Lucas fought against him for control, his voice sharp and panicked in their shared mind.
Not now, Manic. Not here!
Manic ignored him. "She is ours," he growled, his fangs pressing into her skin.
Lucas roared internally, shoving against his wolf's control.
Ava stiffened. She hadn't seen this coming, she had never thought that at some point, Lucas would mark her as his, binding their souls together. It couldn't be now. Not when Lucas himself hadn't decided. Not when she hadn't fully wrapped her head around what it meant.
For a split second, panic flared in her chest.
"Manic, wait!" she gasped, gripping his face.
That was the distraction Lucas needed.
With a guttural growl, Manic reeled back, his body jerking as Lucas wrestled for dominance.
Ava watched, wide-eyed, as Lucas staggered away from her, his breathing heavy, his entire body trembling. His golden eyes flickered, fading back to their usual stormy blue.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
