The irony didn’t escape me. When I had loved him, I had always been so careful—so measured in my actions, so desperate for his approval. I had offered him my heart, hoping that if I gave enough of myself, he would finally see me. But no matter what I did, it was never enough. I could never compare to Adeline in his eyes.
Ronan’s momentary surprise hardened into determination. He leaned back on the couch, Adeline nestled in his arms, his gaze locking onto me with unsettling ease. “Anastasia, don’t test my patience,” he warned.
His wolf guards, who had been silent observers until now, stepped forward. Without a word, they moved to block my path, their presence a clear command. They ushered me back in front of Ronan and Adeline, their movements sharp and authoritative.
Ronan remained at ease, his posture deceptively relaxed. But the air around him was suffocating, charged with unspoken threats. Crossing one leg over the other, he regarded me with an unnerving calm. “Apologize,” he repeated, his voice carrying the weight of an order.
Adeline, ever the performer, flashed me a smirk before turning to Ronan with feigned sweetness. “It’s okay, Alpha. Anastasia didn’t mean it.”