distance, but she could feel his presence lingering in the corners of her mind, a haunting reminder of the choices she hadn't

r of curiosity that she couldn't extinguish. She spent hours wandering the room, looking out the window, observing the vast expanse of the forest beyond the grounds. The trees stood tall an

ew books to read. They would sit together, and though Mara's presence wa

as they settled into the small sitting area by the fi

st a bit. "Just trying to keep myself busy. It's a lot

ou should talk to Kael. He doesn't mean any har

what we're calling it? Because I'd call it k

e searching. "You have a choice, Elena. He's giv

ue, to refute Mara's claim, but she couldn't deny the truth in her friend's words. Sh

lly, the truth settling heavily on her chest. "This p

happening here, what Kael is offering. You may not see it now, but he's tryin

ss creeping into her tone. "From wha

d outside these walls that you can't understand. Kael is caught in a war, one that you don

n that she was being misled. But there was nothing but earnest concern

"You may not see it yet, but you're his mate. That bond means somet

e things she wanted to reject. "You don't know that," she replied, her voice t

story you read about in a book. This is his life, and he's been forced in

er from seeping into her voice. "He's the one w

hat's really going on. You're not a prisoner, Elena. You're

but the words faded away as uncertainty gripped her. Could she truly co

inside, a storm of emotions swirling in his gaze. "Mara," he ack

g, part encouragement, then stood and left

here thickening with an unspoken tension. "I know you'

rying to mask her apprehension.

easing his brow. "It's not like

f. "By convincing me that I'm meant to be here? That

frustration. "I don't expect you to accept anything. But I want you

keep the bite from her tone. "That I'll become you

ll wrong. I don't want to own you, Elena. I want to prot

, making her stomach twist. "Us?" she echoed, alm

distance between them. "Let me show you what we could be, what t

ng her head. "You expect me to

t survival, about keeping you safe from those who would see you harmed because of your connection to me.

challenged, her heart racing as he ste

in his eyes. "Then I won't stop you," he replied, his voice quiet, almost pai

and for a brief moment, she saw the truth of his

, her voice softer, more vulnerable than sh

right words. "I want you to choose me. To choose this, whatever this i

f emotions swirling between them. She could see the truth in his gaze, th

to open herself to a world of un

, her heart racing. "

ny space between them. "Let me show you. Let me prove that I'm

the unspoken connection growing stronger,