Two days had passed since Luka had confessed the truth about Alec—his twin, the rogue king, and the man who had once been his closest ally. The tension in Crescent Moon Pack had only grown since then. The looming threat of another attack by Alec and his rogues weighed heavily on everyone. Patrols were doubled, guards were on high alert, and the warriors trained relentlessly. Luka remained focused on protecting the pack, his determination to stop Alec stronger than ever.
Elara, however, couldn’t shake the growing doubt that had taken root in her mind. Luka’s words had painted Alec as a heartless monster, but there was something about Alec that didn’t fit that narrative. She remembered their brief encounter in the forest, the calm intensity in his eyes, and most of all, the strange tug of the mate bond she had felt with him. It was a pull she couldn’t explain, and it had left her questioning everythin
"I… I need to go," Elara stammered, her mind reeling as she took a step back, trying to put distance between herself and Alec.Alec didn’t stop her. He simply watched her with those intense silver eyes, a knowing look in his gaze. "You can’t run from this forever, Elara," he said softly. "You’ll have to face the truth eventually."Elara’s heart pounded in her chest as she turned and ran, her mind spinning with the weight of the revelation she had just uncovered. The bond was real. She was Alec’s mate, just as much as she was Luka’s.But as she fled through the forest, her heart racing with fear and confusion, one thought echoed in her mind.What would Luka do when he found out?Elara moved through the forest in a daze, her mind a tangled mess of confusion and disbelief. Al
For a long moment, Elara just sat there, her body trembling with the aftershocks of Luka’s rage. Her throat ached from the pressure of his grip, and her cheek still burned from the slap. But it wasn’t the physical pain that hurt the most.It was the realization that the bond between her and Luka—the bond that had once seemed so strong, so unbreakable—was cracking. Splintering under the weight of secrets and lies.Elara stared at the closed door, her mind racing with the impossibility of her situation. She had two mates. Two brothers. One who had locked her in a room to keep her under his control, and the other who waited in the shadows, his connection to her undeniable.Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She wouldn’t cry. Not now.But as she sat there, alone and trapped, o
I should take her away from him, Alec thought, his fists clenching at his sides. She doesn’t belong with him. Not anymore.But taking Elara away would mean facing Luka directly. It would mean risking everything he had worked for—his entire plan. His revenge was more important than anything else, and he couldn’t let the bond distract him.Yet, every time he thought of her, every time he remembered that kiss, Alec felt his resolve slipping.The kiss had been an accident, something he hadn’t planned. He hadn’t intended to claim her, hadn’t intended to get close to her. But the moment their lips had touched, it had ignited something inside him that he hadn’t felt in years. It had felt like fate, like destiny pulling them together.But fate was cruel. Because she wasn’t just his mate
Luka stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with fury. His silver gaze immediately locked onto Marcus, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Luka’s body was rigid, his fists clenched at his sides as he stalked toward Marcus with the deadly precision of a predator.“Get. Out,” Luka growled, his voice dripping with menace.Marcus straightened, his smile faltering as he quickly backed away. “I was just checking on her,” he said smoothly, though there was a flicker of fear in his eyes now. “Making sure she was comfortable.”Luka’s expression darkened, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Get out before I tear you apart.”Marcus swallowed hard, his bravado crumbling under Luka’s furious gaze. He quickly turned and left the room, closing the door behind him withou
Elara’s stomach twisted with disgust as she realized what Marcus was implying. He wasn’t just offering her an escape; he was offering himself as a replacement for Luka.“You want me to betray him,” she said, her voice low, anger simmering beneath the surface.Marcus shrugged, his expression casual. “Luka’s already betrayed you,” he said simply. “Think about it. He’s left you here, alone, locked away like some fragile little doll. Is that the kind of mate you want? Is that the kind of life you want?”Elara’s heart raced as his words dug deep into the wounds Luka had left behind. She hated the way they made sense, hated that Marcus’s voice was echoing her own private doubts. But she wasn’t about to let him manipulate her into abandoning everything she had fought for.&
Luka stared at her, his silver eyes searching her face as if trying to find some hidden truth in her words. For a moment, the tension between them was thick, and Elara thought she saw a flicker of doubt cross his face. But just as quickly, his expression hardened again.“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you,” Luka said, his voice cold. “Even if you don’t understand it.”Elara’s heart sank, the weight of his words settling over her like a lead blanket. She had hoped, for a brief moment, that he might listen to her, that he might realize how far he had pushed her away. But Luka’s obsession with control, his need to dominate and protect her at all costs, had blinded him to the truth.Without another word, Luka turned and left the room, closing the door behind him with a finality that echoed in the small space.
