Bound by th

MA

eerie howls of wolves-wolves that weren't ours. Their voices rose in a ghostly chorus, a haunt

't alone

away from that apartment, from the life I had barely managed to piece together, felt lik

effortless-like he was one with the darkness itself. I had known Alphas b

eader. He was a sto

Derek, his name was a hushed warning, a scandal not to be spoken of in polite company. Reckless. Uncontrollable. Too

couldn't reconcile the storie

command attentio

at him. Was this really

me, and a slow smirk curled hi

aring my gaze

the sound lo

kled with tension-not just between us, but in the forest around us. The hairs on the back of my

ads," I muttered. "Less chan

ement flickering in his dark eyes. "I d

urse,

ubt he thriv

me wanted to believe I was still in control of my own fate, that I had a choice in what happene

couldn't tak

ome for me?" I asked,

His smirk remained, but there was somethin

voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. "You gave me some

asuring his response. Then, he stepped closer, hi

e I want

ips as he reached for me, his

scowling. "Stop it, Xan

ened. "I am tel

my chest. "You could've left me alone. I c

almost missed it. Then he said, quieter this time

words, instincts screamin

t need h

f the night air. His voice dipped into something almost... intimate. "Then tell me

t I didn't h

part of me did

e, his smirk returning as if he al

ion back into something cold and unrea

low and dark.

when the looming gates of his mansio

nside a pack house, I had b

zes fell upon me. The guards at the entrance stiffened. Their exp

ere," one of them said g

s calm, but the power in it made the air feel thick. "Do you

enough to make him shift uncomfortably. The man s

ugh the tension like a blade. She was dressed in an elegant black dress, her silver hair swe

ing on here?

. "Don't mind this idiot who thoug

e, her expression unre

eak, but Xander's voice

bri

t a ripple thr

. A murmur. A s

ed the conversation-one t

laced with something bitte

it before another voice joined the

s, Grandmother. M

heart clenched, and I felt tears wellin

er

staircase, his expression unreadable, but the

our rejected mate. But now she is mine.

. His blue eyes, so familiar yet

edged with something I couldn't quit

"Surprised to see me, Derek?" My voice wa

ted, but no w

dn't expect her to come back, did

that moment, I saw it-the realization

u were dead,"

. "Clearly

l, thick and

ath brushing against my ear as h

om

led uncomforta

whatever I had just walked

was no turn