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
Alec let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as if her words had tired him. “You still don’t get it,” he said softly, his eyes narrowing. “This isn’t about submission. I’m not Luka. I don’t want to control you. I just want what’s mine.”Elara’s throat tightened at the mention of Luka, the sting of the other bond still fresh in her mind. “What’s yours?” she repeated, her voice trembling with anger. “I’m not a thing to be claimed, Alec. I belong to myself.”Alec tilted his head slightly, his gaze never wavering. “You’re my mate, Elara. You belong to me just as much as I belong to you.”Elara’s fists clenched at her sides, her muscles aching from the fight they’d just had. She was tired, physically and emotionally. Her mind raced with confli
Elara clenched her fists, frustration boiling inside her. She had fought so hard to escape Luka’s control, only to find herself trapped in another kind of prison. She had run from one brother and fallen straight into the hands of the other. The irony wasn’t lost on her, but it didn’t make the situation any less painful.Her ankle throbbed where the metal shackle had rubbed her skin raw, a constant reminder of her captivity. She tugged at the chain once more, hoping for some miracle that it might give way, but the cold, unforgiving metal didn’t budge.She had no way out.With a frustrated growl, Elara slumped against the stone wall of the cave, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her chest ached, not from physical exhaustion, but from the emotional weight of her situation. She had been trying so hard to find freedom, to escape the bonds that tied her
Elara’s stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder of how long it had been since she’d eaten. She had lost count of the hours—maybe even days—that had passed since Alec had locked her in the cave. The ache in her belly was growing worse with every passing moment, and her patience had long since worn thin.Her frustration boiled over as she sat there, staring at the narrow opening that led to the rogue village outside. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on the cave walls, and the cold, damp air seemed to press down on her like a weight. She had been alone for what felt like an eternity, and there was no sign of Alec anywhere.How could he do this? she thought angrily, her fingers clenching into fists. He leaves me here, chained like an animal, and doesn’t even bother to bring me food? Her stomach growled again, and this time, the pain made her w
For a long time, they just sat there together, watching the mist slowly rise from the forest. The sun had yet to fully break through the clouds, leaving the world in a soft, muted light that felt peaceful, almost surreal.After a while, Alec spoke again, his voice quieter than before. “There are moments,” he said, “when I think about how different things could have been. How different I could have been.”Elara glanced at him, her heart skipping slightly at the vulnerability in his voice. It wasn’t often that Alec opened up like this. He was usually so controlled, so guarded. But now, sitting here in the stillness of the morning, he seemed more willing to let her see the parts of him he usually kept hidden.“What do you mean?” she asked softly.Alec was quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. “Before Luka turned on me, before I became the rogue king, I had a vision for my life. I was going to be the alpha of Crescent Moon Pack. It was supposed to be me, not him. But then everything chang
Elara glanced over at Alec, her gaze lingering on the way the firelight played across his features—the strong line of his jaw, the softness in his eyes that she hadn’t noticed before. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes fixed on the flames, but there was a stillness to him that made her wonder what he was thinking. She had never known this kind of quiet with Luka. With him, everything had been a whirlwind—intense, demanding, controlling. But with Alec, there was space. Space to breathe, space to think, space to feel.“Do you miss it?” Elara asked suddenly, her voice breaking the silence.Alec looked up, his silver eyes meeting hers with quiet curiosity. “Miss what?”“Your old life,” she said softly, gesturing toward the fire with a small shrug. “Before all of this. Before… everything.”Alec was quiet for a moment, his gaze thoughtful as he considered her question. His expression didn’t change, but Elara could see the flicker of something deeper in his eyes—something that went beyond t
Elara had always seen Alec as a threat, as someone dangerous and unpredictable, but that view had been colored by her own fears—fears that had been stoked by Luka. Luka had controlled her, manipulated her emotions, and made her believe that anyone who opposed him was a villain. But now, without Luka’s influence clouding her mind, she could see Alec for who he truly was.He wasn’t a monster. He wasn’t heartless. He was strong, yes, and fierce, but there was also a gentleness in him that she hadn’t expected. A willingness to protect, to care, to put her needs above his own. He had shown her a side of himself that he hadn’t needed to, and it was that side of Alec—the one that had knelt beside her bed, tending to her wounds while his own body bled—that was beginning to break through the walls she had built around her heart.The sound of footsteps behind her broke through her thoughts, and Elara turned to see one of the rogues approaching. He was a tall, broad-shouldered wolf with dark hai
