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3. Ruslan
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Ruslan
The second I lock eyes with her, my chest tightens, and something snaps deep inside me.
No. No fucking way. This can’t be real, it has to be some sick joke. There’s no fucking way the Goddess would curse me like this—mate me to the Luna of the bastard who took everything from me and made me watch.
I can feel the bond pulling at me, stronger than anything I’ve ever felt in my life. It claws at my insides, trying to drag me toward her, as if my body doesn’t even belong to me anymore. I grit my teeth, my muscles tensing, and fight the urge to give in.
It’s not possible. It’s not fucking possible.
Her scent hits me again—fucking peaches and honey— it’s something that stirs parts of me I’ve buried for a long time. But I don’t want it. I don’t want her. My mind rebels against the very idea.
I look at her, the way her face is twisted in shock, her lips parted, and her hand gripping her chest like she’s trying to stop her heart from breaking out. She’s just as confused as I am, but that doesn’t make this any easier.
The bond is relentless, and I can’t stop the primal attraction that courses through me, no matter how much I wish I could. It’s the cruelest fucking thing the Goddess could have done to me.
To mate me to the widow of the man I killed. The same man who forced me to watch as he raped and killed my sisters.
I growl low in my throat, shaking my head, trying to shake off the pull. “Kill me,” I snap at the Beta. My voice is rough, strained with the effort of holding back the fury building inside me. “Just kill me and get it over with.”
He hesitates, clearly unsure of what the hell is going on as he looks between me and the Luna, confusion etched all over his face. He doesn’t move, doesn’t raise his hand to strike. Why is he fucking waiting? He should have killed me the second they brought me out here.
But then her voice cuts through the tension, sharp and cold. “No.”
I whip my head toward her, my blood boiling. “What the fuck do you mean ‘No’? I killed your Alpha; ripped out his heart and fucking ate it! Kill me and get it over with!”
What the hell is she doing? Does she want to drag this out? Does she want to see me suffer more? I don’t understand. She should want me dead more than anyone.
“I know what you did, you animal! But it’s taboo,” she says, her voice trembling.“We don’t know the consequences of breaking a mate bond.”
“Fuck the mate bond!” I snarl, my fists clenched so tight I can feel my nails biting into my palms. “I don’t give a shit about your rules, Luna. Break the bond. Kill me. This is a curse, and you know it.”
Her jaw tightens, and for a second, her eyes flash with anger. Good. Let her be angry. Let her feel what I feel—a rage so deep, so consuming, it feels like it’s going to tear me apart. But there’s something else there, too, something beneath the fury. I can feel it, even if she doesn’t want me to. The bond won’t let her hide it.
“I won’t kill you,” she says, her voice quieter now, but still firm. “I won’t break the bond. Not until we know what it will do.”
I laugh, but it’s a bitter, hollow sound. “What it will do?” I spit the words out, shaking my head. “It’ll tear me apart. It’ll tear you apart too, Luna. This is a punishment, a death sentence for both of us.”
She flinches, and her eyes dart away from mine for a second, just a brief flicker of uncertainty, before she squares her shoulders again and meets my gaze head-on. She’s stronger than I expected. But it doesn’t matter. Strength won’t save her from this bond. Nothing will.
The Beta walks towards her, his brow furrowed, his fists still clenched at his sides. He’s waiting for a command, waiting for her to tell him what to do. I can see the anger in his eyes, the same hatred I’ve seen in every one of her pack members since the day I killed Andrei.
They all want me dead, but none of them move. Not with her standing there, still torn between duty and the fucked up bond.
My gaze drifts back to her, and I can’t help but feel the pull again. That fucking scent. The way her lips tremble when she speaks, the way her eyes—so full of pain—still somehow hold strength. It disgusts me how much I feel drawn to her. It shouldn’t be this way. I shouldn’t want her.
Not her. Not the widow of the man I killed.
“I don’t care what the bond says,” I growl, taking a step forward despite the chains pulling tight against my wrists. “You’re not mine, and I’m not yours. Kill me, or I’ll do it myself.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and I see a flicker of fear in them, but it’s quickly replaced by something else. Determination. She’s not going to let this go. She’s not going to give me the death I want.
“You don’t understand,” she says, her voice steady now, even though I can tell she’s still shaken. “This bond… it’s more than just fate. It’s more than us. If we break it, if we try to go against it, the consequences could destroy us both. It could destroy the pack.”
