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?
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
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
With a frustrated sigh, Elara sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Moonlight filtered through the small window, casting a soft glow over the cabin. Outside, the rogue camp was quiet, the sounds of the forest whispering in the distance. But the silence offered no comfort, only a reminder of the war raging inside her.She hadn’t expected the bond to remain so strong after everything that had happened. Luka’s anger, his possessiveness, his need to control her—that had been enough for her to leave. But now, as the days passed, the bond wasn’t weakening. If anything, it felt stronger, as if the distance between them only magnified it.Elara buried her face in her hands, her mind spinning. She thought she had made peace with her decision, thought she had done what was necessary to protect herself. But now… now she wasn’t so sure. Luka had been a monster i
Elara’s heart ached at Alec’s words. She could feel the bond between them, just as she could feel the bond with Luka. But now, she realized that she didn’t want to choose. Not between them. Not like this.“I don’t know if I can,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I can choose.”Alec’s grip tightened slightly, his eyes searching hers for an answer she couldn’t give. “You have to,” he said softly. “You can’t keep running, Elara. You have to decide.”Elara’s chest tightened with the weight of his words. He was right. She couldn’t keep running, couldn’t keep avoiding the choice she had been dreading for so long. But the thought of choosing—of committing to one mate, one life—terrified her.Because no
Elara’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with fear for him. She understood Alec’s need for revenge—she had seen the pain Luka had caused him, the way he had destroyed Alec’s life. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that if Alec went after Luka now, it would end in disaster.“Alec,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, “if you go after him now, you could get hurt. Or worse. Luka’s not just going to lie down and let you take him out. He’s out of control, and if you’re not careful—”“I’m not afraid of him,” Alec said firmly, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ve faced worse than Luka. This is something I have to do, Elara. I can’t let him take any more from me.”Elara’s heart broke at the cold determination in his voice, at the way he seemed so set on this course of action. She had fallen in love with Alec not because of his strength or his desire for revenge, but because of the way he had shown her kindness, the way he had protected her without trying to control her. But
With one final, furious snarl, Luka lunged at Alec, but Alec was ready. He sidestepped the attack and sank his teeth into Luka’s side, forcing him to the ground. Luka let out a howl of pain, his body convulsing beneath Alec’s grip.But before Alec could deliver the final blow, Luka’s eyes locked onto Elara’s, and a cold, twisted smile spread across his face. “This isn’t over, Elara,” he growled, his voice filled with venom. “I will kill Alec, and I will destroy everything you think is yours. You will come back to me—one way or another.”With a vicious snarl, Luka tore himself free from Alec’s grip and bolted into the forest, disappearing into the shadows before Alec could stop him. The remaining rogues followed him, their retreat swift and brutal, leaving behind the wreckage of the attack.For a long moment, the forest was silent, the only sound the ragged breathing of the wolves who had fought so fiercely to protect their home.Elara shifted back into her human form, her body trembli
Through the chaos, Elara’s gaze darted around the battlefield, searching for any sign of Luka. She knew he was here somewhere. She could feel his presence, a dark and oppressive weight pressing down on her through the mate bond that had once bound them together.And then she saw him.Luka stood at the edge of the clearing, his eyes locked on her with a cold, calculating gaze. His wolf form was massive, his dark fur rippling with power, and there was a cruel smile in his eyes as he watched the chaos unfold around him.This wasn’t just an attack—it was a message.Luka wasn’t going to stop until he had destroyed everything Alec had built. And he wasn’t going to stop until Elara was his once again.Elara’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Luka, a wave of fear and anger crashing over her. She had spent so long running from him, so long living in fear of his control. But now, standing here in the middle of this battle, with Alec fighting by her side, something inside her shifted.
In the days following their first kiss, a quiet and unspoken understanding settled between Alec and Elara. Their relationship had shifted, deepened in a way that felt natural and inevitable. The bond between them, once something they both resisted, had now become a source of comfort and strength. It wasn’t about destiny anymore—it was about choice. They had chosen each other, and with every small moment, every quiet glance, the connection between them grew even stronger.Elara found herself seeking out Alec more often. It was no longer enough just to sit beside him in silence or watch the sunset from the edge of the camp. She wanted to be close to him, to feel his presence, his warmth. And Alec, who had always been careful to give her space, now welcomed her affection with a tenderness that made her heart ache.Their moments together were small but meaningful. A brush of fingers as they walked side by side through the village. A shared smile over a meal by the fire. A quiet conversati
After Alec shared the truth of his past, a new sense of understanding settled between him and Elara. It was as if the weight of their shared stories—the pain, the betrayal, and the struggles—had forged a connection that went beyond the mate bond. It was no longer about destiny or fate binding them together. This was something deeper, something built on trust, vulnerability, and the choice to move forward together.In the days that followed, Elara found herself gravitating toward Alec more and more. There was no longer any hesitation when she was near him, no lingering fear or doubt that had once clouded her mind. The walls she had built around her heart were crumbling, and in their place was something warm and tender—a growing affection that took her by surprise.She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment it started to change, but it was there, quietly growing with each shared glance, each conversation. The simple act of being around Alec had become comforting, and the rogue camp, which h
Elara took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to find the right words. “I… I know you’ve told me bits and pieces about your past,” she said slowly, her voice gentle. “But I still don’t really know what happened between you and Luka. I don’t know why you had to leave your pack, or why he betrayed you. I’ve been wanting to ask for a while, but I didn’t want to push you.”Alec’s expression didn’t change, but Elara could see the flicker of something in his eyes—something dark and painful. He looked away, his jaw tightening as he stared out at the trees. For a long moment, he didn’t speak, and Elara began to wonder if she had made a mistake by bringing it up.“I’m sorry,” she added quickly, her voice soft. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I just… I want to understand.”Alec let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he shook his head. “No,” he said quietly. “It’s okay. You deserve to know.”He was silent for another momen
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