Lurgard.
An agonizing discomfort gnawed at my chest, a relentless, burning ache that I simply could not shake. The mere thought of Lawrence and Theresa being alone together was a slow-dripping poison in my veins.
Just a short while ago, she had been right there, held tightly against my chest, feeling the beat of my heart. Yet, in spite of that closeness, she had turned away and chosen to go with another man.
The memory was both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking, ripping a jagged tear through my pride and my soul. I paced the floor, my fists clenching and unclenching as the reality of it sank in. I truly did not know if I could survive this. I wasn't sure I had the strength to take it.
I needed to act, and I needed to act fast. I had to find a way to make Theresa want me more than anyone else—to crave me so deeply that even the ancient, undeniable pull of the mate bond would pale in comparison.
