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25. Ruslan

Author: J. Tarr
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

As soon as Katya walks out of my bedroom, I let out a long sigh and lay back against the pillows.

What the hell is going to happen now? We’ve crossed some line, I’m sure of it, but I have no idea where it leaves us.

Am I still the man she wants executed? The one responsible for destroying her world? Or am I something else to her now?

The bond between us has shifted. I felt it last night, in the way she came to me, seeking comfort, and I gave in, holding her like she needed. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still the man who killed her husband, no matter what he did.

I rub my hand over my face, frustrated. I can’t keep thinking like this. There’s no point in trying to figure out where we stand because it’s too messy, too complicated.

I get out of bed, throwing on a pair of sweatpants and heading to the kitchen. I need to clear my head, and if there’s one thing that’s always helped me think, it’s cooking. My sisters used to love pancakes—Mina and Mila would beg me to make th
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Comments (2)
goodnovel comment avatar
Nicky Esparon
Not when they find out what Andrei did. They will be horrified. He will become Alpha
goodnovel comment avatar
A. D. R.
I love this story, even with all the heartbreak and horror, because I feel like they are going to help heal each other and move forward in their lives together. Not sure how since her pack will still want him dead, but I’m here for it!
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    The cabin is too quiet. Too still. I’ve spent most of the day avoiding Ruslan, not saying much, barely even looking at him. But it doesn’t help. His presence fills every corner of this place, and I can’t ignore him no matter how hard I try.He’s everywhere.Even now, as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts keep drifting back to him. It’s maddening, how aware I am of him. I can feel him, feel the weight of the bond between us, and no matter what I do, I can’t shake it.I roll onto my side, pulling the blanket tighter around me, but the thoughts won’t stop. His face flashes in my mind, and it’s like I can still see him standing in the kitchen earlier today, flipping pancakes like it was the most normal thing in the world. But it wasn’t. Nothing about him is normal. The scars on his chest, the roughness in his voice, the way he moves with this quiet, deadly power. Ruslan is a real Alpha—one who’s fought, who’s led his pack, one who’s had everything ripped away from him.A

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    I lean against the doorframe, just out of sight, my back pressed against the wood as I listen to Katya’s sobs fill the air. Tomas’s car just pulled away, the sound of the engine fading into the distance, and I heard every single word they exchanged. Heard him lie through his teeth, twisting the truth to protect himself.My jaw tightens as her sobs grow louder. She’s broken, shattered by the truth she just learned. I wait until I’m sure Tomas’s gone, then push myself off the doorframe and step outside. Katya is still on the ground, curled up in herself, her body shaking with sobs. It hits me like a knife to my heart, seeing her like this. I’ve seen her angry, strong, defiant... but this? She’s completely undone. I hate that it’s because of this bond—this thing neither of us asked for.I walk toward her, my steps slow, purposeful, trying not to spook her. She doesn’t notice me at first, too lost in her grief. When I’m close enough, I stop and take a breath, steadying myself before spe

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    I stand at the doorway of the cabin, arms crossed, watching Ruslan load the last of our bags into the SUV. The one that’s been parked in the garage for who knows how long, just sitting there waiting to be used. I can’t believe I asked him to come with me. What was I thinking? But, despite the strangeness of it, I actually feel … relieved. Maybe even a little free.My pack is gone. My title as Luna ripped away. Exile doesn’t exactly sound like freedom, but in a twisted way, it is. For the first time in a long time, I’m not responsible for anyone but myself. There’s no pack politics, no duties. No expectations.It’s strange, really. I thought I’d be more devastated, but instead, I feel like I can breathe for the first time.Ruslan shuts the trunk with a loud thud, dusting off his hands. He glances over at me, his face neutral but his eyes flicker with something, maybe curiosity. “So,” he says, wiping sweat off his brow, “where to?”The question throws me off for a second. Where to? Th

