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3. Ruslan
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2024-09-12 20:12:54Ruslan
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 Epilogue - Ruslan
5 Years LaterThe crisp mountain air fills my lungs as I stand at the foot of the cabin, the old wood of the porch creaking softly beneath my weight. The familiar scent of pine and damp earth surrounds me, grounding me in the moment as my eyes follow the scene in front of me.Katya’s laugh echoes across the clearing, light and carefree, the kind of sound that still catches me off guard because of how much it softens everything inside me. She’s running, her long dark hair streaming behind her like a banner as she chases Milanya and Mikhail.Milanya shrieks with laughter, her dark curls bouncing as she sprints ahead, her silver eyes gleaming with mischief. She’s fast, so fast for her age, and every time I see her move with that wild, untamed energy, I see pieces of both Katya and me in her.Mikhail isn’t far behind, his silver hair catching the light as he dodges around his sister, trying to outmaneuver her. He’s quieter, more measured in his movements, but there’s no mistaking the spark
Between Hate and Fate 86 - Katya
I can’t help but smile as I think about the pride in Ruslan’s eyes when he watched Milanya shift for the first time. He looked so overwhelmed, like he couldn’t believe he was witnessing something so incredible. I wonder if he realizes how much of himself she carries. The same raw determination, the same strength—it’s all there in her, as much a part of her as her little hands and feet.The rustling of leaves pulls me out of my thoughts, and I look up to see Ruslan emerging from the trees, his massive wolf form padding silently into the clearing. Milanya trails behind him, her tiny black paws stumbling over roots and rocks but determined to keep up.Ruslan shifts first, his towering frame replacing the wolf in a seamless movement that still leaves me breathless. He slips on his shirt and pants and crouches down to help Milanya with her own shift, his hands steady and gentle as he murmurs soft words of encouragement.When she’s back in her human form, she giggles and throws her arms ar
Between Hate and Fate 85 - Katya
The sun is high in the sky, and a soft breeze carries the earthy scent of the forest, mixed with the faint sweetness of wildflowers. Peace. That’s what this is—pure, uninterrupted peace.Milanya toddles ahead, her tiny hand gripping Ruslan’s much larger one. She’s walking more steadily now, her confidence growing with every day. It’s hard to believe she was just a baby clinging to my hip not so long ago. Now, she’s this curious little explorer at fifteen months, her grey eyes wide with wonder as she glances back at me with a giggle.“She’s fast,” I say with a laugh, watching as she tries to tug Ruslan forward.“She’s got my stamina,” Ruslan replies, smirking over his shoulder. “Lucky you.”“Lucky me,” I echo, rolling my eyes but unable to hide my smile.The past year and a half have changed everything. The shadows that once clung to our lives have finally dissipated, leaving room for something brighter. I feel it in the way Ruslan carries himself now—less guarded, more at ease. He’s
Between Hate and Fate 84 - Ruslan
The silence in Tomas’ abandoned packhouse is suffocating. It’s a shell of what it once was—empty halls, shattered windows, the faint stench of fear and blood lingering in the air. The pack he once commanded with an iron fist has scattered, no doubt fleeing the inevitable after the council finally acted. There’s no one left to stand beside him now. Just like it should be.It’s almost poetic.The council’s letter came two months ago, filled with apologies to Katya. They admitted their mistake, exiling her without understanding the full picture. They’d tried to welcome her back, promising to reinstate her as Luna with me by her side, but she refused.“I already have a home,” she’d said softly.I remember the way my chest swelled with pride, hearing her say that. It didn’t matter how much power or respect the council tried to dangle in front of her—Katya wasn’t interested. She wanted peace, a life with Milanya, and me.I walk through the halls with purpose, my claws itching to end this.
