lan

, not when it told me who I could and couldn't be tied to. And yet, here I was, tangled in a bond I hadn't asked for, a bond to the most un

emanded, my voice sharper than I i

ncient, Alpha. Breaking it isn't impossible, but it comes with co

o keep my voice calm, even as my wo

looked at me with sympathy. "Alpha, This isn't easy I know, but these laws h

s much as I wanted to fight, I knew he wasn't lying.

"But she will soon. She deserves to

anted was to tell her. The minute I did, she'd understand the mess we were truly in. A

ply. "Fine. I'

ra

in the small cabin he kept me. The space had just the bed, an old-fashioned dresser and noth

on my feet when I saw him walking i

before I could stop it. "You left me here with

'll get it" he said, his voice abrupt. "

him-maybe it was the strange energy between us, like a thread pulling tighter each time we

The bond between us... it's not something either of

belief rising within me. "What does t

ut it doesn't matter. The mate bond is ancien

ped. "What ar

mine, "that you're stuck here until we figure this out. And the

shaking my head. "So I'm jus

sharply. "But you're bound to m

"I have my own life, my own plans. I didn't sign up to be forced into

o you think I wanted this? You think I wanted a bo

high and refused to give in. "Then let me go. Let

but it's not easy. The bond doesn't care what we want

this predicament. "So, what? We

a bit. "It's about pulling through it.

words, the realization that, like it or not, I was bound to t

rely above a murmur. "I'll stay. Bu

of amusement flashed in his e

food and whatever else I needed, but every interaction between us felt like a battle. Even the s

heated exchange about the pack'

ictate everything?" I snapped, my fists clenched.

d, his gaze intense. "Rules exist for a reason

r flaring within me. "Maybe if you ever stopped to think ab

nk?" he asked, his vo

Because you're too busy playing Alpha

ning with anger. "You think I don't understand? I've given my life to this pack. Every cho

I shot back, refusing to back down. "You keep everyone a

nched his teeth. "And what m

uld stop them. The fierce Alpha armor he wore had a crack, there was vulnerability bey

pression closing off once more. "This bond between us is nothi

e disappointment. After all, I never dreamt of this. But the thought of leaving him,

my waist "Fine. If t

said, his

then turned around and

t behind him, I

ginning