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    Katya moves quickly, her hands shaking as she packs up our things, and I can feel the fear radiating off her in waves. It cuts through me like a knife, but I can’t let it slow us down. We don’t have time; whoever sent those bounty hunters won’t stop. This isn’t the kind of job you can just walk away from.I grab what little we have, throwing the bags into the back of the SUV. Katya’s hands tremble as she climbs into the passenger seat, her face pale and her breaths uneven. I hate seeing her like this—scared, uncertain. I reach out and squeeze her hand as I start the engine, the rumble of the SUV breaking the tense silence between us.“It’ll be okay,” I murmur, trying to keep my voice calm, even though the tension is coiling tight in my chest. “We’ll figure this out.”She nods, but I can see the doubt in her eyes. She’s not just scared—she’s exhausted. Her body has been through so much, and now with the baby... I can’t let this go on. She needs rest. She needs safety. And right now, I’

  • Between Hate and Fate   42. Ruslan

    The second I step outside, the cold air hits my face, and I smell them. Wolves. Not just any wolves—trained killers. My muscles tense, my body going on autopilot as I scan the darkness. They think they’re being quiet, that they’re sneaking up on me, but I know better.I slip through the shadows, my senses sharp, my wolf just beneath the surface. I’ve been in enough of these situations to know what’s coming. These men, whoever sent them, came here to take something from me. They’re going to regret that.The first one lunges from the shadows, teeth bared, aiming straight for my throat. I dodge quickly, spinning to the side and bringing my elbow down on the back of his neck with a sickening crunch. He drops like a rock, barely making a sound as he hits the ground.One down.There’s no time to think—another one charges at me from the left, but I’m ready. I grab him by the throat, slamming him into the nearest tree. His claws tear at my arm, but I ignore the pain. I’ve dealt with worse. He

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    The early morning air is crisp as Ruslan and I drive into town. We’re heading there to stock up on supplies for the week and to get a few things for the nursery. It’s a routine we’ve fallen into since we came to this cottage—one that’s become surprisingly comfortable. I glance at him as he drives, his strong hands gripping the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road ahead. Usually, he’s calm on these drives, the tension from his rogue days slipping away as we spend more time in this quiet little town. But today, something feels off.His jaw is clenched, and the way his eyes dart around, scanning every inch of the road, makes my stomach twist with unease. I know Ruslan. He doesn’t get rattled easily, and for him to look like this? It’s enough to put me on edge.I don’t say anything at first, not wanting to disturb whatever thoughts are running through his head. Instead, I lean back in my seat and try to enjoy the ride, but the longer we drive, the more I can’t shake the feeling

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    I wake up to the warmth of Katya’s body pressed against mine, her soft breath fanning out across my chest. For a moment, I don’t move. I just lie there, letting the reality of last night settle in. She’s here, in my arms, tangled up in the sheets with me, and everything we’ve been fighting against for so long ... it’s all fallen away.I still can’t believe Katya feels the same about me. She’s not running, not pushing me away. Last night, she let it all go, let us be, and for the first time, I felt like we were on the same page. That we weren’t just bound by the bond, but by something real, something we chose.I let out a quiet sigh, brushing a few strands of her tousled hair away from her face. Her lips are slightly parted, her body relaxed, and I can’t help but smile. She stirs in my arms, and I feel the weight of her body shift against mine. Her hair is a mess, falling in wild waves across her shoulders, and when she presses back into me, I feel her pregnant belly pushing against

  • Between Hate and Fate   39. Katya

    The words hang in the air, and for a moment, I think he’s going to pull away, that he’s going to tell me to go back inside and forget this ever happened. But then his lips crash against mine, and everything else fades away.The kiss is desperate, raw, like we’ve both been holding back for too long, and now there’s no stopping it. His hands tighten in my hair, pulling me closer as his body pressed against mine, and I feel the bond between us explode, igniting everything inside me.He picks me up like I weigh nothing and grinds against my core. I wrap my legs around his waist and link my arms around his neck. He growls against my lips when he feels my wet centre against his cock, then he breaks off the kiss.It feels like he can see right through me, and his eyes never leave mine. He lowers me to the ground, all mention of the cold air forgotten, then he rips the silk dress from my body and throws the ruined fabric to the side.“Mine,” he growls as his gaze roves over my body and he dra

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