LIRA
The cabin was small, but sturdy. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows along the wooden walls.
There was only one door.
And Caius stood in front of it.
“You’re not going to keep me locked up forever,” I said, crossing my arms.
He leaned against the doorframe, arms folded over his chest. “You’re not a prisoner.”
I snorted. “Right. Because abducting someone and dragging them to the middle of nowhere definitely doesn’t count as imprisonment.”
Caius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You wouldn’t be safe in Duskborne.”
“Oh? And I’m supposed to believe I’m safer with you?”
His silver eyes darkened. “Yes.”
A tense silence stretched between us.
I hated how calm he was. How unshaken.
And worse—how my heart stuttered every time his gaze locked onto mine.
I should be terrified of him.
Instead, my body reacted like a live wire, every nerve aware of the space between us.
I turned away, pacing near the fire. “Why me?”
“Because you’re mine.”
A chill raced down my spine. The words hit me like a slap, sharp and unexpected. And though they made me want to recoil, they also made something twist in my chest. Something deep and primal.
I shook my head, refusing to let him get inside my mind. “I don’t belong to you,” I spat out, my voice shaking with fury. There was no way I would let him claim me, no way I would let him think he had any say in my life.
He didn’t respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on me, like he was studying me, trying to figure me out. The silence stretched between us again, heavy and thick with unsaid words.
But then, after what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. “No,” he admitted, his voice softer now, almost contemplative. “But the bond does.”
My fists clenched at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. The bond.
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I knew enough. I could feel it too. That pull. That invisible thread that tied us together, that I couldn’t escape, no matter how hard I tried. It gnawed at me, twisted inside me like a living thing.
I turned away, pacing again, this time feeling the heat of my anger rise in my chest. “You think some invisible thread means you own me?” I said, my voice low and dangerous. The words tasted bitter, but I had to say them. I had to push back.
Caius pushed off the wall, his movement slow and deliberate. He didn’t walk toward me, but instead, he closed the distance between us. He was close enough now that I could feel the heat of his body, the electricity in the air.
I could feel the weight of him pressing down on me, and it made my breath catch in my throat.
The air between us crackled with tension, and I knew—knew—that he was right. No matter how much I fought it, I couldn’t ignore the pull. I couldn’t ignore the way my body responded to his, the way it hummed with energy every time he came near.
His voice was barely a whisper, but it sent a shiver down my spine. “It means,” he said, his words measured, “that no matter how much you fight it… you feel it too.”
Damn him.
Damn him for being right.
But I refused to give him the satisfaction. I wouldn’t let him win. I wouldn’t let him think he had me—mind and body—just because of some bond that I didn’t understand.
I lifted my chin, looking him straight in the eyes. “I’ll never be your obedient little mate,” I said, the words fierce and final.
Caius didn’t move for a moment. His lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. The kind that made my heart race even as my mind screamed at me to not let him have this power over me.
“Good,” he said softly, his voice like velvet wrapped around steel. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
And then, just as quickly as the tension had risen between us, he stepped back. It was like a switch had been flipped, and the air in the room became lighter, less oppressive.
“Get some rest,” he said, his tone commanding once again. “We leave at first light.”
I scowled, not even bothering to hide the frustration on my face. “And where exactly are you taking me?” I demanded, crossing my arms, my stance defiant.
His gaze darkened, his eyes narrowing just slightly. “Home.”
My breath hitched. I knew what that word meant—what it had to mean—but the idea of going there, of being forced to follow him, made my heart clench. There was so much more to this. So much more to what was happening than either of us were willing to admit.
But there was no point in asking him for answers. He wouldn’t give me any. Not yet.
Instead, I just turned away, trying to steady my breathing, to calm my racing heart.
Tomorrow, I would leave this cabin. Tomorrow, I would be on the road with him again, dragged further into his world. And there was nothing I could do about it.
