Derek paced his office, the echo of Clara’s ultimatum ringing in his ears. “Your title or your mate.” Her words lingered like a storm cloud, casting doubt over every decision he had made. He raked his fingers through his hair, trying to shake off the frustration gnawing at him. But there was no escaping it—Clara’s demand had thrown him into a whirlwind he wasn’t prepared to handle.

Still, his duty as an Alpha came first. He needed answers, and Kevin was at the center of it all. He ...