Chapter 0145

Words fail me. He's been endlessly patient. Willing to wait. To accept me as his chosen. But my heart belongs only to Adrian.

Sebastian turns. I slip from Adrian's embrace, closing the distance between us. "I—"

He stops me with a look. "Don't. You never lied to me. I knew you needed to find your mate. The risk was mine to take."

His gaze shifts to Adrian over my shoulder before returning to me. "You always wanted your fated one. Adrian is worthy. He'll be a good Alpha. A good mate." His eyes flick back to Adrian. "And if he fails you—you know where I am."

Calloused thumbs brush away my tears. Then he produces a velvet box from his pocket. "Happy birthday."

My hands shake as I unwrap it. Inside rests an exquisite silver locket, vines twisting across its surface, cradling a flawless emerald at its center. "It's stunning."

"Open it," he murmurs.

The left side holds a photograph of my parents—young, radiant, their love palpable. An image I've never seen. On the right, my mother cradles infant me while my father embraces us both.

"How—?" My voice breaks. These fragments of my past, lost to time...

"Dorian helped track them down." Sebastian presses his lips to my forehead. "I'll be away for a while. Take care, Evelyn."

He steps back as Adrian moves forward, his arms encircling my waist. Together we watch Sebastian's taillights vanish into the night.

"You alright?" Adrian turns me gently.

"Yes." My fingers clutch the locket. "There was never really a choice." I meet his glacier-blue gaze. "It's always been you."

His smile warms me as he retrieves a small box. "My turn."

I tuck the locket away. Adrian pockets it for safekeeping before I accept his gift. Nestled in satin lies a sapphire pendant—a heart crowned with diamonds, suspended from a silver chain.

"Theron and I wanted you and Selene to know you hold our hearts." His thumb traces the gem. "The stone matches my eyes when he surfaces. The heart... well."

Selene surges forward. "We love you," we say in unison.

Adrian's voice deepens with Theron's resonance. "More than anything in this world."

"Put it on me?" I turn, lifting my hair. His fingers brush my nape as he fastens the clasp. Then his lips find my neck, trailing fire until they graze my mating mark. I gasp.

"Soon," he vows against my skin. "Forever. But first—" He nips my earlobe. "We've a celebration to attend. And a mate to honor."