n. He barely noticed it. His mind was consumed by the devastating memories of the night his pack had been annihi

, the pain raw. And in the midst of it all stood Elara, the woman he was bound to. Her presence was like a shadow

torn by grief. The bond between them felt like a heavy chain around his neck, an ancho

tensity that unsettled him more than he cared to admit. She said nothing, and Kian didn't expect her to. He wasn't sure if he

a finally broke the silence, her voice cutting

, her tone almost gentle. "You've already lost ev

at he couldn't escape the truth no matter how hard he tried. He had lost everything, and now he

owled, his voice low and dangerous. "And I don't need it. I didn't ask to be boun

mask she wore made it impossible for Kian to decipher her true feelings. She was

we are, bound by forces neither of us can control. If we're going to

in desolation. His mind raced with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future pressing down

htening. I won't let myself rely on her.

wn in all of this. And now, you're here, tied to me, forced to stay by the very ene

gret-but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. She stepped forwar

it remained. "You think I wanted this? I didn't. I never did. But that doesn't change th

iewed Elara as an enemy-someone who had been forced upon him by the rival pack. But hearing

loss? You weren't the one who watched your pack burn. You weren't th

a whisper. "I've lost everything too, Kian. My family, my home. The pack I once belonged to. The bond between us-between me and the rival pack-it

ted her to be so... human. He had expected her to be cold, distant, perhaps even ruth

by her pain. But he couldn't help it. The fact that she had suffer

ferent. Almost peaceful. Kian's heart still burned with anger and grief, but something in him began to shift. Mayb

e was ready to forgive

ief moment before she spoke again, her voice steady b

you to forgive me. But I am asking you to fight with me. Because if we don

ound to a fate they hadn't chosen, forced into a partnership that neither of them wanted. But there was no denying t

his pack. His heart ached with every glance, but he knew one thing for certain: this wasn't over. Not yet.

"Fine," he muttered, his voice low. "But make no mistake, Elara. Th

sed a glimmer of understanding between them. A mutua

th Elara by his side, whether he liked it o