With renewed determination, Elara pushed herself harder, running through the forest as fast as her legs would carry her. The trees blurred past her, the cool night air whipping against her face. She didn’t know how far she would have to run, but she knew that once she crossed the border of Crescent Moon Pack’s territory, she would be one step closer to freedom.But just as she approached the border, something made her pause. Her instincts screamed at her, a strange tingling sensation spreading through her body, alerting her to danger. She slowed her pace, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she scanned the area around her.And then she saw him.Standing at the edge of the pack’s territory, just beyond the tree line, was Alec.Elara’s heart stopped, her blood running cold at the sight of him. Alec stood tall, his silve
Without warning, Elara shifted into her wolf form, the transformation happening so quickly that Alec barely had time to react. Her sleek black fur rippled as she let out a growl, baring her teeth at him, her yellow eyes blazing with determination. She wasn’t going to let him trap her. She wasn’t going to be claimed by anyone.Alec’s expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face as he watched her shift. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch, but the intensity in his eyes grew darker. He was powerful—more powerful than anyone she had ever faced—but Elara didn’t care. She would fight him, and she would win.For a moment, they stood there, staring each other down, the tension between them thick and palpable. Then, without a word, Elara lunged at him, her claws outstretched and her teeth bared. She moved quickly, faster than she thought possible, her body
Luka’s wolf clawed at the surface, desperate for blood. Desperate to fix this. He couldn’t let her go. He wouldn’t.“You don’t understand, Elara,” Luka said, his voice strained with the effort of holding back his wolf. “You’re my mate. The bond between us... it’s stronger than anything. You belong with me.”Elara’s expression softened, but there was sadness in her eyes now, a sadness that only fueled Luka’s desperation. “The bond is real,” she said quietly, “but it’s not enough. Not when it’s built on control, on fear. I won’t be a prisoner, Luka. Not yours. Not Alec’s. I want my freedom.”Freedom.The word echoed in Luka’s mind, clashing violently with everything he believed, everything he had fought
The Crescent Moon wolves burst from the shadows, their massive forms tearing through the rogue camp with terrifying speed. The rogues barely had time to react. Panicked shouts and snarls filled the air as the Crescent Moon warriors ripped into them, claws and fangs flashing in the dim light of dawn.Luka charged forward, his powerful legs propelling him toward the heart of the camp. His wolf growled in anticipation, its single focus driving him—find Alec. Kill Alec.He barreled through the camp, rogue wolves leaping at him in a desperate attempt to stop his advance. Luka tore through them with ease, his wolf stronger and faster than any of the pathetic rogues that tried to stand in his way. His fangs sank into flesh, his claws raking through fur and skin, but he didn’t linger. He was searching for one thing and one thing only.Where are you, Alec?
