Kian barely had time to drop his phone before Adrian was there .
He hadn't even sent a second message—hadn't even had time to fully process Mercer's veiled threat —but Adrian must have sensed it.
Because the moment Kian turned, Adrian was already closing the door to his office, locking it behind him.
And something was wrong.
Adrian's posture was too rigid, his breathing too controlled, his sharp gray eyes darker than usual —like he was holding himself together by sheer force of will.
The realization hit Kian like a punch to the gut.
He's in rut.
---
Kian inhaled sharply, instincts flaring to life even before Adrian spoke.
"You should have told me about Mercer the second you walked out of that office," Adrian said, voice low and strained , like he was fighting something visceral .
Kian tensed , caught between irritation and something far more dangerous .
