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
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
Back in her quarters, the silence was deafening. The candles had burned low, casting long shadows across the room. The dinner she had so carefully prepared remained untouched, the aroma of the food now bittersweet.Elara stood in the center of the room, her hands clenched into fists as the emotions she had held back finally broke free. The anger, the frustration, the sadness—it all surged through her in a wave that threatened to drown her.How had it come to this?She had once believed that the mate bond would bring her happiness, that it would bind her and Luka together in a way that nothing else could. But instead, it had become a chain, keeping her tethered to a man who didn’t see her, didn’t value her.Elara moved to the table and blew out the remaining candles, watching as the room was plunged into darkness. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the window, casting a silver sheen over the room. It was beautiful in a way, but tonight, it only made her feel more alone.She c
Elara’s anger flared, disbelief giving way to frustration. “I can’t believe you’re accusing me of this. Marcus is your Beta! I’ve avoided him every time he’s tried to get too close, and you think I’ve been encouraging him?”“He wouldn’t be so bold if you hadn’t given him a reason to be,” Luka shot back, his voice cold. “I’ve seen the way you look at him when you think I’m not watching.”“You’re wrong,” Elara said, her voice shaking with a mixture of anger and hurt. “I’ve never—never—encouraged Marcus. I’ve tried to keep my distance from him because I know exactly what kind of man he is. But this? You think I’m flirting with him behind your back? How can you even say that?”“Because it’s the truth,” Luka said, his voice hard and unyielding. “And I don’t like being made a fool of.”Elara’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of his accusation. How could Luka, her mate, the man she was supposed to be bonded with for life, accuse her of something so ridi
She sat up in bed, running her fingers through her hair as her thoughts raced. Something was missing in their bond, something that she hadn’t been able to identify, but she felt it in her bones. The connection between them was incomplete, broken in a way that she couldn’t explain. It was as if the bond had fractured, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure out how to mend it.Maybe, she thought, if she gave it one more chance, she would find that missing piece. Maybe there was still something there, hidden beneath the anger and the hurt, that could be salvaged. If she could just reach Luka—if she could get him to open up, to remember the man he had been when they first met—maybe they could fix this.But just as Elara was beginning to convince herself that there was still hope, a sudden commotion outside shattered her thoughts.Her ears perked up, and she frowned, listening closely. The sound of hurried footsteps and muffled voices reached her through the window, and her
A few warriors, driven by instinct or perhaps curiosity, broke off from the group and shifted back into their wolf forms, chasing after the rogues as they fled toward the border. Elara watched as they ran, disappearing into the forest in pursuit of answers.But most of the Crescent Moon wolves stayed behind, their faces etched with confusion as they gathered in the clearing, talking amongst themselves in hushed tones.Elara’s gaze flicked toward the direction where the strange wolf had vanished, her thoughts still consumed by the encounter. She had been so sure, for just a moment, that it was Luka. But now, standing in the aftermath of the battle, she knew something far more complicated was at play.And then, through the crowd of warriors, she saw him. Luka.He stood near the edge of the clearing, his muscular frame still in wolf form, but he wasn’t fighting or talking. He wasn’t even moving. Instead, his silver eyes were fixed on the spot where the other wolf—the one who looked just
The battle had ended abruptly, the rogue wolves retreating as if some invisible force had pulled them away. The air was still thick with tension, and Elara’s heart pounded in her chest. The confusion and unease swirling in her mind were nearly overwhelming. She had seen the wolf that looked exactly like Luka, fought alongside warriors who had no explanation for why the rogues had vanished, and witnessed Luka himself staring after the mysterious wolf with an expression she had never seen on him before.But it wasn’t Luka. She knew it wasn’t. And yet, the wolf’s scent, his appearance, the pull of the mate bond—it had all been so disturbingly similar to her mate. Too similar to be a coincidence.As the pack slowly began to regroup, warriors tending to the wounded and trying to make sense of what had just happened, Elara stood apart from the others. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of the rogue wolf that had looked like Luka. He hadn’t attacked her—hadn’t even shown aggression. Instead,
As the night deepened around her, Elara shifted back into her wolf form, her mind still buzzing with questions as she made her way back to the Crescent Moon Pack.But even as she ran through the forest, her thoughts kept drifting back to the Rogue King—the man who looked so much like her mate, yet carried a darkness that Luka had never shown her.And as much as she hated to admit it, something about him—about the danger in his eyes and the way he had spoken to her—sent a shiver of anticipation through her veins.Whatever secrets were hidden between Luka and the Rogue King, Elara knew she was about to uncover a truth that would change everything.And she wasn’t sure she was ready for it.Elara raced through the forest, her sleek black wolf form blending into the shadows as she ran back toward
For a moment, Elara couldn’t speak. The revelation hit her like a physical blow, the pieces of the puzzle suddenly falling into place. The resemblance, the bond she had felt between them, the way Luka had stared after the rogue king during the battle—it all made sense now.But the realization only deepened her anger.“Your brother?” Elara said, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why have you been hiding this from me?”Luka’s jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with anger. “Because it’s none of your concern.”Elara’s heart pounded in her chest, her fury reaching a boiling point. “None of my concern? I’m your mate, Luka! I have a right to know about your past, about your family. You’ve been keeping secrets from me for months, and now 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
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