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
Alec’s expression was unreadable as he walked toward her, setting the tray down in front of her. The food was carefully arranged—meat, fruits, and bread, a meal fit for an Alpha or Luna. But Elara barely noticed. All she could focus on was the burning anger coursing through her veins."You left me here," she snapped, her voice trembling with fury. "You left me to starve for two days while you—what? Played king over your rogues?"Alec raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady as he watched her. "I told you before, you’re not free yet. But I never said I’d let you starve."Elara glared at him, her fists clenching at her sides. "You might as well have. You kept me locked up, chained like an animal, while you left me with nothing."Alec let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as if her words tired him. "You’re not
Elara’s eyes wandered to the narrow crack in the cave wall, where she had glimpsed the rogue village the day before. The memory of the rogues’ angry stares sent a shiver down her spine. She had ventured out once, hoping to find help or at least someone to talk to, but the rogues had made it clear she wasn’t welcome. She was an outsider, a prisoner, and they wanted nothing to do with her.But now, as she sat in the cold, dark cave, she felt a spark of defiance flicker to life inside her. She couldn’t rely on Alec to bring her food. She couldn’t rely on anyone but herself.With a deep breath, Elara rose to her feet, the chain dragging behind her as she moved toward the crack in the wall. She had explored the cave as much as the chain would allow, but today, she was determined to push her limits. She had to see what lay beyond the village, what kind of world Alec ruled over
Alec’s hand tightened slightly on her arm, his eyes flashing with something she couldn’t quite place—concern? Frustration? “Luka’s good at making you feel like you’re the one who’s hurting him,” Alec said, his tone sharper than before. “But don’t forget what he’s done, Elara. He’s not the same person you used to know.”His words were true, but they didn’t bring the comfort she had hoped for. Luka had changed. He wasn’t the boy she had once loved, but the bond between them hadn’t changed, and neither had the memories of the life they were supposed to share. She could still feel it—the connection pulling at her, reminding her that no matter what, Luka was still her mate.And the bond wasn’t so easy to break.The following days passed in a blur for Elara. She
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