The rogue village sprawled out before her, much the same as it had been the last time she’d seen it through the narrow crack in the cave wall. Crumbling buildings, makeshift homes, and dirt paths wound through the settlement like a maze. The rogues moved about their business, some in human form, others shifting into their wolves as they went about their daily routines. It was a harsh, unforgiving place—so different from the orderly life she had known in Crescent Moon Pack.
Alec walked ahead of her, his tall figure cutting a path through the village. The rogues barely glanced at him as he passed, their respect—or perhaps fear—of him evident in the way they kept their distance. But when they saw Elara walking behind him, their reactions were different.
The hostile stares started almost immediately.
Elara could feel their eyes on her, cold and full of
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
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
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
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 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
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&
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
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?
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