LIRAThe first few days in Grimhowl territory had been a test of wills.Caius, the infuriating Alpha, had made it clear that I was under his protection—which was just another way of saying I was trapped.The northern lands were colder, harsher than home. Snow blanketed the forests, ice clung to the rivers, and the air stung my skin like tiny needles. The Grimhowl wolves were different too—tough, battle-worn, but fiercely loyal to their Alpha.And Caius never left me alone.At first, I thought he wanted to keep an eye on me to prevent escape. But then I noticed the little things—how he always walked beside me, not ahead; how he made sure I had extra furs to keep warm; how he brought me food himself instead of letting his warriors serve me.It was unsettling.It was infuriating.And worse, it was working.Every time I caught his scent—smoky, rich, intoxicating—I felt my resolve waver. Every time his piercing silver eyes met mine, something inside me itched to surrender.I hated it.So,
CAIUS I was losing my mind.Three weeks.Three weeks of Lira refusing to acknowledge the bond. Three weeks of her resisting even the smallest touches. Three weeks of me—Alpha Caius Vexmoor, the most feared wolf in the north—being utterly, helplessly ignored.And my Beta and Gamma were enjoying every damn second of it.I sat at the head of the long wooden table in the war room, fingers tapping against the armrest. The fire in the hearth crackled, the scent of burning cedar thick in the air, but it did nothing to warm the frustration simmering beneath my skin.Across from me, Elias—my Beta—lounged in his chair, an infuriating smirk tugging at his lips. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark brown hair and sharp golden eyes that missed nothing, Elias had the kind of calculating mind that had won me countless battles. But right now?Right now, he was too busy enjoying my suffering to be useful.Beside him, Ronan—my Gamma—was the very picture of poorly contained amusement. A hulking brute wi
LIRAIt started with small things.A cup of warm honeyed tea left on my table in the morning.A fresh set of riding gloves when mine wore thin.A silent presence beside me when I wandered the snowy paths around the fortress.Caius never said a word about it. Never pushed.But I felt him.The bond between us was a steady thrum in my veins. I knew he was near before I even saw him. My wolf—silent, waiting—stirred whenever he entered the room.And every time I looked at him, I hated that I was starting to see him differently.He wasn’t just the Alpha who kidnapped me anymore.He was the man who made sure I had warm tea every morning, who thought of me when I didn’t even ask for it.He was the man who stepped between me and his warriors when they stared too long, their eyes lingering in ways that made me feel uncomfortable, like they were measuring my worth or my strength.He was the man who never forced me to accept something I wasn’t ready for, who respected the space I needed even when
LIRAI wasn’t supposed to be watching him.And yet, I was.Ever since Caius had taken me, I had kept my walls up, refusing to acknowledge anything about him beyond the fact that he was my captor. The enemy. The rival Alpha.But my eyes betrayed me.Because I had started noticing things.I noticed the way his pack respected him—not just as their Alpha, but as one of their own. He didn’t rule through intimidation or brute force. He didn’t demand submission with a single look, though I knew he could if he wanted to.He led differently.I saw him train with his warriors instead of just commanding from the sidelines. I saw him eat alongside his pack, laughing and listening rather than expecting silence when he spoke.And now, as I watched him haul a massive stack of firewood across the courtyard, I found myself frowning.An Alpha doing chores?It wasn’t unheard of. My father—a strong and just leader in his own right—had always preached that an Alpha should guide, protect, and serve their p
CAIUSI told myself not to hope.Not to read too much into the way Lira’s gaze lingered on me a little longer each day.Not to let my wolf, Fenrir, get too excited over the fact that she hadn’t tried to escape in days.She watches us, Fenrir murmured in my head, his voice a deep, pleased rumble.She’s still resisting, I reminded him.But she is looking.He wasn’t wrong.I felt her eyes on me now, the weight of her stare pressing between my shoulder blades as I stacked firewood outside the training hall. She thought she was being subtle, but I knew when I was being watched.It took everything in me not to turn and meet her gaze. If I did, I knew she’d look away, that she’d retreat back into the guarded shell she had built around herself.Instead, I focused on my task, pretending that her stare didn’t make my skin heat.She is ours, Fenrir continued. She just doesn’t know it yet.She thinks I stole her.You did, he pointed out.You’re not helping.You need to make her see, Caius. Make h
LIRAI was falling for him.I didn't want to be.I had fought it for weeks, clinging desperately to my hatred, my fear, my resistance. Every time I reminded myself of what he had done—kidnapping me, forcing me into his territory, taking me away from everything I had known—it was easier to stay angry. It was easier to keep my distance, to stay wrapped in my self-imposed hatred.But it was getting harder.Because every day, I saw him. Not just as Caius Vexmoor, the enemy Alpha—the ruthless leader who controlled a brutal pack. But as Caius, the man.The one who didn’t treat his people like tools to be used. The one who laughed with his warriors, shared meals with them, and made sure that even the youngest members of his pack felt like they belonged. The one who didn’t just take care of his pack—he loved them. He wasn’t the monster I had thought he was. He was… something else.And he was showing me, slowly but surely, that he wasn’t the villain I had imagined. It terrified me because it m
LIRAFor weeks, I had kept my distance.For weeks, I had resisted.But I was tired.Tired of pretending I didn’t feel the weight of Caius’ gaze on me every time we were in the same room.Tired of pretending I didn’t notice the way he was always nearby, whether it was during meals, training, or even when I walked through the pack grounds.And most of all, I was tired of pretending I wasn’t… curious.Curious about him.About the mate bond.About why he seemed so certain that I was his, even when everything inside me screamed that I wasn’t like other wolves.So when I found him alone, standing by the balcony outside the main hall, I hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward.The wind was cold, carrying the scent of pine and snow, but he didn’t seem to notice. His hands were braced against the railing, muscles tense beneath his dark tunic. The moon cast a pale glow over him, highlighting the sharp angles of his face, the storm brewing in his expression.He noticed me instantly.
