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“Try to take my mate from me and see what fucking happens.”

My Alpha aura explodes.

The lights flicker overhead. Metal rattles against a tray as power floods the room and pours through the open doorway. The nurses stumble backward, and I hear startled voices from somewhere in the hallway.

I pull Arlene closer against me. Protect mate.

"I've got her."

Don't let them take mate.

"I won't."

Another aura touches mine.

My wolf growls until the unmistakable weight of Lycan power settles around us. Silver light spills through the doorway, reflecting against the white walls as Rylan walks into the room.

He doesn't rush toward me. He doesn't command me to release Arlene. His silver aura surrounds him as he moves slowly through mine, powerful enough that I feel him with every step, but he never pushes his power against me.

Rylan looks at Arlene's lifeless body in my arms. Then he looks at me, and something changes in his face. His eyes move over the corner I've backed myself into, my arms wrapped around my mate, my aura flooding the hospital while my wolf threatens anyone who comes close.

He knows.

Rylan walks closer and kneels on the cold floor in front of me until we're at the same level. “Darian.”

“Don't.”

“I'm not going to take her from you.”

My arms tighten around Arlene anyway. “They are.”

“I know.”

“Tell them to leave.”

Rylan's eyes drop to Arlene before returning to mine. His silver aura remains steady around us, surrounding my grief without trying to overpower it.

“This wasn't supposed to happen.” My voice breaks as I look down at her. “I already failed her once, Rylan. I couldn't keep her safe in our first life.” Tears fall from my face onto Arlene's cold cheek. “I was supposed to keep her safe this time. What was the fucking point of getting another chance if I was just going to lose her again?”

Rylan's jaw tightens. “When I lost Elise, I held her. I mourned her. And eventually, I had to let them take her body from me.”

I look at him.

“It felt wrong. Every instinct I had told me to keep my mate with me.” Pain crosses his face, but he doesn't look away. “But I loved Elise, and loving her meant honoring her after she was gone too. I had to let them care for her body. I had to let them prepare her with the respect she deserved.”

His silver aura shifts around us as his eyes drop to Arlene.

“Then Selena died.”

My wolf quiets enough to listen.

“She died in my arms in front of the pack.” Rylan's voice roughens. “That time, I couldn't do it. I couldn't hand her over. I couldn't listen to anyone. I went feral, Darian. I stopped fighting my wolf and let him take over because neither of us could accept that our mate was dead.”

I look down at Arlene, and my fingers tighten around her. “Then don't ask me to give her to them.”

“I'm not asking you to give her up.” Rylan leans closer. “I'm asking you to honor her.”

My eyes snap back to his.