10

XENIA'S POV

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I was at the center of a storm. My head pounded, thoughts tangled with emotions as I replayed my conversation with Marrylen over and over again. The warmth of her embrace, her words reassuring me that I wasn't alone, were like a lifeline—and yet, they only made everything more confusing.

I couldn't help but think about Kaleb. The intensity in his eyes when he spoke to me, the way he insisted that our bond was sacred—it made me feel both cherished and trapped at the same time. It was as if I was being torn between two opposing forces, and I wasn't sure which direction to take.

I knew I had to confront Kaleb again. I needed answers, and I needed to see if what Marrylen said was true—if Kaleb was truly trying to control me, or if there was something more beneath the surface. I had to face him, not as his mate, but as someone who deserved the truth.

When I made my way back to the pack's territory, I could feel the weight of the stares on me. The other members of the pack looked at me with a mix of curiosity, suspicion, and something else—something that felt a lot like resentment. I held my head high, determined not to let their judgment break me.

Kaleb was in the clearing, speaking with Cainry and a few other pack members. His gaze shifted to me as I approached, and I could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes before he dismissed the others and walked over to me.

"Xenia," he greeted me, his voice careful. "I wasn't expecting you so soon. Are you feeling better?"

I crossed my arms, keeping my distance. "We need to talk, Kaleb. I need to understand what happened at the ceremony. I need to know the truth."

His expression tightened, the softness in his eyes replaced by something guarded. "I already told you, Xenia. The ceremony was meant to solidify our bond. It's what makes us stronger, as a pack. It's what makes you one of us."

I shook my head, stepping closer. "No, Kaleb. I want the truth. Are you using this bond to control me? To force me to stay with you, even if I might want something else?"

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flash of something raw—anger, fear, maybe both. He stepped forward, his presence imposing. "The bond is real, Xenia. It's not about control. It's about destiny. You were chosen to be my mate, to be part of the pack. It's the way it has always been."

"But what if I don't want it?" I asked, my voice breaking. "What if I want to choose for myself? What if I want to decide who I love, who I want to be with?"

Kaleb's jaw clenched, and he looked away for a moment, as if trying to rein in his emotions. "You don't understand what's at stake here. The pack needs you. I need you. This isn't just about love, Xenia. It's about survival—it's about protecting our kind."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Survival. Protection. It was always about the pack, about the greater good. But where did that leave me? Where did my desires, my choices, fit into this equation?

I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging. "Kaleb, I—I can't just be a pawn in this. I need more than that. I need to know that what we have is real, that it's not just because of some bond that was forced on us."

He reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek, and for a moment, I saw the vulnerability in his eyes again. "It is real, Xenia. I swear to you, it's real. But the bond—it makes it stronger, it makes it undeniable. And I can't let you go. Not now, not ever."

I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch despite myself. There was a part of me that wanted to believe him, that wanted to stay and be the person he needed. But there was another part, a part that longed for freedom—for the chance to make my own decisions, to find my own way.

I pulled away, stepping back. "I need time, Kaleb. I need to figure this out on my own. I can't just stay here and pretend like everything is okay."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and determination. "Take all the time you need, Xenia. But remember, you are my mate. You are part of this pack, whether you want it or not. And I will do whatever it takes to protect you."

I nodded, turning away from him. As I walked back toward the edge of the clearing, I felt a heaviness settle in my chest. I knew I couldn't keep living in this limbo, torn between two worlds. I had to make a choice—one that was mine, and mine alone.

And as I thought of Marrylen, of the warmth in her eyes and the way she made me feel seen, I knew where I had to go next. I had to find her. I had to see if there was a different path, one that wasn't bound by destiny or forced bonds. One that was chosen.

MARRYLEN'S POV

The evening sky was painted in hues of purple and orange as I waited near the old oak tree at the edge of town. My heart raced, the anticipation of seeing Xenia again making it almost impossible to stay still. She had called me earlier, saying she needed to talk, and the urgency in her voice had sent a thrill through me. It wasn't just the fear in her tone—it was the hope that maybe, just maybe, she had made up her mind about what she wanted.

When I saw her approaching, her shoulders hunched and her expression tense, my heart went out to her. She looked exhausted, torn, and yet there was something in her eyes that told me she was ready—ready to face whatever it was that had been haunting her.

"Xenia," I called out, stepping forward. She looked up, her eyes locking onto mine, and I could see the flicker of relief. She reached me, and without a word, she wrapped her arms around me. I held her tightly, letting her take the comfort she needed.

"I can't keep doing this," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Kaleb... he says he can't let me go, but I can't keep feeling like I'm not in control of my own life."

I pulled back slightly, my eyes searching her face. "You have a choice, Xenia. No matter what Kaleb says, you always have a choice."

She nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "I know. And that's why I'm here. I need to figure out what I want, who I want to be with. And I need you to help me."

My breath caught, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'll do anything to help you, Xenia. You know that."

She smiled, a shaky smile that made my heart swell. But before I could say anything else, a rustle in the woods behind us made us both turn. My body tensed, instincts kicking in, and I stepped protectively in front of Xenia.

Kaleb emerged from the shadows, his eyes locking onto us. There was a look in his eyes—something dark, possessive, but also conflicted. He stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Xenia. "I knew I'd find you here," he said, his voice low.

Xenia stiffened, her hand gripping my arm. "Kaleb, I told you I needed time."

He ignored her words, his eyes shifting to me, narrowing slightly. "You think you can take her away from me, Marrylen? You think you can offer her something better than what I can give her?"

I clenched my jaw, standing my ground. "This isn't about me, Kaleb. It's about Xenia. She deserves to choose for herself."

He took another step closer, his eyes flickering between the two of us. There was a desperation in his gaze, something raw and unguarded. "What if there doesn't have to be a choice?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Xenia's eyes widened, and I felt my own breath catch in my throat. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Kaleb's gaze softened as he looked at her, something vulnerable in his eyes. "I can't lose you, Xenia. And I can see that you're drawn to Marrylen too. I can feel it. What if... what if there was a way for us all to be together?"

My heart skipped a beat, a mix of shock and disbelief flooding my mind. Was he suggesting what I thought he was? I looked at Xenia, her face a mask of confusion and surprise. She looked at me, then back at Kaleb, her lips parting as if she couldn't quite find the words.

"Kaleb, I... I don't know if that's even possible," Xenia said, her voice wavering. "This isn't just about physical attraction. It's about love, trust, and finding where I belong."

Kaleb stepped closer, his eyes earnest. "I know. And I know it sounds crazy. But I love you, Xenia. And if sharing you is the only way to keep you, then I'll do whatever it takes."

I stared at him, the intensity of his words catching me off guard. The idea of sharing Xenia—of us all being together—was something I had never even considered. But the look in his eyes, the desperation, and the raw honesty made me pause. I looked at Xenia, and she looked back at me, her eyes wide and uncertain.

"This is a lot," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I just... I need time to think."

I reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Take all the time you need, Xenia. We're not going anywhere."

Kaleb nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "We'll be here. Whatever you decide, we'll be here."

Xenia looked between the two of us, her expression torn. And in that moment, I knew that whatever happened next, it would be on her terms. She was the one who held the power, the one who would decide what her future looked like. And both Kaleb and I would be there, waiting for her to make her choice—no matter what that might be.