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 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
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 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
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