CAIUS“I’m going to ask you again, where’s your wolf? What’s her name?” I asked Lira, my voice hard, more demanding than I meant it to be.I knew my question had hit something deep, something fragile. Because the second I asked it, Lira tensed so hard she might as well have turned to stone. The shift in her posture was subtle, but it was unmistakable. Her back stiffened, her shoulders squared as if bracing for an impact that only she could feel. Her hands, which had been loosely folded in her lap, clenched into fists. A muscle ticked in her jaw.For a long moment, she said nothing. Not a breath, not a flicker of movement. I watched her closely, trying to read the expression in her face. But her eyes—those eyes—were shuttered, closed off in a way that made it impossible to get past her walls. And then I wondered if I had pushed too far. If I had asked something I wasn’t supposed to know.But then, to my surprise, she exhaled—not with anger, but with exhaustion, as though she had been h
The frozen winds of Grimhowl howled across the vast training grounds, biting at Lira’s exposedskin. Yet she stood firm, her body steady despite the numbing chill, her eyes narrowed inconcentration. In her palm, a small flame flickered, its golden light casting a warm glow againsther pale skin. The fire was a reflection of the power stirring within her, a force she was stilllearning to control.“Good,” Morgana’s voice cut through the cold, low and almost predatory as she circled Lira.“Now, expand it.”Lira inhaled deeply, focusing on the warmth in her core. The flicker of the flame responded,stretching and twisting, growing larger as she fed it more of her energy. The fire danced wildlyfor a moment, the air around it shimmering with heat, but Lira kept her focus, forcing the fire intocontrol. Slowly, the flame took shape, curling into an orb of bright golden light that hovered justabove her palm.Morgana stopped her pacing, her sharp eyes gleaming with approval. “Better. Now,
The revelations from Morgana lingered in Lira’s mind, gnawing at her as the night stretched on.Lying in the bed, the weight of everything she had learned pressed down on her chest, leavingher restless and unable to sleep. The cold moonlight filtered through the window, casting longshadows across the room, but Lira hardly noticed. Her thoughts were a whirlpool, eachrevelation adding fuel to the fire of uncertainty within her.Her birth had been destined. Morgana had known Malakar. The Dark Lord’s betrayal had turnedthe witch into an ally, yet the depth of Morgana’s story only deepened the complexity of theirsituation. The idea that she had been part of some cosmic design—her existence tied to aneclipse, an event that was supposedly beyond her control—was both comforting and terrifying. Itmade her feel like a pawn in a game that had been set long before she was born.But Lira didn’t want to be a pawn. She wanted to be the player.The sound of a knock at the door broke through he
Morgana led Lira through the winding corridors of Grimhowl’s grand estate, finally stopping at asecluded chamber tucked away from the bustling heart of the pack’s fortress. The room was small, its atmosphere thick with the scent of herbs, dried flowers, and the faint must of oldparchment. Candles flickered in the corners, casting long shadows against the stone walls,which were lined with ancient tomes—some so worn that the titles had faded to nothing morethan ghostly traces.The witch gestured to a high-backed chair, its fabric rich and deep in color, and Lira hesitatedonly for a moment before sitting across from her. The air was heavy with unspoken secrets, andLira could feel the weight of them pressing down on her.Morgana leaned back in her seat, folding her hands in front of her. Her eyes seemed to darkenas she began to speak, her voice low and steady, as though every word carried the weight ofcenturies.“I am older than most beings you’ve ever met, Lira. I have lived for
Lira stood in the middle of a clearing, the cold air biting at her exposed skin. The northern windshowled around her, swirling snowflakes in a dizzying dance. Grimhowl’s land was still blanketedin thick snow, the bitter cold lingering, but there was a hint in the crisp air—a promise of warmerdays to come. She tightened the cloak around her shoulders, looking toward the figure standingbefore her. Morgana.The ancient witch stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze studying Lira with an almostpredatory intensity. Despite the woman’s apparent calm, Lira could never fully relax around her.Morgana had an uncanny way of making her feel both reassured and unsettled at the sametime, as if she was aware of something Lira was only beginning to understand.“Your powers are awakening,” Morgana said, her voice low and smooth like liquid silk. “It’s timeyou learn to wield them.”Lira swallowed hard, her heart racing as she flexed her fingers, feeling the strange pull withinher. Ever sinc