Elara lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around the edge of the bandage she had just placed on his arm. “I… I thought you were dangerous,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I thought you only cared about revenge. I thought you wanted to hurt me… to use me to get back at Luka.”Alec let out a soft sigh, his lips curling into a small, tired smile. “I won’t lie to you,” he said, his voice gentle. “At first, it was about revenge. When I first learned about you—about what Luka had done—I was angry. Furious, even. I wanted to hurt him for everything he took from me.”Elara felt a knot tighten in her chest. She had feared this truth, had known that Alec’s hatred for Luka ran deep, but hearing him admit it still stung. She shifted slightly, her fingers tracing the rough fabric of the bandage, unsure of what to say.“But,” Alec continued, his voice softening further, “that changed when I met you. When I saw how Luka treated you… how he controlled you… I couldn’t stand by a
Alec hesitated, his eyes flickering with a mixture of stubbornness and exhaustion. He had always been so strong, so capable, and the thought of letting her help him, of being vulnerable in front of her, clearly made him uncomfortable. But after a moment, he nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing as he finally gave in.Elara helped him to his feet, guiding him to sit down on the edge of the bed. His movements were slow and stiff, each step clearly causing him pain, but he didn’t complain. Once he was seated, Elara knelt in front of him, her hands trembling slightly as she began to clean the blood and dirt from his wounds.Her fingers were gentle but steady as she worked, dabbing at the gashes on his arms and chest with a damp cloth. Every cut, every bruise, was a reminder of the fight he had just endured—the fight he had survived to protect her. Her heart twisted with guilt, the weight of everything he had gone through settling heavily on her shoulders.As she carefully bandaged o
“I never wanted this,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. “I never wanted them to fight.”The rogue’s gaze softened further as he crouched down in front of her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. “You couldn’t have stopped it, Elara. This was always going to happen. Luka and Alec… they were always on this path.”Elara swallowed hard, tears stinging her eyes as she tried to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She had done everything she could to avoid this outcome, had tried to escape from the chains of the mate bond, but in the end, it hadn’t mattered. The two brothers were destined to collide, and now she was powerless to stop it.“I can’t just leave him,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t leave Alec behind to die.”The rogue’s hand tightened on her shoulder, his expression turning serious. “Alec didn’t ask you to run so you could come back and die with him. He asked you to run because he wants you to live. He wants you
Elara’s legs were growing weaker with every step, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she pushed herself to keep running through the dark forest. The trees blurred around her, the cold wind biting at her skin as she followed the rogue wolf ahead of her. Her heart pounded in her chest, not only from the physical exertion, but from the unbearable weight of what she had left behind.Alec was still fighting. Luka was still hunting. And she was running—again. But this time, it felt different. The bond with Luka was gone, shattered with her rejection of him. She should have felt free, finally free from the chains that had bound her to a man who had only wanted to possess her. But the freedom felt hollow, filled with an aching emptiness that tugged at her soul.She could still feel the searing pain from when the bond broke, as if something vital had been ripped out of her. It wasn’t just physical pain—it was emotional, a deep wound that throbbed with every beat of her heart. Even now, after
“You think you can just choose him?” Luka growled, his voice thick with venom, distorted by his wolf’s fury. His eyes bore into her, wild and full of hatred. “After everything? After I marked you?”Elara’s throat went dry. The rage in his voice, the way his words cut through her—she could barely breathe. This was the man she had once thought was her forever, the man who had promised to cherish and protect her. But now… now all he wanted was to hurt her.Alec stepped forward, his massive body shielding her from Luka’s wrath. His growl rumbled deep in his chest, his silver eyes blazing with defiance. “She’s not yours, Luka,” Alec said, his voice low, almost a whisper. But the power in it was unmistakable. “She never was.”Luka’s wolf let out a snarl, and before Elara could react, he lunged at Alec, claws and fangs bared. The two brothers collided with a sickening force, their bodies crashing to the ground as they tore into each other. Fur flew, blood sprayed across the clearing, and the
Alec’s jaw tightened as the truth settled in. He had warned her, had tried to show her the danger she was in, but she hadn’t listened. She had chosen to run, to escape both of them, thinking that she could find freedom on her own. But Alec had known better. He had known that Luka would never let her go so easily.Luka was relentless. When he wanted something, he would stop at nothing to claim it, and Elara was no exception. Alec had watched his brother grow more and more obsessed over the years, driven by a need for control that had twisted his heart into something dark and unrecognizable. Luka didn’t love Elara—he wanted to possess her, to bend her to his will, and that made him dangerous.But Elara hadn’t seen that yet. She still held onto some piece of Luka, some fragment of the man she had once loved, and Alec knew that until she saw the truth for herself, she would never be free.That was why he had let her go.Alec had known that trying to force Elara to stay would only push her