"Multiple bond?" I look up at him.
"Silverpelt wolves are different from other shifters." Julian's voice is careful and measured. "Rare. Powerful. And capable of something no other bloodline can do."
"Which is?"
"They can bond with multiple mates."
The room goes still. I stare at him, waiting for the punchline, for him to tell me he's joking. But his face is deadly serious.
"Multiple," I repeat.
"Not just two. Up to four." He watches me process this. "Four complete mate bonds."
My mouth goes dry. "That's not possible."
"It is. For Silverpelt wolves, it's not just possible. It's necessary." He gestures to the book. "Your bloodline evolved this way. The bonds don't compete, they complement. Each mate brings different strength."
I stand because I can't sit anymore. My legs feel unsteady but I need to move. "Four mates. You're telling me I can have four mates."
"Yes."
The mate bond between us flares, responding to my rising panic. I feel Julian's steadiness through it, his certainty. He's known this for weeks and he's had time to accept it. I'm learning it in real time and my world is crumbling.
"And that's why..." I stop, trying to find the words. "I've felt something. With Caspian. This pull that gets stronger every day. And Knox too, even though he barely speaks to me. Even Nico, though that one feels wrong somehow."
Julian goes still. "Knox?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I knew about Caspian. Could feel your response to him through our bond." He runs a hand through his hair. "But Knox... that's more complicated than I thought."
"Why?"
"Because Knox is dangerous. Unstable. If a bond forms there..." He stops himself. "We'll deal with that when it happens."
"And these are all real? All meant to form?"
"If you're feeling the pull with all three of them, then yes." He watches me carefully. "The Silverpelt bond doesn't form randomly. Your wolf recognizes potential mates."
The world tilts sideways. I grip the back of the chair to steady myself.
"I thought I was confused," I whisper. "Thought there was something wrong with me. That I couldn't figure out what I wanted because I kept feeling drawn to different people."
"There's nothing wrong with you." Julian steps closer but doesn't touch me. "It's your bloodline. What you're feelingisn't confusion or weakness. It's your wolf recognizing potential mates."
"What?"
"You'll be powerful beyond anything the Council has seen in generations." His jaw tightens. "That's why they're afraid. That's why they'll never stop hunting you."
I sink back into the chair. My hands are shaking. "How long have you known?"
"Since before I claimed you." Guilt flashes across his face. "Since the first time I felt the pull toward you and recognized what it meant. I knew your bloodline allows for multiple bonds and I claimed you anyway because I'm selfish and I couldn't resist."
"Does Caspian know? Knox? Nico?"
"No. They might feel something but they don't understand what it means." He gestures to the book. "I've studied Silverpelt history for years. When I met you, when I felt the bond forming, I started researching more. That's when I found this." He taps the book. "That's when I realized what you are...whoyou are..."
"What happened to the others?" The question comes out small. "The other Silverpelt wolves."
