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13. Katya
Last Updated:
2024-09-18 21:19:11
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Between Hate and Fate 14. Ruslan
The shackles bite into my wrists and ankles, the chains rattling with every forced step. They drag me out of the cell without a word, like I’m nothing more than an animal. The light outside is blinding, the first real sunlight I’ve seen in weeks.My eyes burn, and I have to squint just to see. The guards don’t slow down, don’t give me time to adjust. They shove me forward, arms locked in place, legs barely able to move in the tight restraints. I stumble, but catch myself before I hit the dirt. No one says a damn word to me.I’m not stupid. I know what this is. They’re taking me to my execution. I expected this day to come. Maybe not this soon, but I knew it was inevitable. A small part of me thought they might let me rot in the cell, but no. Katya must have found some loophole. Maybe the council pushed her harder than I expected.I breathe out, a strange sense of relief flooding through me. I’ve been waiting for this, waiting for the end. It’s better than being chained up, better than
Last Updated : 2024-09-18Between Hate and Fate 15. Ruslan
The hot water hits my skin, and for a moment, I just stand there, letting it cascade over me, washing away the grime, blood and sweat that’s been clinging to me for God knows how long. It feels... strange. To be in a shower. To be clean again. After weeks of being chained up in that cell, it’s almost surreal. The steam rises around me, filling the small bathroom with warmth, and I can feel my muscles slowly start to relax.I lean my head back, closing my eyes, letting the water run down my face. My body aches, every part of me stiff from being confined for so long, but the heat is helping. I can feel the tension melting away, bit by bit, the tightness in my chest easing. It’s the first time I’ve felt anything close to comfort in what feels like forever.But even as I try to relax, there’s this nagging feeling in the back of my mind. I’m not really free. Not yet. I might be out of the cell, but I’m still a prisoner. The barrier around the cabin makes sure of that. No running. No esca
Last Updated : 2024-09-19Between Hate and Fate 16. Katya
I wake up feeling off, my stomach churning the second I open my eyes, a wave of nausea hitting me hard. I try to ignore it, to push through the uncomfortable sensation as I roll out of bed and head to the kitchen. It’s just morning sickness. It’ll pass.The cabin is quiet, and for a moment, I relish the stillness. It’s the only thing that feels normal anymore. I grab a pan and start making breakfast, eggs sizzling as the scent of food fills the air. But as soon as the smell hits my nose, my stomach lurches violently. I barely make it to the sink before I’m bent over, heaving, my body betraying me.I hear footsteps behind me, and I know it’s him. Ruslan. I can feel his presence before he even says anything, the bond thrumming with his concern. I don’t look at him, still bent over the sink, trying to get the nausea under control.“What’s wrong with you?” His voice is rough, almost accusing, but there’s a layer of something else beneath it. Worry.I wipe my mouth with the back of my han
Last Updated : 2024-09-19Between Hate and Fate 17. Ruslan
She’s pregnant. My mate is pregnant, and not with my child.This is a fucking joke. The Goddess must be laughing at me, watching as she keeps twisting the knife. It’s like I can’t catch a break, like the universe is hell-bent on making me suffer, on rubbing salt into every open wound.I can barely think straight, the anger is so strong. It fills every part of me, claws at my insides, until all I can feel is the injustice of it all. I didn’t ask to be tied to her, to be bound to the woman who is carrying the child of the man who destroyed everything that mattered to me.And now his child grows inside my mate. As much as I loathe this bond, as much as I hate everything about what it’s done to me, there’s a part of me that’s... angry that the child isn’t mine.I grit my teeth; the thought disgusting me, but it’s there. It’s like a sickness spreading through me, twisting my thoughts, making me want things I have no right to want.Why isn’t it my child? Why am I the one cursed with this b
Last Updated : 2024-09-20Between Hate and Fate 18. Katya
