ELISE’S POV

For the rest of the day I was restless. I did whatever I could do to keep myself busy as I waited for night to arrive so I could go find him. Tonight I will end it. My wolf was angry and won't talk to me when she learnt of my decision.

But I wasn't letting her talk me out of this.

By the time I was done making dinner with the other Omegas, it was already dark outside. I knew I shouldn’t have gone back to the border.

Mia had warned me. Alpha Nolan had warned me. Even Kade himself had warned me.

But the bond pulled at me like a hook in my chest, dragging me back to the same place. I told myself it was because I wanted to find him and reject him, but deep down I knew that wasn't the only reason.

Maybe part of me hoped he’d be there waiting for me. Maybe part of me just wanted answers, or a fight. I didn’t know anymore. All I knew was that the ache in my heart felt worse the longer I stayed away from him.

The forest felt different tonight. Everywhere was more quiet. My wolf stirred inside me, uneasy as I walked further into the woods.

"Elise you need to go back" she whispered.

But stubbornness kept me walking.

I reached the border clearing, the place where Kade had stood last night. My chest tightened painfully at the memory of his cold eyes and his harsh words from last night and this morning. And the single heartbeat when he actually showed humanity.

I should hate him. I did hate him.

But the bond didn’t care about that.

A low growl suddenly echoed through the trees, causing me to freeze. My heartbeat picked up as I turned around slowly. Two figures stepped out of the shadows. Their scent wasn't that of Bloodfang, and it wasn't Silvermoon, either. That was when it dawned on me. Rogues.

Their fur was dirty, with patches missing. Their eyes glowed yellow in the dark, looking hungry and wild.

“Well, look what we have here,” one rasped, shifting into his human form. His voice was rough, his teeth sharp even when he smiled.

“An Omega wandering all alone,” the other sneered. “Pretty little thing, too.”

My heart pounded so loudly I thought they’d hear it.

“Stay back,” I warned, even though my voice shook, but they only laughed.

“What’s an Omega going to do?” the first rogue mocked, stepping closer. “Cry for help?”

My wolf snarled inside me, pushing forward. My bones burned as I shifted, fur bursting over my skin. I dropped onto four paws, baring my teeth.

“Let’s see how long she lasts,” One of them growled and then they lunged.

I darted to the side, my claws scraping dirt. My wolf was a little faster than most Omegas, but I was still weak and much smaller than any regular wolf. We dodged the first snap of jaws, then raked our claws across the rogue’s flank. He howled in pain but didn’t stop.

The second rogue slammed into my side, knocking the breath from my lungs. I rolled, claws slashing wildly, but he pinned me down, jaws snapping inches from my throat.

Fear froze my limbs. I could feel his hot breath on my neck. My wolf whimpered and I tried to twist free, but his weight crushed my ribs, preventing me from moving.

Then just when I thought it was over, a loud, angry roar resounded in the night. The rogue on top of me froze, and before it could react, he was ripped away like a leaf in the wind. Through dazed eyes, I saw black fur and silver eyes glowing with fury. Kade. He was here.

His wolf was bigger than both rogues combined, and I could see muscles rippling under his fur. His jaws clamped around the rogue’s neck, shaking once and the rogue fell limp, blood staining the ground.

The second rogue tried to flee, but Kade was on him in seconds, tearing into his side. The rogue yelped, struggling, but it was useless.

I forced myself to my paws, my chest still heaving from the fight and my blood pounding in my ears.

It was over in moments. The rogues lay broken and still on the forest floor, neither looking like they could move anytime soon.

Kade’s wolf turned to me, and his silver eyes locked onto mine, burning with anger. Bones cracked as he shifted back into human form. Even now, covered in blood, he looked terrifying.

“What part of ‘stay away’ do you not understand?!” he snarled, his voice low and deadly.

I tried to speak but my voice failed, reminding me that I was in wolf form. I shifted back too, falling to my knees, shaking from pain and fear. “I didn’t know they’d be here.”

“That’s the point!” he barked. “This border isn’t safe, Elise. Rogues hunt here.” His grey eyes locked onto mine, still stormy with anger. “You didn’t listen,” he said.

“You didn’t either,” I shot back. “You’re on my pack’s land again.”

“Because you’re too stubborn to stay away from danger,” he growled.

