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
Elara felt her breath catch in her throat as Luka’s words sank in. Alec had been banished. He had become a rogue. But that didn’t explain why he had returned, why he had become the rogue king, or why he looked so much like Luka even now.“What happened after he was banished?” Elara asked softly, her voice filled with the quiet strength she hoped would encourage Luka to keep going.Luka shook his head, his expression darkening. “After Alec was banished, I took over as Alpha. Our father was devastated, and he became… distant. It was like losing Alec broke something inside him. He wasn’t the same after that. And neither was I.”The silence in the room was heavy, thick with the weight of Luka’s confession. Elara could feel the years of pain and resentment that had built up inside him, the scars left behind by Alec’s
“I don’t understand,” Elara said quietly, shaking her head. “Why is he doing this? Why now? After all these years?”Luka stood and began pacing the room, his body tense with frustration. “It’s revenge,” he said through gritted teeth. “It’s always been about revenge. Alec blames me for everything—for his banishment, for our father turning his back on him, for losing the life he thought he deserved. And now, he’s come back to take what he thinks is rightfully his.”Elara’s brow furrowed, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the puzzle. “But why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Why didn’t you warn me about him before?”Luka stopped pacing and turned to face her, his eyes filled with regret. “I thought I could protect you by keeping you out of it. I didn&
The pack was already stirring when Elara stepped outside. The air was cool and crisp, the early morning sun casting long shadows across the grounds. Warriors moved with purpose, their expressions tense and focused as they prepared for whatever was to come. The battle with the rogues had shaken them, but they had regrouped, ready to defend their territory against any further attacks.Elara made her way toward the main hall, where Luka had said the council meeting would take place. As Luna, she was expected to be there, to offer her input and ensure that the pack remained united in the face of this new threat. But as she walked, her thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation she had had with Luka the night before.Alec had been banished for his betrayal, declared a rogue, and had spent the last eight years building an army of outcasts and exiles. He had become the rogue king, a ti
Two days had passed since Luka had confessed the truth about Alec—his twin, the rogue king, and the man who had once been his closest ally. The tension in Crescent Moon Pack had only grown since then. The looming threat of another attack by Alec and his rogues weighed heavily on everyone. Patrols were doubled, guards were on high alert, and the warriors trained relentlessly. Luka remained focused on protecting the pack, his determination to stop Alec stronger than ever.Elara, however, couldn’t shake the growing doubt that had taken root in her mind. Luka’s words had painted Alec as a heartless monster, but there was something about Alec that didn’t fit that narrative. She remembered their brief encounter in the forest, the calm intensity in his eyes, and most of all, the strange tug of the mate bond she had felt with him. It was a pull she couldn’t explain, and it had left her questioning everythin
"I… I need to go," Elara stammered, her mind reeling as she took a step back, trying to put distance between herself and Alec.Alec didn’t stop her. He simply watched her with those intense silver eyes, a knowing look in his gaze. "You can’t run from this forever, Elara," he said softly. "You’ll have to face the truth eventually."Elara’s heart pounded in her chest as she turned and ran, her mind spinning with the weight of the revelation she had just uncovered. The bond was real. She was Alec’s mate, just as much as she was Luka’s.But as she fled through the forest, her heart racing with fear and confusion, one thought echoed in her mind.What would Luka do when he found out?Elara moved through the forest in a daze, her mind a tangled mess of confusion and disbelief. Al
For a long moment, Elara just sat there, her body trembling with the aftershocks of Luka’s rage. Her throat ached from the pressure of his grip, and her cheek still burned from the slap. But it wasn’t the physical pain that hurt the most.It was the realization that the bond between her and Luka—the bond that had once seemed so strong, so unbreakable—was cracking. Splintering under the weight of secrets and lies.Elara stared at the closed door, her mind racing with the impossibility of her situation. She had two mates. Two brothers. One who had locked her in a room to keep her under his control, and the other who waited in the shadows, his connection to her undeniable.Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She wouldn’t cry. Not now.But as she sat there, alone and trapped, o
I should take her away from him, Alec thought, his fists clenching at his sides. She doesn’t belong with him. Not anymore.But taking Elara away would mean facing Luka directly. It would mean risking everything he had worked for—his entire plan. His revenge was more important than anything else, and he couldn’t let the bond distract him.Yet, every time he thought of her, every time he remembered that kiss, Alec felt his resolve slipping.The kiss had been an accident, something he hadn’t planned. He hadn’t intended to claim her, hadn’t intended to get close to her. But the moment their lips had touched, it had ignited something inside him that he hadn’t felt in years. It had felt like fate, like destiny pulling them together.But fate was cruel. Because she wasn’t just his mate
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