I wake up feeling… different. Better, maybe. It’s a strange sensation, waking up without the anger or tension pressing down on me. Last night’s conversation with Ruslan still lingers in my mind, and though it wasn’t easy, it was civil. We talked. For once, we weren’t at each other’s throats, and the bond seems almost... satisfied. It’s still there, of course, but quieter now, less oppressive.I stretch, my muscles still stiff from sleep, and pull on my robe before padding out to the kitchen. The house is quiet, the morning sun just beginning to filter through the windows, casting a soft light across the room. Coffee first. I need the caffeine, the warmth. I fill the kettle, set it on the stove, and lean against the counter as it heats up. It’s quiet, peaceful even, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can breathe.Once the coffee’s made, I wrap my robe a little tighter around myself and take my cup out onto the porch. The cool morning air greets me, crisp and refresh
Last Updated : 2024-09-20Between Hate and Fate 19. Ruslan
Things between Katya and I have shifted lately, and I can’t deny that I’m aware of it. The tension that used to choke the air between us has eased, replaced by something different. Something more dangerous. I know she’s attracted to me. I can feel it in the way her gaze lingers just a little too long when she thinks I’m not looking, the way her pulse quickens when I’m near. I’ve caught her more than once, eyes flicking to my chest, or the way she shifts uncomfortably when I get too close.And I’m not above using it to my advantage.I push her attraction because I can. It’s easy, almost too easy, and part of me enjoys watching her squirm, watching her try to fight it, knowing she can’t. The bond won’t let her, just like it won’t let me stay away from her for long. It’s a twisted game we’re both caught in, and for once, I’m not angry about it. Not completely, at least.This afternoon is hot, the sun high in the sky, the air thick with heat that sticks to my skin. I think about going f
Last Updated : 2024-09-20Between Hate and Fate 20. Katya
How could I have forgotten?I sit on the floor of my room, my knees pulled up to my chest, my fingers trembling as they grip the fabric of my robe. The sun is beginning to set, casting shadows across the walls, but I don’t move. I can’t. My heart is racing, my thoughts spiralling out of control. I feel disgusted with myself—sick to my core—because for a moment, just a fleeting, shameful moment, I forgot what Ruslan did.I forgot that he killed Andrei.How did I let that slip away? How did a few lingering stares and awkward, almost playful conversations make me lose sight of the fact that this man—the same man who’s been circling my thoughts, pulling me in with the bond—destroyed my world?My body trembles as I try to catch my breath, but it’s no use. The panic is rising, swallowing me whole. The bond, this cursed bond, is making me weak. It’s clouding everything. Making me forget that the man I’m starting to look at differently is a killer. A murderer.How could I be so stupid?I’ve
Last Updated : 2024-09-21Between Hate and Fate 21. Ruslan
Since the kiss, I’ve been avoiding Katya like the damn plague. Every time I see her, every time I feel the bond pull between us, all I can think about is her screaming at me, blaming me for destroying her life.I can feel the tension between us every time we’re in the same room, but I don’t make eye contact, don’t give her any reason to start another conversation.The bond between us is still there, humming in the background, but I’ve gotten good at ignoring it. At least, I try to. After that kiss, though? It’s been harder. The way she kissed me back, like she was just as lost in the pull of it as I was—it’s all I can think about. And I hate it.Because I shouldn’t be feeling anything for her.She forgot. She forgot that I killed Andrei. She blamed me for ruining her life, for tearing it apart, and the worst part is she doesn’t even know the whole truth.She doesn’t know what Andrei did to my life. Doesn’t know that her beloved husband shattered my world before I ever laid a hand on h
Last Updated : 2024-09-21
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Between Hate and Fate 72 - Katya
