Chapter 11: Conflicted Heart 

Xander's POV

The sting of Lyra's slap still burns on my cheek as I storm away from her, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions: anger, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of possessiveness war within me. I want to turn back, shake some sense into her, and demand answers about the mysterious man on the phone. But I force myself to keep walking, putting distance between us before I do something I'll regret.

My wolf, Blaze, paces restlessly in my mind. 'Go back,' he urges. 'She's ours. We can't let her go.'

"She's not ours," I growl under my breath. "We rejected her, remember? She's Elara's sister. Off-limits."

But even as I say the words, I know they lie. The mate bond pulses between us, more vital than ever, despite our attempts to sever it. Every fiber of my being screams to return to Lyra, to claim her as mine.

I shake my head, trying to clear these dangerous thoughts. I made my choice. I chose Elara. I can't go back on that now, no matter how much my wolf howls in protest.

A fa