Between Hate and Fate 83 - Katya
The cabin feels far too quiet without Ruslan’s presence. Milanya is napping in her crib, the soft sound of her tiny breaths the only thing breaking the silence. Normally, I’d find her peacefulness soothing, but today it feels like a cruel reminder of how fragile everything is.I sit by the window, my gaze fixed on the treeline where Ruslan disappeared hours ago. He had to leave to help fortify the border and investigate how Andrei managed to get onto pack lands in the first place. He hadn’t wanted to go, not after everything we’d been through last night, but we both knew he didn’t have a choice.His absence weighs heavily on me, and I can’t stop my thoughts from spiraling. The memory of Andrei in Milanya’s room, his scarred face twisted with obsession and desperation, keeps replaying in my mind. The way he spoke about me, about Milanya, like we were possessions he had lost and deserved to reclaim.I close my eyes, leaning my head against the cool glass of the window. The bond between
Between Hate and Fate 82 - Ruslan
Anatoly and I are standing outside my cabin, but my focus is locked on the sight of Katya and Milanya.Through the large window, I watch as the healers gently examine them, their practiced hands moving over Katya’s arm where a bruise has already started to form. Milanya sits on Katya’s lap, her little hands clutching at her mother’s shirt, her big, stormy eyes darting around the room.My chest tightens at the sight of them, the aftermath of everything that just happened sinking into my bones. They’re safe now, but the thought of how close it came—how close Andrei had gotten—makes me feel like I’m still on the battlefield.Anatoly’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “Ruslan, focus. I need your report.”I tear my eyes away from them, turning to face him. His jaw is tight and his fists clenched as he watches me with concern.“I already told you what happened,” I say, my voice rough. “Andrei got into the cabin. He had Marissa helping him, and she was armed with silver bullets.”Anatoly’s
Between Hate and Fate 81 - Katya
Everything happens at once, a chaotic blur of motion and sound that stretches into an eternity. One moment, Marissa’s voice is ringing in my ears, cruel and taunting, her gun aimed at me and Milanya. The next, the window shatters, glass spraying across the room like frozen rain as the Gammas burst in, their growls tearing through the air.Andrei spins toward the sound, his snarl breaking into a roar as Roman lunges at him, his claws slashing through the space between them. The fight begins in an instant—a savage clash of strength and rage—but my focus is elsewhere.Milanya.My daughter’s soft whimper pulls me back, grounding me in the chaos. She’s still in her crib, her tiny face scrunched with fear. I can’t let her stay there, exposed and vulnerable.I move without thinking, my feet propelling me forward as adrenaline takes over. My arms reach out, desperate to scoop her up and hold her close.“Don’t you fucking dare!” Marissa shrieks, lunging toward me, her gun still aimed at my ch
Between Hate and Fate 80 - Ruslan
My heart pounds in my chest, my instincts kicking into overdrive. My wolf pushes against my skin, snarling and growling, ready to fight. I scan the cabin, my eyes darting to every corner, every shadow.“Ruslan?” Katya’s voice is soft and groggy, coming from the bedroom.I don’t answer, my focus laser-sharp on the scent that refuses to fade.“Ruslan?” she calls again, louder this time.I move toward the door, my bare feet crunching over the broken glass. Every muscle in my body is tense, my senses on high alert.“Stay in the bedroom,” I say over my shoulder, my voice low and commanding.“What’s going on?” she asks, her voice tinged with worry.“Just stay there,” I repeat, my eyes falling to Milanya’s room, and seeing it is cracked open. I walk over and push it open slowly, my hand tightening on the frame as my eyes land on him.Andrei is standing by the crib, his back to me, his hand outstretched. His fingers trace gently along Milanya’s cheek, and bile rises in my throat.“You know,”
Between Hate and Fate 79 - Ruslan
The packhouse is alive tonight. Laughter and chatter echo through the open courtyard, and the scent of roasted meats and spiced desserts fills the air. It’s not my scene. It never has been. But here I am, standing at the edge of it all, scanning the crowd like a hawk while trying not to look like one.Everything is calm, almost unnervingly so. The pack needed this, Anatoly had argued, and watching them laugh and relax after months of tension, I can’t say he was wrong. But I can’t shake the nagging feeling that something might go wrong.“Relax, Ruslan,” Anatoly says from beside me. He’s holding a glass of whiskey, his other hand resting casually on the hilt of his blade. “You’re wound so tight you’re going to snap.”I grunt, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’ll relax when Tomas is six feet under and Katya and Milanya are safe.”Anatoly smirks, sipping his drink. “Fair enough. But you don’t need to look like you’re about to kill someone tonight. This is for them.” He gestures to the p
