17

MARRYLEN'S POV

The air was heavy with tension. I could feel it as soon as Xenia and I finished, the satisfaction of our intimacy fading into a quiet, lingering unease. She hadn’t said a word about Kaleb being there, but I knew she was aware of him. She’d looked right at him, made sure he saw everything, and I knew that there was more to this than just us. It was about him too—about the pain he had caused her and the pain she was determined to make him feel.

I watched as Xenia lay back against the pillow, her eyes closing for a moment, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. There was a hardness to her expression, something cold that hadn't been there before, and it made my heart ache. I wanted her to look at me the way she had just moments ago—with warmth, with desire—but now her gaze was distant, as though her mind was somewhere else entirely.

“Xenia?” I whispered, reaching out to touch her arm, my fingers brushing against her skin. “Are you okay?”

She opened her eyes, looking at me with a small, tired smile. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, but I could hear the emptiness in her voice. It wasn’t true, and we both knew it. “Just… tired, I guess.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I wanted to believe her, wanted to pretend that everything was okay. But I knew better. I knew that Kaleb's presence had stirred something inside her, something she couldn’t ignore. I could feel her slipping away from me, her heart torn between the two of us, and it terrified me.

“Are you sure?” I pressed, my voice trembling slightly. “If there’s something you need to talk about, I’m here. You know that, right?”

She sighed, turning her head to look at me, her eyes softening for a brief moment. “I know, Marrylen,” she said, her hand coming up to rest on mine. “I know you’re here for me, and I appreciate it. I really do.”

But her words felt hollow, like she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince me. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the turmoil that she was trying to keep hidden, and it made my heart ache even more. I loved her, and I wanted to be enough for her, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was fighting a losing battle.

“Do you… do you still love him?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, the words escaping before I could stop them. I didn’t want to ask, didn’t want to hear the answer, but I needed to know. I needed to understand where we stood.

Xenia’s eyes flickered, a shadow passing over her face, and she hesitated for a moment before answering. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “I want to hate him, Marrylen. I really do. But it’s complicated. The bond we have… it’s hard to just let go.”

My heart sank at her words, and I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I tried to hold them back, to stay strong, but it was no use. I turned away, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. “I understand,” I said, my voice breaking. “I just… I want you to be happy, Xenia. Even if it means letting you go.”

She reached out, pulling me into her arms, her hold gentle but firm. “Don’t say that,” she whispered, her breath warm against my ear. “I don’t want to lose you, Marrylen. I don’t know what the future holds, but right now, I need you. Please don’t give up on me.”

I closed my eyes, leaning into her embrace, my heart aching with both love and fear. I wanted to be strong for her, wanted to believe that we could make this work, but the uncertainty was eating away at me. I knew that as long as Kaleb was in the picture, there would always be a part of her that I couldn’t reach.

But I couldn’t walk away. Not yet. Not when she was holding onto me, asking me to stay. “I won’t give up on you,” I whispered, my voice shaky but sincere. “I love you, Xenia. I’ll stay for as long as you want me.”

She pulled back, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I saw something there—something raw and vulnerable. She leaned in, pressing her lips to mine in a gentle, lingering kiss, and I could feel the emotion behind it—the fear, the longing, the uncertainty.

When she pulled away, she gave me a small, sad smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. I wanted to be her strength, wanted to be the one she turned to, but I knew that there was a part of her that was still tied to Kaleb, a part of her that I couldn’t reach no matter how hard I tried. And it scared me, knowing that at any moment, she could slip away from me.

As the night wore on, I held her close, my heart heavy with the weight of everything unsaid. I didn’t know what the future held for us, didn’t know if we could make it through this, but for now, I was here. I was hers, and that was all that mattered.

But deep down, I knew that this wasn’t over. Kaleb was still out there, and I could feel his presence like a shadow, looming over us, waiting. And I had no doubt that he would come back for her—that he would do whatever it took to win her back. And when that day came, I didn’t know if I would be strong enough to fight for her.

For now, though, I would hold onto her, love her with everything I had, and hope that it would be enough. Because Xenia was worth fighting for, and I wasn’t ready to let her go—not yet.

KALEB'S POV

Days turned into weeks, and yet the memory of seeing Xenia with Marrylen haunted me. It was a constant weight on my chest, a reminder of how much I had lost and how far I had fallen. I tried to focus on my responsibilities as the Alpha, to take care of my pack, but it was no use. My mind was consumed by thoughts of her—the way she had looked at me, the way she had smiled as if daring me to react.

I knew I had to see her again. I couldn't let things end like that. I couldn't let her slip away without a fight. She was my mate, the one chosen for me by the spirits, and I had to believe that there was still a chance to make things right.

It was late one night when I finally decided to go after her. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the forest as I made my way through the trees. My heart was pounding, my mind racing with thoughts of what I would say to her, how I would convince her to come back to me. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I had to try.

When I arrived at the cabin, the place was quiet, the air heavy with the scent of the woods. I could sense her inside, and I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the door. What if she refused to see me? What if she sent me away without a second thought? The fear of rejection gnawed at me, but I pushed it aside. I had to face her, no matter what.

Slowly, I pushed the door open, stepping inside. The cabin was dimly lit, and my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. There she was, sitting on the edge of the bed, her head bowed as if lost in thought. She looked up as soon as I entered, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Kaleb?" she said, her voice barely a whisper, a mix of emotions flickering across her face—shock, confusion, and something else I couldn't quite place. "What are you doing here?"

My throat tightened, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I had to see you," I said, my voice low. "I couldn't stay away any longer. I need to talk to you, Xenia. Please, just hear me out."

She sighed, her shoulders slumping as she looked away, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. "Kaleb, I don't know if there's anything left to say. You made your choice, and I made mine."

