hunter faced Alpha Xander, who stood tall and imposing. "Come to my office," Xander ordered, his tone authoritative.

Hunter followed, his confident swagger making the tension in the room palpable. Luca and Ethan trailed behind, their eyes never leaving Hunter. Once inside the office, Hunter immediately sat in the largest chair, claiming the seat as though he owned the territory.

Luca let out a low growl, his anger flaring. "Don’t you know how to show respect to the Alpha? How dare you sit before my father does?"

Hunter’s eyes gleamed dangerously as he leaned forward. "Have you forgotten that I’m an Alpha too? Watch your tongue, boy, or you’ll regret disrespecting me."

Xander raised a hand, silencing his sons before the situation could escalate. He sat in his chair, locking eyes with Hunter. "Why have you come to my territory uninvited?"

Hunter leaned back, a smirk tugging at his lips. "How many times must I explain myself?" he said, feigning boredom.

Xander’s patience wore thin, but he took a deep breath. "Are you here to kill and declare war?"

Hunter crossed one leg over the other, his demeanor relaxed but menacing. "That was the plan," he admitted, his voice low. "But then I saw your daughter. Plans change."

Xander’s expression darkened, his sharp gaze cutting through the room. "I know what you want," he said coldly. "You intend to reject my daughter. Do it quickly. I don’t want her bonded to you."

Hunter’s laugh echoed through the room—deep, mocking. His aura grew heavier, filling the space with a dangerous tension. Xander and his sons stiffened, their instincts screaming at them about the threat before them.

When Hunter finally stopped laughing, his expression turned more sinister. "Reject her?" he said, dripping with sarcasm. "Do you really think that’s my intention?"

Hunter stood, his movements slow and deliberate. He towered over the room, exuding the dominance of a predator cornering its prey. "I want to meet your daughter," he declared. "call her"

Luca clenched his fists, barely able to contain his fury. "Why do you want to meet her?" he spat. "Are you planning to reject her or use her against us?"

Hunter's sharp eyes locked with Luca’s, his smirk returning. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I have something else in mind. Either way, it’s none of your concern." He turned his gaze to Xander. "Bring her to me."

Xander nodded silently, and Luca, though reluctant, obeyed, leaving the room with heavy steps.

Aurora was still crying in Kate's arms when Luca entered the room. Her tear-streaked face lit up when she saw him, and she rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Luca," she sobbed, "what is happening to me? How could my mate turn out to be my enemy? What cruel game is the Moon God playing with me?"

Luca stroked her back gently, his voice soft but firm. "My little angel, I know this is hard, but you need to be strong now because now you are going to meet Hunter our enemy"

Aurora’s eyes widened in horror. "No! I don’t want to meet him. He’s my enemy, Luca. How can you ask this of me?"

Luca sighed heavily, his heart aching for his sister. "Thats Alpha Xander's order, Aurora. You and I both know we can’t deny him."

Aurora’s heart shattered, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. She wanted to refuse, to run far away from this nightmare, but she knew Luca was right. With trembling hands, she reached for his, and together they walked toward the office.

Each step felt like a betrayal, dragging her closer to the man who was both her mate and her enemy.

As soon as Aurora entered the room, her eyes locked with Hunter’s intense brown gaze. Her heart pounded like a drum, hammering loudly in her chest. She instinctively glanced down at her dress, feeling an inexplicable pull toward him. Something deep inside her stirred—a powerful urge to run to him, to embrace him, to breathe in his scent. But she held herself back, knowing she couldn’t allow it.

Aurora stood frozen, maintaining her distance, while Hunter’s piercing gaze never left her. Finally, he turned to Alpha Xander and said, "I want to talk to her alone." Aurora was silent, she wanted to say lot of things but words were not ready to come out of her mouth, she was lost in Hunter deep eyes.

Luca was about to protest, his anger simmering, but Xander raised his hand, silencing his son. With a reluctant glare, Luca followed Xander out of the room, leaving Aurora and Hunter alone.

The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the sound of Aurora’s uneven breathing. Hunter began closing the distance between them, each step deliberate. As he drew closer, Aurora instinctively took a step back, her heart racing. Step by step, he advanced until her back collided with the door.

Hunter raised a hand, pressing it firmly against the door beside her head. His eyes locked onto hers, intense and unrelenting. "You’re so beautiful," he murmured, his gaze drifting to her lips.

Aurora’s nerves were on edge under Hunter’s penetrating stare. Her hands trembled slightly, but she forced herself to stay composed. Gathering all her courage, she spoke, her voice firm yet shaky. "Reject me," she said, closing her eyes tightly. "End this now."

Her heart rebelled against her words, aching with the thought of rejection, but she knew it was the right thing to do—for her pack, for her family.

Hunter leaned in, his warm breath brushing against her ear as he whispered, "I’m not here to reject you, baby. I’m here to take you with me."

Aurora’s eyes flew open in shock, confusion washing over her as she stared up at him. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, disbelief written all over her face.