“If you are not here to give me what I came for, you can leave.”

My wolf bristles beneath my skin, hungry for a fight. Fighting is all Calloway knows how to do, anyway.

Perhaps he will be more amenable to my demands with my teeth in his neck.

Just as I had suspected, he was before me within seconds, baring his teeth. His dark eyes glow with fury.

“You are in my house,Aiden, and you best remember you are only alive at this moment because killing you would causemymate distress.”

I know I shouldn’t rise to his bait, but I can’t help it. His hot breath in my face, his tone, my antsy wolf…it’s too much.

I rise, pushing him back with a snarl of my own.

“You are not her mate. You will never be her mate.”

Calloway’s hand wraps around my throat before I have time to react.

“I am more of a mate to her than you will ever be, Summers,” he growls. “You rejected her. Your bond is broken.”

He grips my throat as he holds me up, and I kick out of his hold. The momentary distraction as my foot connects with his stomach makes him drop me, and it is enough for me to get my bearings.

“You think you can play hero, and she will succumb to your deception? We both know you aren’t the hero in anyone’s story, Calloway.”

My fist connects with his jaw, and before I know it, we are rolling around on the floor, jaws snapping and growls echoing in the room, some cross between beast and man.

“You are nothing,” he bites. “You are not even king! Your kingdom itself is so fucked, you can’t even control your packs! You believed that piece of shit alpha over yourmate, and you think you can just waltz into my fucking house and take her?”

His voice is full of anger and pain, two things I recognize well.

But I can’t let my understanding of such things cloud my judgment. Nyx Calloway is myenemy.

And he is more than an obstacle.

His fingers grab my throat again, his claws shifting along my skin to draw blood.

“Careful,” I bite. “We wouldn’t want to upsetmy mate.” I grin.

He roars, his fingers tightening their grip, and there is a knock on the door.

“Your Highness, Raine has requested to see our...visitor.”

The faint voice of a female sings beyond the door, and I swallow harshly.

Calloway growls as the voice beckons again. “She says she’s coming in in ten seconds if—”

No sooner am I dropped, falling to my damn knees as I catch my breath.

Raine stands in the doorway, looking as beautiful as ever. But her gaze of love and wonder does not fall on me as I wish it would. No, her bright eyes flash tohim.

But she is not alone. Behind her, bright eyes find me, the evident look of concern on Delilah’s face making my heart sink. I brace my hands on the floor, looking away.

I don’t want to see her pity.

Nyx is right—I am not a king. A king would not be on his hands and knees fighting for breath right now.

“Trust me,” Raine whispers, and I realize I’ve completely zoned out. I look up at Delilah, at the way she’s chewing her lip. Her gaze implores me, and I hate that she looks so worried.

Her comfort has been most helpful during this hunt for Raine, and I hadn’t realized how much it soothes me.