Seconds before Melissa caused an explosion that sent everything backwards, Richard felt that power from her. He didn't know if it was because of their connections as mates but Richard realized that her wolf and his wolf were opposite sides of the same coin. He wasn't as capable as she was, but his ability to use darkness had always been something that helped him hide and shielded him. But her powers, it made her present, noticeable.

That moment enlightened him of what he should be and what he was, he wasn't her protector, not necessarily as he would realize now. Melissa doesn't need protection. He was her shadow, the man...