As Marcus turned to leave, Luka’s gaze drifted back to the forest. Somewhere beyond those trees, Alec was preparing for war, likely thinking he could outmaneuver his brother, that he could hold onto what he had taken. But Alec didn’t understand what Luka was capable of, what he was willing to do to bring Elara back.I’ll kill him, Luka thought, his heart pounding with the force of his conviction. I’ll kill him and anyone who stands in my way.He had already sent word to the other packs—those loyal to Crescent Moon—calling for reinforcements. They wouldn’t be needed, not for this battle, but Luka wanted to send a message. He wanted the world to see what happened to those who defied him, who dared to challenge his authority.Luka’s fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as his wolf surg
As the scout left the room, Luka’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. His entire body trembled with the effort of holding back his rage, of keeping his wolf in check. He had always known it would come to this—always known that one day, he and Alec would face each other in battle. But he had never expected that Elara would be the catalyst for their final confrontation.She’s mine, Luka thought, his jaw tightening. She’s always been mine.The bond between them still lingered, faint but present, like a distant pulse in the back of his mind. He could feel her, even now, though she had tried to sever the connection. She could run as far as she wanted, but she would never truly escape him. The mate bond was unbreakable, and Luka would use it to bring her back to him—whether she wanted to come or not.And when he had her back&
Elara let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her heart still racing. Alec had defended her, but she knew better than to think that meant she was safe. The rogues still didn’t trust her, and any mistake could cost her dearly.“Thank you,” she said quietly, glancing at Alec.He didn’t respond right away, his silver eyes still focused on the group of rogues. “Don’t thank me yet,” he said finally, his voice low. “You’re not out of danger.”Elara nodded, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had survived another day in Alec’s world, but the path ahead was still fraught with danger. The rogues didn’t trust her, and Alec’s protection could only go so far.But she wasn’t going to give up.She had a
Alec turned away from her, his posture rigid as he moved toward the small window that overlooked the rogue village. “The rogues are loyal to me,” he said quietly, his back still to her. “But loyalty doesn’t mean they’ll accept you. They see you as an outsider, and in their eyes, that makes you dangerous.”Elara frowned, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the bedframe. “Why would they see me as dangerous?”Alec’s shoulders tensed, and for a moment, she thought he might ignore the question. But when he turned to face her again, his silver eyes were sharp, the intensity in them almost overwhelming.“They’re afraid of change,” Alec said simply. “They’ve been outcasts for years—rejected, abandoned, and forced to survive in a world that doesn’t care about them. Trust doesn&
Elara swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the attention on her. Her heart raced as she locked eyes with Alec, knowing that this was a dangerous move. But she couldn’t back down now.“Is this really necessary?” she asked, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. “He’s just a boy. He made a mistake. Does he really deserve this?”Alec’s gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing as he stared her down. The crowd around them shifted uncomfortably, clearly uncertain of how to react to her sudden interruption. Elara could feel the tension rising, the air thick with anticipation.“This isn’t your concern,” Alec said coldly, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t understand how things work here.”Elara’s jaw tightened, but she forced herself to keep her tone cal
As Elara made her way toward the center of the village, she spotted Alec standing near a group of rogue wolves, deep in conversation. He looked up as she approached, his silver eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her presence.“Elara,” he said, his voice cool but not unkind. “You’re up early.”“I needed some air,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral. She couldn’t afford to give him any reason to doubt her.Alec studied her for a moment before nodding. “Come with me,” he said, gesturing for her to follow him.Elara hesitated for a split second before falling into step beside him. She didn’t know what Alec had planned for the day, but she knew she had to be ready for anything.They walked through the village in silence, the tension between them pal
The quiet of Alec’s cabin settled around Elara like a heavy blanket as the door clicked shut behind him. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door with her mind spinning. The soft, flickering light of a single lantern illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the walls, but the warmth of the light did nothing to ease the cold knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach.She had taken the first steps toward earning Alec’s trust, but the path forward was dangerous. Every word, every movement, had to be calculated. Alec wasn’t a fool—he’d see through any blatant attempt at deception. She had to make him believe she wanted to be by his side. If she pushed too hard, he would realize what she was trying to do.But the bond, that cursed connection between them, complicated everything. Elara couldn’t deny the magnetic pull she felt toward him. It wasn’t l