“I don’t need you to follow me like some guard dog,” I snapped. My hands curled into fists. “I can take care of myself.”

“You nearly died tonight!” His voice cracked, loud enough to scare birds from the trees. “You think that proves you’re strong?”

I flinched at the volume, but lifted my chin stubbornly. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

His eyes darkened, jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might crack. “You don’t get it, do you?” he hissed. “This isn’t about what you want. The bond makes me feel it. Your fear, your pain, it claws at me until I can’t think.”

“Why do you care?” I shot back angrily. “You hate me, remember?”

He stepped closer, eyes flashing dangerously. “That doesn’t matter! You’re mine!"

“I’m not yours!” I shouted. “You rejected me!”

“But the bond hasn’t broken,” he hissed. His chest rose and fell, and his muscles were tense as if he was holding himself back. “Until it does, your blood is my responsibility. So learn to do as you're told, Elise."

My wolf whimpered softly inside me, confused. Part of me wanted to run from him. Another part wanted to collapse into his arms.

“I didn’t ask for your protection,” I said quietly. “I can take care of myself.”

His gaze softened for half a heartbeat before it hardened again. “You mean like you just took care of yourself back there?!” he growled, glancing at the dead rogues.

Anger flared in my chest and I glared at him. “Don’t talk to me like I’m helpless.”

“You are helpless!” he growled. “You’re an Omega wandering alone at night near hostile borders. O don't know what the moon goddess was thinking, you're just completely hopeless!”

“Then reject me!” I shouted, tears burning my eyes. “End it! Break the bond so you don’t have to protect me!”

His jaw clenched. "I told you, I can’t!”

“Why?” My voice broke. “If you hate me so much, why can’t you say the words?”

His eyes burned into mine. “Because every time I try, something stops me,” he ground out. “My wolf won’t let me.”

The words hit me like a punch and my heart twisted painfully.

“Then you’re weak,” I spat, even though part of me knew it wasn’t true. “You’re the mighty Alpha everyone fears, but you can’t say a few words?”

His face twisted, rage flashing in his eyes. “Don’t test me, Elise.”

“Or what?” My voice rose, shaking. “You’ll kill me? Go ahead. At least then this would be over.”

“Don’t say that!” he roared. His voice echoing through the clearing.

“You don’t want me,” I whispered. “But your wolf does.”

He didn't answer but he didn't need to. His silence was answer enough.

Pain pooled in my chest and I laughed bitterly. “That’s cruel, Kade. Keeping me tied to you because you’re too stubborn to finish it.”

“I’m not keeping you,” he shot back. “You can reject me too. Don't pretend this isn't your fault too!.”

“I can’t!” My voice cracked, raw from shouting. “My wolf won’t let me either.”

We stared at each other, breathing hard, caught between hate and something far more dangerous.

Kade stepped closer, so close I could see the pulse in his neck.

“I don’t want this bond,” he said, voice low and hoarse. “It makes me weak.”

“It makes me hurt,” I whispered.

His hand lifted, as if he wanted to touch me then stopped, his fingers curling into a fist. “Stay away from the border. I won’t always be there to save you.”

“I didn’t ask you to,” I shot back at him.

He turned away, muscles tense. “Go home, Elise.”

For a moment, I almost reached for him.

To ask why it hurt him too.

To ask why he didn’t finish it, even when it would make things easier.

But I stayed silent. The words died on my tongue. I completely forgot I had come here to reject him until he was gone.

I was heading home when I met Mia on the way. "Why on earth do you keep disappearing like that, Elise?! I've been looking all over for you!"

“I’m fine,” I whispered, but my voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.

She saw the blood on my skin and the bruises forming on my ribs and she frowned. “You’re not fine. What happened?”

“Rogues,” I said quietly. “Kade… he saved me.”

Mia’s face twisted with worry and anger. “Elise, this bond is going to destroy you.”

“Maybe,” I whispered. “But it’s not just me, Mia. It’s hurting him too.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I saw it,” I said softly. “In his eyes. He hates it. But he can’t break it either.”

Even as I sat there speaking to Mia, my thoughts kept wondering. And for the first time, I wondered if the greatest danger wasn’t the rogues or the enmity between our packs…

But what might happen if we stopped fighting the bond.