"I know." And he sounds like it's killing him. "But it's what you are. And running from it won't change that."
I pace his office, trying to process. Silverpelt genocide. Council still hunting. My parents murdered. Multiple bonds changing everything I thought I understood about myself.
"Explain it to me." I stop pacing, face him. "How does this work? Four mates. How is that supposed to function?"
"It's rare but it's possible." Julian leans back against his desk, watching me. "Your bloodline evolved for this. Multiple mates provide protection, different strengths. When all four bonds complete, the power increase is exponential."
"So I'm supposed to bond with all four of you."
"Not supposed to. Able to." He holds my gaze. "It's still your choice. The pull is real but you don't have to act on it."
"Is it really a choice if it's biology?"
"Both." He says it simply. "The pull is biology. What you do about it is choice."
I start pacing again. "Caspian will claim me."
"Yes." No hesitation. He can feel that through the bond already.
"I can feel it. The pack claim getting stronger. The way he looks at me." I stop, look at Julian. "Does that bother you?"
"Yes." Honest. Raw. "But I knew it would happen when I claimed you. Knew you were Silverpelt, knew other bonds would likely form. Did it anyway because I wanted you more than I wanted to protect myself from the jealousy."
"Knox?"
Julian's expression tightens. "If you feel the pull toward him, then a bond wants to form. Knox is..." He searches for words. "Complicated. Dangerous. But if your wolf recognizes him as mate, then there's a reason."
"And Nico?"
"You said that one feels wrong." Julian watches me carefully. "Why do you think that is?"
I hesitate. "He lied to me. About why he was getting close. It was all fake."
Julian's jaw tightens. "Then the bond tried to form while he was being dishonest. That could contaminate it."
"Can it be fixed?"
"I don't know." He meets my eyes. "Maybe. If you forgive him. If he earns it. But that's entirely your choice."
I wrap my arms around myself. Four mates. Four bonds. The weight of it crushes down on me.
"How is this supposed to work?" I ask again. "Four different people. Four different connections. How do I..."
"I don't have all the answers." Julian pushes off the desk, takes a step toward me but stops himself. "Silverpelt records are scarce. Most were destroyed during the genocide. But from what I've found, it's about balance. Each mate brings something different. Provides different strength."
"What if I can't handle it?"
"You can." He says it with certainty. "You're stronger than you know, Nova."
"What happens when all four bonds complete?" I need to know. Need to understand what I'm walking toward.
"You'll be powerful beyond anything Council has seen." He says it carefully. "Silverpelt with four bonded mates can do things other shifters can't. The bonds amplify each other. Make you dangerous."
"That's why they killed everyone."
"Yes." His hands clench into fists. "They were afraid. Are still afraid. If they find out you exist, if they discover you're forming multiple bonds..."
"They'll kill me."