I smirk, leaning forward to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “What’s wrong? Can’t handle me taking the lead for once?”His hands tighten on my hips, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Careful, solnyshka,” he warns, though his voice has a rough edge that betrays how much he likes this.I bite my lip, dragging my nails lightly down his chest as I settle more fully into his lap. His cock hardens beneath me, and I can feel the way his breath catches, his control slipping just a fraction.“Maybe I don’t want to be careful,” I whisper, my lips brushing against his jaw as I kiss a path down to his neck.“Bold,” he mutters, his voice low and gravelly as his hands slide up my back, holding me steady. “Where’s this side of you been hiding?”I pull back just enough to meet his gaze, my lips curving into a mischievous smile. “You bring it out of me.”His smirk softens, his eyes blazing with pride and hunger as he leans back, giving me the space to move. “Go ahead, solnyshka,” he murmurs, his v
Between Hate and Fate 71 - Katya
Later that day, I head to the training grounds, my heart thudding in my chest. I’m nervous, not because I doubt my decision, but because this feels like the first step toward reclaiming something I lost along the way: my strength.The grounds are alive with activity. Warriors spar in pairs, their movements fast and brutal, the sound of fists hitting pads and grunts of exertion filling the crisp air. Roman stands near the edge, his arms crossed as he watches two young wolves spar. He’s sharp-eyed and focused, his posture relaxed but ready, like he could jump in at a moment’s notice.“Roman,” I call, walking toward him.He turns, his brow lifting in surprise when he sees me. “Katya?” His tone carries a mix of curiosity and mild amusement. “What brings you here?”I stop in front of him, squaring my shoulders. “I need your help.”His expression shifts, his easy going demeanor replaced with something more serious. He straightens slightly, his arms dropping to his sides. “What kind of help?
Between Hate and Fate 70. Katya
The cabin feels different in the quiet mornings, as if it knows we’re balanced on the edge of something we can’t yet see. Milanya babbles happily in her bassinet by the window, sunlight catching in her dark hair as she swats at the plush toy hanging above her.And Ruslan? He’s out running patrols again, keeping his sharp eye on the pack’s borders.I sip my tea and glance around the small space we’ve made our home. It’s cozy, warm, and so full of memories that it sometimes feels like we’ve lived here forever. But we haven’t. It’s been months, not years, since my life collided with Ruslan’s.I never imagined loving him. Hell, I never imagined surviving him. But here we are.He’s everywhere now—in every thought, every decision. When he’s gone, the cabin feels like it’s missing its foundation. When he’s here, his presence fills the space, his warmth grounding me in ways I never thought possible.I glance down at Milanya, who giggles at nothing, and my chest tightens. The life we’ve built
Between Hate and Fate 69. Ruslan
Anatoly’s office light glows faintly through the packhouse window, a constant reminder that my oldest friend never really sleeps either. He probably feels the same unease I do.The door creaks softly as I push it open. Anatoly doesn’t look up right away, his focus on the map of our territory spread across his desk. He’s wearing the same weary expression he always does these days, but his sharp, calculating eyes catch me as I step inside.“You’re up late,” he says, leaning back in his chair.“So are you,” I reply, shutting the door behind me.He gestures for me to sit. “What’s on your mind, old friend?”I sink into the chair opposite him, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s been too quiet, Anatoly. Months without a single move from Tomas or anyone else. It doesn’t feel right.”Anatoly nods, his expression grim. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Quiet isn’t our normal. Not with all the enemies we’ve made and those rogues sniffing around a few months ago.”“Have you found anything?” I a
Between Hate and Fate 68. Ruslan
(A few months later)The air is cool but not biting, the kind of crispness that wakes you up gently. Milanya’s small, gurgling laugh carries on the breeze, and for once, it feels like the world has slowed down enough for me to breathe.Katya walks a few steps ahead of me, her dark hair glinting in the light as she points out something in the woods to Milanya, who’s perched on my shoulders. My daughter’s tiny hands clutch at my hair, occasionally pulling just hard enough to make me wince, but I can’t bring myself to care.Her laughter is worth it.“How does she still have so much energy?” I ask, grinning as Katya turns to look at me with a raised brow.“She’s your daughter,” she teases. “Does that really surprise you?”I huff out a laugh, adjusting Milanya’s grip as she leans forward to grab at my ear. “Fair point. She’s definitely got my stamina.”Katya snorts. “That’s one way to put it.”“Don’t start,” I warn, though there’s no real heat in my voice. “I’m trying to enjoy this before
