Chapter 10
The morning mist hung low over the forest edge, and Aria's senses were on high alert. Her wolf growled softly beneath her skin, restless and impatient. Kael had insisted on meeting her at the training grounds, a place that had once been her sanctuary from him—and now, it would become the stage for their collision.
She approached cautiously, keeping her gaze forward, pretending to focus on the trees, the dew, the quiet birdsong. But she knew he was already there, waiting. She could feel it before she saw him, the magnetic pull of his presence threading through her, twisting her stomach into knots she didn't want to admit existed.
"Aria."
His voice came from behind her, calm but loaded with dominance. She stiffened, unwilling to turn, unwilling to grant him the satisfaction of seeing her tremble.
"Why am I here?" she asked, not turning, keeping her tone as neutral as possible. "You know I don't want this."
"You need this," Kael replied, stepping closer, the soft crunch of his boots on the wet grass echoing in her ears. "Your wolf needs this. And whether you admit it or not, so do you."
Her jaw tightened, and she felt the familiar ache deep in her chest. She hated him, yes. But he was always right—every single time. He understood her in ways no one else did. The bond between them, unbidden and fierce, was a constant reminder that her independence was an illusion.
"I don't need you," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
Kael tilted his head, studying her. "You do. And sooner or later, you'll see that fighting me is like trying to fight your own shadow."
They walked in silence toward the open training field. The tension between them crackled in the air, charged and almost physical. Aria's wolf prowled, restless and curious, whispering things she didn't want to admit. Desire. Anger. Fear. All twisted together in an inescapable knot.
Kael stopped at the center of the field, turning to face her fully. His amber eyes burned into hers, unyielding, commanding. "Look at me, Aria. Really look at me. The bond doesn't lie. Your wolf doesn't lie. And neither do I."
She met his gaze, trembling, teeth clenched, heart hammering. "I don't care about the bond," she spat, trying to push the words out with conviction. "I don't care about you. I just… I just want to be left alone."
He stepped closer, unrelenting, his presence overwhelming. "You're mine, Aria. Not because I say so. Not because your wolf says so. Because it's true. And no amount of denial, anger, or distance will change it."
Her wolf growled beneath her skin, a reflection of the storm inside her. She wanted to scream, to run, to fight. And yet, her body betrayed her, drawn to him in ways that scared her. Every step he took toward her was an assault on her defiance, and yet a magnet to the fire building within her.
"You think I want this?" she whispered, barely audible, voice shaking. "You think I want to feel this… for you?"
Kael's lips curved into a faint, predatory smile. "I don't care what you think. I care what is. And what is… is that you can't fight this. You can't fight me. You're mine, Aria. Always."
Her breath hitched as his words sank deep into her, unrelenting and undeniable. The forest seemed to fade around them, leaving only the heat, the tension, the pull between them. The wolf growled, the heartbeat of her bond echoing through her veins.
"I hate you," she whispered again, tears threatening to spill, voice raw. "I hate that I need you. I hate that I want you. I hate this!"
Kael's hand reached out, brushing against her arm, gentle yet commanding. "Then love me," he murmured. "Hate me. Want me. Fear me. But never forget… you cannot resist me. And I would never let you go, even if you begged."
Her knees weakened, the fire inside her blazing uncontrollably. The tension, the desire, the forbidden attraction—they were impossible to deny any longer. She had resisted, she had fought, and she had clawed at her freedom. But standing here, inches from him, she realized that the bond wasn't something she could escape—it was something she had to navigate, something that would define her life whether she wanted it to or not.
Her wolf whined softly, impatient, agreeing with him in a way that made her stomach twist. She took a step back, trying to regain control, trying to breathe. "This… this changes nothing," she said, though her voice cracked under the weight of truth.
Kael closed the space between them again, unrelenting. "Everything changes, Aria. The moment our paths crossed, the moment our fates intertwined… everything changed. And it will continue to change until you accept it."
Her chest heaved, and for a moment, she allowed herself to simply breathe in the intensity of him—the pull, the fire, the undeniable claim he had on her. Hate, desire, fear, and longing collided violently, a storm she could no longer deny.
"I…" she began, voice trembling, "I don't know if I can…"
Kael's gaze softened slightly, though the heat never left his eyes. "You can. You will. And I'll be here. Always."
The wind swept through the trees, rustling leaves and carrying the tension between them like a tangible force. Aria's wolf growled softly, acknowledging the truth she had been resisting. The fire had been ignited, and no denial, no distance, and no defiance could put it out.
For the first time, she realized: she didn't want it to be put out.
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