I moved closer, my heart pounding. "I know I hurt you, Xenia. And I will never forgive myself for what I did. But I can't let you go. Not like this. You are my mate, and I love you. I will do whatever it takes to make things right, to prove to you that I am worthy of your love."

She looked up at me then, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's not that simple," she whispered. "You hurt me, Kaleb. You broke my trust. And now… now there's Marrylen. I care about her, too. I can't just turn my back on her."

My heart clenched at her words, and I took a step back, the weight of her confession settling over me. "I know," I said, my voice breaking. "I know that I've lost a part of you, and I know that things will never be the same. But I can't give up on us. Not yet. Please, Xenia. Just give me a chance. Let me prove to you that I can be the mate you deserve."

She shook her head, her eyes closing for a moment as if trying to collect herself. "Kaleb, I don't know if I can do this," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't know if I can go back to the way things were. Too much has happened, and I don't know if I can trust you again."

I felt a tear slip down my cheek, my chest aching with the weight of her words. "I understand," I whispered. "I know that I've hurt you, and I know that I have a lot to make up for. But I love you, Xenia. And I will never stop fighting for you."

She looked at me then, her gaze softening, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something—something that gave me hope. She stood, stepping closer to me, her hand resting on my chest. "I don't know what the future holds, Kaleb," she said, her voice barely audible. "But I do know that I still care about you. And maybe… maybe there's a chance for us."

My heart swelled with hope, and I reached up, covering her hand with mine. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I promise you, Xenia, I will do whatever it takes to make things right. I won't let you down again."

She nodded, her eyes searching mine, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. It wasn't a guarantee, but it was a chance—a chance to make things right, to prove to her that I was worthy of her love.

And I would take it, no matter what it took.

As the silence settled between us, I pulled her into my arms, holding her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. It wasn't over—not by a long shot—but it was a start. And I would fight for her, for us, for the bond that still pulsed between us, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

Because Xenia was worth it. She was worth everything, and I wasn't ready to let her go. Not now. Not ever.

XENIA'S POV

The air was electric, charged with anticipation as the pack gathered around the sacred clearing deep in the forest. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over everything, its light filtering through the branches and dappling the ground in shimmering patterns. My heart pounded in my chest as I stood in the center of the clearing, Kaleb by my side. The bond between us was tangible, a pulsing energy that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.

Tonight was the bonding ceremony—the night that would decide our fate. Kaleb had promised me that things would be different, that he would do whatever it took to make up for his mistakes, and I had decided to give him one last chance. I could feel Marrylen's presence in the shadows, her eyes watching me, and I knew that this wasn't easy for her. It wasn't easy for me either, but I had to see this through. I had to understand what it meant to be bonded to Kaleb, to be part of the pack.

Nenyia, the eldest member of the pack, stepped forward, her hands raised as she called out to the spirits. Her voice was strong, resonant, the ancient words flowing from her lips like a song. The pack joined in, their voices rising in harmony, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. The power of the moment was overwhelming, the energy building until it felt like the very air around us was vibrating.

Kaleb turned to me, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability. He reached out, taking my hands in his, and I could feel the warmth of his touch, the strength of his presence. "Xenia," he said, his voice low and steady, "I vow to you, here and now, that I will always be by your side. I will protect you, love you, and honor the bond we share. No matter what happens, I will never let you down again."

My heart swelled at his words, and I took a deep breath, my gaze locking onto his. "Kaleb," I replied, my voice trembling slightly, "I accept your vow, and I vow to be your partner, to stand by your side, and to embrace the bond that connects us. I will trust you, and I will give us a chance to heal."

Nenyia stepped closer, her hands resting on our joined ones, her eyes closing as she began to chant. The energy around us seemed to shift, the air growing warmer, the power between Kaleb and me intensifying. I could feel it, a force that seemed to wrap around us, binding us together, connecting our souls in a way that was both terrifying and exhilarating.

A warmth spread through me, starting at my fingertips and moving up my arms, enveloping my entire body. I gasped as the sensation grew stronger, my heart pounding in my chest as I felt the bond solidify. It was as if every part of me was being connected to Kaleb, our energies merging, our hearts beating in sync. I could feel his emotions—his love, his fear, his hope—and I knew that he could feel mine as well.

The pack's chanting grew louder, their voices blending together, the power of their words washing over us like a wave. I closed my eyes, letting myself be carried away by the moment, surrendering to the bond that was being forged. I could feel Kaleb's presence inside me, his strength, his determination, and I knew that this was real, that this was something that went beyond words or promises.

The warmth that had enveloped me began to fade, replaced by a sense of calm, a deep peace that settled over me. I opened my eyes, looking up at Kaleb, and I saw the tears glistening in his eyes, the raw emotion etched on his face. He reached up, cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped down my cheek.

"We're bonded now," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You are my mate, and I am yours. Nothing can change that."

I nodded, my heart swelling with a mix of emotions—love, fear, hope. I knew that this wasn't the end of our journey, that there would be challenges ahead, but for the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of clarity. I could feel the bond between us, strong and unbreakable, and I knew that we would face whatever came our way together.

The chanting slowly came to an end, and Nenyia stepped back, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth as she looked at us. "The spirits have blessed your bond," she said, her voice resonant. "May you find strength in each other, and may your love guide you through the trials ahead."

Kaleb pulled me into his arms, holding me close, and I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the warmth of his embrace. I could feel Marrylen's eyes on us, the weight of her presence, and I knew that this wasn't going to be easy. But as I stood there, wrapped in Kaleb's arms, I knew that I had made the right choice. I had to give this bond a chance, to see where it would take me.

Because despite everything, despite the pain and the betrayal, there was love here—real, undeniable love. And I was willing to fight for it, to fight for us, no matter what the future held.