I sneer at her, baring my teeth. “I don’t give a fuck about your pack. I’m a dead man walking, Luna. You think this bond changes anything? You think I’ll suddenly start caring about your people? About you?” I laugh again, harsh and empty. “You’re wrong. I’m not going to be your fucking mate.”
Her eyes darken, and for a moment, I see a flash of anger in them that almost matches my own. She closes the distance between us, her face inches from mine.
“You think I want this?” she hisses, her voice low and dangerous. “You think I asked for this bond? I hate you. I hate everything about you. You killed my husband and you took everything from me.”
I can’t help but grin at her anger. Good, let her hate me. I want her to; I need her to.
“Then kill me,” I growl. “If you hate me so much, kill me and end this.”
She shakes her head, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not giving you the easy way out. Not until I know what rejecting this bond will do to me and my pack. Not until I know what we’re dealing with. Until then, I invoke The Gallows Law.”
My heart lurches and bile rises to my throat. No… No, she can’t fucking do that! The Gallows Law protects a mate from certain death, even from execution. How dare she do this!
I snarl, pulling hard against the chains, but they hold me in place. “I thought your husband was the fucked up one,” I spit, my voice dripping with venom. “But you’ve just proven you’re just as ruthless as he was.”
Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t respond. Instead, she steps back, turning away from me and facing the crowd, her pack. I watch her, my chest heaving, my muscles trembling with the effort of holding back the rage that’s threatening to tear me apart.
The bond pulses between us, an invisible thread tying me to her, and I hate it. I hate the way it makes me feel. The way it makes her feel. I don’t want this. I don’t want her. But the bond doesn’t care what I want.
“Take him back to the cells,” she says to the Beta, her voice calm but cold. “We’ll figure this out. But he doesn’t die today. Not until I give him permission to die.”
He hesitates, glancing at me with a look of disgust before nodding. He motions to the guards, and they step forward, grabbing me by the arms and dragging me back.
I don’t fight. There’s no point. Not now. Not with the bond still burning between us.
As they pull me away, I look back at her one last time. Her face is hard, her eyes locked on mine, but I can see the same turmoil in her that’s tearing me apart. She hates this as much as I do.
But hate won’t break this mate bond.
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Between Hate and Fate 11. Ruslan
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Between Hate and Fate 46. Ruslan
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Between Hate and Fate 45. Ruslan
Sitting on the porch, the cool night air brushing against my skin, I feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. Anatoly’s offer echoes in my mind, repeating over and over. Beta. Joining a pack again. Becoming part of something bigger than just me and Katya.I stare out at the darkened tree line, the quiet hum of the night surrounding me. It’s tempting, I won’t lie. Being in a pack again means protection, stability, a sense of belonging I haven’t had in years. I was an Alpha once, before everything was taken from me. Before Andrei. The pull of pack life, the need to lead, to protect—it’s still in my blood. It’s something I can’t just shake off, no matter how far I’ve run.But the other side of it... It’s not so simple.Katya and I have carved out a fragile peace here in the mountains, away from everything and everyone. No pack politics, no eyes watching our every move, no expectations to meet or traditions to uphold. We’ve been left to figure things out on our own, and someho
Between Hate and Fate 44. Katya
The wind carries the scent of pine and earth as I stand on the porch and watch Ruslan and Anatoly move through the clearing, their heads bent close together as they talk in low, serious voices. They’ve been at it for hours, scouring the area for any sign of the bounty hunters, and inspecting the bodies of the bounty hunters that Ruslan took down last night, trying to figure out who they were working for. Anatoly brought a small army with him—at least a dozen warriors, all loyal to his pack and all on high alert. I’m grateful, but there’s a part of me that’s still uneasy.Watching Ruslan move with such ease, taking command alongside Anatoly, reminds me of what he was before all of this. Before he became a rogue. He was an Alpha. He was strong, a leader, and despite everything, I can still see that in him now.I lean against the porch railing, watching as they talk quietly, their movements efficient, trained. Anatoly gestures for Ruslan to come over to him. I can’t hear what they’re s
Between Hate and Fate 43. Ruslan
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
Between Hate and Fate 41. Katya
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
Between Hate and Fate 40. Ruslan
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