Between Hate and Fate 67. Ruslan
The dream starts the same way it always does—darkness, heavy and suffocating, settling over the woods like a shroud. I’m standing in the clearing, the smell of blood thick in the air. My heart is pounding, rage curling hot and sharp in my veins as I face him.Andrei.The bastard stands there, breathing hard, his lips curled into that smug, self-satisfied sneer I hated more than anything. He’s cocky, thinking he’s untouchable. Thinking he can take whatever he wants and never face the consequences.My sisters’ screams echo in my head, their pain like a knife carving through my chest. I see them—Mina and Mila—helpless, broken. Dead.And Andrei? He laughed.“You’ll regret this,” he snarls, but even in the dream, I know how this ends. I know what I did.His pack is gone. His warriors scattered. He’s alone. Just me and him in the clearing.“Come on, Rogue,” Andrei spits, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. “Is this what you wanted? To die out here, forgotten? Like the nothing you
Between Hate and Fate 66. Ruslan
I wake with a jolt, my eyes snapping open to the darkened room as a sharp, urgent voice echoes through my mind link.“Ruslan! We’ve got movement on the southern border. It’s not a drill!”It’s Anatoly. The edge in his tone cuts through the lingering fog of sleep like a blade. I’m already sitting up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, instincts kicking in before thought catches up.Katya stirs beside me, her soft breathing breaking with a groggy whisper. “Ruslan? What’s wrong?”“Go back to sleep,” I mutter, my voice low but steady, reaching for the sweats I left on the chair. “It’s nothing.”She doesn’t believe me—of course she doesn’t—but I don’t stick around to argue. I press a kiss to her forehead and head straight for the door, pulling a shirt over my head as I go.By the time I’m outside, the chill of the early morning air slaps me awake completely. The packhouse is still mostly quiet, the sun not yet breaking the horizon, but I can hear it now—distant howls, the sharp bar
Between Hate and Fate 65. Katya
I pause at the front steps of the pup center, staring at the worn wood of the door like it might swing open and swallow me whole. The knot in my stomach twists tighter, and I have to swallow down the anxiety that rises with it.I shouldn’t feel this way. I’m not the one who did anything wrong. And yet, as I stand here, I can already feel the weight of what’s waiting for me on the other side of that door.I take a breath—deep and steady—before pushing it open and stepping inside.The noise hits me first, as it always does: the sound of children laughing, playing, and the faint scurry of tiny footsteps across the floor. It’s the one thing about this place that never changes, no matter how tense the air might be.But it’s different today.The women notice me immediately. Their conversations die mid-sentence. The air shifts, thick and stifling. They don’t stare outright—no, that would take a backbone they clearly don’t have. Instead, they look past me, around me, through me, like I’m noth
Between Hate and Fate 64. Ruslan
I sit on the edge of the coffee table, my elbows resting on my knees, staring at Katya as she holds Milanya close to her chest. It’s quiet, save for the soft crackle of the fire, but the weight of everything I need to say hangs between us.Katya hasn’t pushed me away—not yet—but I see the guarded look in her eyes, the way she holds herself a little too still, like she’s bracing for something. It guts me more than I want to admit.I rub a hand over my face, dragging in a deep breath before I finally speak. “I need to apologize.”Her eyes flick up to meet mine, wary. “For what?”“You know what,” I say, my voice low. “For the other night. For yelling. For losing my damn temper and scaring you—and her.” I nod toward Milanya, who’s still sleeping soundly against her.Katya’s gaze softens just slightly, but she doesn’t let me off that easily. “Ruslan... it wasn’t just yelling. You were angry.”I nod, shame curling in my gut like a fist. “I was. And that’s on me. I shouldn’t have let it happ
