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
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alec sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If you leave now, you know Luka will come after you,” he said quietly. “He’ll find you. You won’t be safe out there.”Elara’s heart clenched at the mention of Luka, but she didn’t let herself waver. “I’ll take that risk,” she said, her voice steady. “I can’t keep living like this, Alec. I need to be free. Even if it means facing Luka.”Alec’s jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment, clearly struggling to control his emotions. When he finally looked back at her, there was something resigned in his eyes, as if he had already accepted that there was nothing he could say to change her mind.“I can’t stop you,” Alec said, his voice heavy with regret. “But I won’t
Elara stood before the mirror, gazing at her reflection as the last rays of sunlight bathed the room in golden light. She absentmindedly smoothed the deep blue silk dress that hugged her slender figure, her hands trembling slightly as she adjusted the neckline. Her long raven-black hair cascaded in soft waves down her back, and her emerald-green eyes—usually bright and full of life—were clouded with uncertainty.Tonight was supposed to be special. A celebration of her one-year anniversary as Luna of the Crescent Moon Pack, and more importantly, the anniversary of the day she and Luka Greyson, the Alpha, had completed their mate bond. It should have been a night filled with joy, a reminder of the bond they were meant to share, the love they were destined to have. But lately, things between them had been anything but joyful.Luka had grown distant over the past few months, his once attentive and warm nature slowly hardening into something cold, aloof, and indifferent. Their conversation
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alec sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If you leave now, you know Luka will come after you,” he said quietly. “He’ll find you. You won’t be safe out there.”Elara’s heart clenched at the mention of Luka, but she didn’t let herself waver. “I’ll take that risk,” she said, her voice steady. “I can’t keep living like this, Alec. I need to be free. Even if it means facing Luka.”Alec’s jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment, clearly struggling to control his emotions. When he finally looked back at her, there was something resigned in his eyes, as if he had already accepted that there was nothing he could say to change her mind.“I can’t stop you,” Alec said, his voice heavy with regret. “But I won’t
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
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
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