Lira wandered through Grimhowl, taking in its vastness with a quiet awe. The snow-coveredground beneath her boots crunched as she walked, the cold northern air biting at her cheeks. Itwas so different from Valenwood, where the forest had felt alive with magic—where the verytrees seemed to whisper secrets. Here, everything was built on strength, from the toweringstone walls of the Alpha’s mansion to the well-maintained roads and grand structures that dottedthe landscape. There was power in the air, a raw, unyielding force that felt almost tangible.She couldn’t help but admire it. Grimhowl was a fortress, built to withstand anything. But as shecontinued through the compound, her thoughts inevitably returned to the danger that loomedahead. Malakar’s forces were growing stronger, and no amount of strength or fortitude would beenough to fight them unless they figured out how to harness their own power. And that, shethought, was something she wasn’t sure they could do.Her footste
Despite the warmth of the Alpha’s mansion, Caius barely felt it. The crackling fire in the hearthand the plush leather chair did little to ease the tension that had taken root in his body. As soonas his boots clicked against the stone floors, the weight of his title hit him harder than the coldwind outside. The responsibilities of being Grimhowl’s Alpha felt heavier than ever.Elias walked silently beside him as they made their way to the office. Neither spoke until theyreached the office door. Elias shut it quietly behind them, his gaze locking onto Caius with amixture of concern and something sharper."Alpha," Elias finally said, his voice tight with restrained frustration. "What the hell happened?"Caius let out a long, tired exhale, sinking into his chair. The wooden surface felt solid beneathhis fingertips, grounding him, but it didn’t lessen the burden that had settled in his chest.“Too much to explain in one conversation,” Caius muttered, his voice rough from exhaustion.
After four days of exhausting travel, the sight of Grimhowl’s towering gates brought a wave ofrelief to the weary group. The icy northern winds howled through the snow-covered trees, bitingat their skin as Lira tightened her cloak around her shoulders. The journey had taken a toll on allof them, especially the injured warriors who had been carried in makeshift stretchers, but themoment the first structures of Grimhowl came into view, Caius let out a deep breath andmind-linked his Beta.Elias, we’re almost at the borders. Open the gates.A few moments later, movement stirred in the distance. The massive steel gates creaked open,the sound echoing in the still night air. A group of warriors rushed forward to meet them. At thecenter was Elias, his strong frame standing firm against the wind. His sharp, calculating eyesscanned the group, lingering on the injured wolves being carried.Behind him, dozens of pack members had gathered, their faces a mixture of curiosity andconcern. Th
Lira gasped as the world came back into focus, her body trembling as the landscape around hersnapped into place. The scent of pine and damp earth filled her lungs, grounding her in themoment. She stumbled, barely catching herself against a nearby tree. The teleportation hadtaken its toll, disorienting her, but she pushed the dizziness aside.They were deep in the forest now—far from Valenwood, far from the pack’s stronghold.Morgana let out a heavy breath, her hands resting on her knees as she swayed slightly. "Thatwas… close," she murmured, her voice strained. The witch's usual calm was gone, replaced bysomething else—fatigue, maybe, or the weight of the spell she'd just cast.Lira turned, her stomach twisting with guilt and dread. "We left them behind," she whispered, hervoice raw. The image of Lucien's smirk, the betrayal of Celeste—her heart thudded painfully inher chest. They hadn’t just abandoned their people. They’d abandoned a fight they were notready for.Tobias’s voi
The first wolf lunged with a snarl, its teeth bared, but before Lira could react, Caius was there. With a growl that shook the very air, he shoved her aside and met the creature head-on. His powerful hands locked around its neck, snapping it with a brutal twist. The wolf crumpled to the ground, its body limp.Chaos erupted around them.Dain fought with a primal ferocity, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. Each strike was clean and swift, but for every wolf he felled, another seemed to rise in its place. Blood sprayed the ground, staining the earth as the battle raged on. Tobias, ever calm and calculating, moved beside Dain, his movements sharp and exact. But even he could see it—despite their best efforts, they were outnumbered. The wolves kept coming, too many, too fast.Lira's heart thundered in her chest as she dodged another wolf that lunged at her. Her body was still recovering from the ritual, but instinct drove her, her legs moving on their own, propelled