---- packs could only dream of owning. The portable healing device hummed quietly, already calibrated to my specific energy signature somehow. How had they managed that without me being here? I became completely immersed in examining each piece of equipment, my mind racing with the possibilities for my research. Time seemed to slip away as I lost myself in the technical specifications and imagined the breakthroughs I could achieve here. When I finally came back to my senses, I found Garrett had somehow returned and was standing nearby, watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read. His eyes were soft, almost tender, witha smile that seemed both proud and anxious. "Garrett, when did you come back?" I asked, a bit embarrassed that I'd been so absorbed I hadn't noticed him. "I'm sorry, I got carried away. This equipment is just incredible." He walked closer to me, his movements careful and deliberate. His tone was gentle, but there was an ---- underlying tension I couldn't identify. "Just now. You were too focused to notice me." "You were watching me work?" Something about the way he said it made my cheeks warm. "Talways like watching you work," he said quietly. " You get this look of complete concentration. It's... beautiful." Ismiled, then suddenly remembered why we were here. I looked behind him expectantly. "Where's the Alpha mate candidate? Didn't you say you were going to bring him over?" Garrett's expression became serious again. He looked at me for a long moment, his gaze carrying deeper meaning than I'd ever seen before. "He's already here." I froze and looked around the empty lab. "No he isn't -it's just you and me. Is he waiting outside? In the hallway?" ---- I moved toward the door to look, but Garrett's voice stopped me. "Sage." His tone was firm, final. "He's already here." My mind buzzed as if struck by lightning. Slowly, I turned back to face him, my heart starting to pound with a terrible understanding. With a trembling voice, I asked, "Garrett, are you saying... my mate candidate is you?" The words felt strange in my mouth, impossible. Garrett said nothing for several heartbeats, just quietly looked at me. But in his eyes, I could see expectation and nervousness, hope and fear all mingled together. My mind was in complete chaos, my voice filled with disbelief. Garrett, don't joke around like this. It's not funny." "T'm not joking." But Garrett shook his head, his tone completely serious. "Sage, I'm not joking. You were too young to ---- understand before, but I was adopted into your family. I'm not your biological brother." "What?" I whispered. "My father was the old Alpha's Beta who died protecting pack resources during a rogue attack. Your father took me in when I was seven years old. I've been so good to you all these years-did you really not notice that besides sibling affection, there were other feelings?" The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Countless images flashed through my mind like a movie reel- Asa child, Garrett always saved the best things for me. Whatever good food or fun toys there were, I was always the first person he thought of. He'd give up his own portions to make sure I had enough. During school, Garrett would personally pick me up and drop me off every single day, even when it meant rearranging his own training schedule. When I was bullied by classmates, he wouldn't hesitate to step forward and protect me, even facing older, stronger