Beta Twisted Bonds - The Silver Canines Pack Series - {Book 2}

Fates Collide

Yuri's POV

I finally went to meet my father and my half-siblings, Nex and Nedra. The tension of seeing them for the first time wasn’t as overwhelming as I’d expected, though I still couldn’t shake the uncertainty in my chest.

“Well, glad you’re joining us for dinner.” My father’s warm, welcoming smile melted some of my reservations.

“Where’s Sire Drake and Alpha Mac?”

I rolled my eyes and smiled faintly. “Dad, you don’t need to use those formalities—not with them. That’s for outsiders. Mac’s my best friend, and Drake… well, Drake is just Drake.”

“She’s right.” A deep, familiar voice sent a shiver through me, making me turn in surprise. Mac stood there, his voice carrying a weight that wasn’t there before. His presence had changed too—he seemed broader, stronger. His fitted t-shirt clung to his muscular build in a way that made my breath hitch. He wasn’t just Mac anymore. He was magnetic, almost unbearably so.

“She’s right—you can call me Mac. No need for all the formalities,” he said, his casual tone somehow still commanding.

Nex appeared beside me just as my father guided us all toward the dinner table. Before I could process it, Nedra leaned close, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Damn, your friend is hot. I mean, seriously, can I try my luck?” Her cheeks flushed with a deep, embarrassed blush.

I sighed, trying to focus. “Why not? Sure,” I said, keeping my tone light.

I wasn’t going to discourage her—not as her sister, especially since I’d just started bonding with Nedra. The connection between us felt surprisingly strong, considering we barely knew each other. It left me stunned. Nex, on the other hand, wasn’t impressed with Mac or Drake—especially since they arrived alone. He had an edge to him, protective and wary. His disapproval simmered under the surface, his sharp gaze never straying far from them.

Drake’s aura was impossible to ignore. Even dressed casually in a fitted black t-shirt, he exuded authority. The way it stretched across his muscular frame made me acutely aware of every detail. My eyes lingered, tracing his powerful shoulders and chest. His gaze caught mine, and a cocky smirk tugged at his lips. Flustered, I quickly looked away, pretending I hadn’t been staring. But I knew he’d noticed.

At the dinner table, I felt trapped, sandwiched between Mac and Drake. My body stiffened, hyper-aware of the heat radiating from them both.

“I hope you’re settling in well here,” Drake said, his voice deceptively calm.

“Oh, we are. Thank you, Drake,” my father answered.

“If you ever have any trouble here, my pack is open for you to stay.” Mac’s tone was light, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable.

The air grew charged. I glanced at Drake, who sat unnervingly still, his cool façade masking what I knew was barely contained fury.

“Thank you, Mac, for the generous offer, but this is a good place for us—for now,” my father replied, his voice steady.

“I see.” Mac’s response was calm, but I felt the tension roll off him in waves. He wasn’t happy, and though he hid it behind a polite smile, I could feel the undercurrent of frustration in my bones.

Dinner passed quietly, the strained atmosphere lingering long after we finished. As I helped Nedra in the kitchen, I could hear Nex talking to Drake in low, hushed tones. I didn’t need to eavesdrop to know Nex was questioning why I wasn’t staying with my family. He was protective, and his distrust of Drake was obvious.

“You think we’re strange, don’t you?” Nedra’s voice startled me.

“What do you mean?” I asked, turning to her.

“Me, Nex, and you. It’s like we’ve barely known each other, but in just a few days, we feel like… family.” She glanced toward the living room where Nex and Drake stood, their conversation still ongoing.

I nodded slowly. “It’s the magic in us—the dragon bloodline. It connects us, makes us understand each other on a deeper level.”

“That’s what I thought.” Nedra smiled faintly.

The two of us finished cleaning up and stepped out of the kitchen. Mac was waiting near the doorway, his expression unreadable. Drake sat in the living room, his piercing gaze locked on me. I tried to ignore it, but his presence burned into my consciousness, no matter how hard I tried to look away.

“I want to speak with you. Alone,” Mac said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Nedra nudged me with a sly grin. “Go ahead,” she whispered, teasing. “If I can’t catch his attention, you might as well.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words, but followed Mac outside. Drake’s voice carried faintly behind us as he continued talking to Nex and my father about dragon dynamics, but I knew his attention was still fixed on me.

As soon as we were outside, Mac turned to face me, his expression softer, his presence consuming.

“You look different,” he said, c*****g an eyebrow.

“Not bad, I hope?” I tried to keep my voice light, but my heart pounded in my chest.

“Of course not.” His lips curved into a smirk. “You’re stunning.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to brush off his compliment, but my cheeks warmed despite myself. “You’re not one to throw compliments around lightly.”

“And you’re not one to accept them easily.”

“How did it go with the Night Pack?” I asked, steering the conversation away from myself.

Mac’s shoulders tensed. “There’s trouble. I managed to handle it, but the danger isn’t over.”

“What kind of threat?” I stepped closer, meeting his gaze head-on.

“Why don’t we talk about you instead?” His voice dropped lower, softer.

“What about me?” I asked, my breath hitching at the intensity in his eyes.

He didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at me, the warmth in his gaze wrapping around me like a blanket. The energy between us shifted, charged and electric. It felt eerily similar to what I’d experienced with Drake when he kissed me—an overwhelming surge of power that left me breathless.

“I want to know,” he murmured, stepping into my space. His hand rose, brushing against my cheek, and my skin ignited under his touch. His eyes glowed faintly with a crimson hue—the wolf stirring within him. “You don’t have a mate, do you?”

I swallowed hard. “No.” My voice came out raspy, betraying the turmoil inside me.

“Mate.” His voice deepened, the word carrying a weight that made my knees tremble. His wolf was in control now, claiming me in that single word.

“Mac, I can’t be your mate.” I pulled away, though my body screamed at me to stay close, to revel in the warmth of his touch.

“Why not?” His voice broke slightly, the rejection slicing through him.

“Because she’s *my* mate.”

Drake’s voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and furious. I turned to see him standing a few feet away, his expression twisted with jealousy and barely restrained rage. The energy in the air shifted, suffocating and hostile.

Mac’s warmth evaporated, replaced by the cold edge of his fury. His glowing eyes burned brighter, his stance rigid as he faced Drake. The air between them crackled, the unspoken challenge heavy in the space between their stares.

The charged tension was too much. My head spun, the overwhelming energy making me feel lightheaded. My vision blurred as the room tilted around me, and before I could steady myself, darkness consumed me.