Chapter 9 The Pull of Fate
When Elara the grand hall of the southern pack's manor ,it took her breath away.
Golden torches lined the high stone walls, their flames dancing across murals carved into legacy and blood generations of Alphas immortalized in stone. The scent of pine and old wood tangled with the dominant musk of leaders from every corner of the realm. Power crowded the air, thick enough to taste.
Elara remained near the balcony rail, hidden in the shadow with other omegas. Her wolf prowled beneath her skin, uneasy. Tonight was not a celebration of peace and unity. It was a gathering of powerful alpha to know their stand.
Below her, a cluster of Alphas had formed near the high table. Their voices were low, tight with command and caution. Elara focused, letting their words reach her. “Evermoon is finished.” The words struck harder than a blade.
“No,” another Alpha corrected quietly. “Evermoon is scattered. A few slipped through the smoke. But none are foolish enough to show their faces tonight.” A murmur of dark agreement. “They know they’d be hunted the moment they were recognized.”
“And rightly so,” one Alpha growled. “We still don’t know who dismantled that pack from the inside.” “Same way Ashborne fell,” someone muttered. Elara’s grip tightened on the railing. Ashborne. Nine years ago.
“It wasn’t war that killed either pack,” the silver haired Alpha said grimly. “It was betrayal. Someone opened the gates from within.”
Silence followed. “They’re saying Evermoon’s destruction mirrors Ashborne’s almost perfectly,” another added. “Same signs. Same pattern. " The same kind of monster, someone finished".
Elara shut her eyes briefly. She has listened to various rumors about the destruction of her pack but slowly it's now starts to make sense. Her wolf snarled inside her chest. The past clawed at her ribs. Then her body went still.
Not from sound. But from instinct. The room shifted. Her wolf’s ears flattened. Heat surged beneath her skin. Even her heart stuttered violently. Her mate was here. Kaelen. She didn’t have to see him but she had felt him. The bond snapped alive after nine years like a living wound being torn open all over again.
Elara’s breath hitched as her gaze lifted. And there he was. Kaelen stepped into the grand hall with the quiet authority of a man born to command. Broad-shouldered. Unbreakable. His dark coat curved around his powerful frame like armor. Firelight caught in his hair and sharpened the angles of his face.
The male she had loved as a brother once but he was the alpha she believed had destroyed her life. She definitely saw some of his warriors that fateful day.
Her mate. And the man she believed played a role in the murder of her family. Her wolf didn’t know whether to snarl or cry.
And worse… She still wanted him. Her hatred burned but her bond burned hotter and her desire uncontrollable. Kaelen paused, scanning the room. Then his eyes lifted. Straight to her. The bond snapped violently between them like a snapped chain recoiling.
His breath hitched visibly. His expression hardened. Then darkened. Then broke. Just enough to show recognition. Her. The entire world collapsed to that point of contact. Elara turned sharply and moved. She had to breathe or she may end up dead. She told liora she was leaving who raised her eyes filled with questions but she slipped away toward the open corridor leading into the moonlit garden beyond the hall.
Cool air brushed against her skin. Her pulse was out of control. She took one breath and other, then she saw him.
Kaelen was there. His hand struck the stone beside her head, caging her against the wall. The power in his presence hit her full force. Her knees almost gave out. “Why did you run from me?” he demanded low. His voice cut deep.
“You lost the right to ask me anything,” she hissed. His jaw flexed. “You’re my mate. Do you think I won't find you, if you hid here in a southern pack?"
The word hurt more than any blade. She pushed against his chest. “Then you should have died with my family.” His face went still.
Then shattered. “…You think I did this to you?” Her laughter was sharp and broken. “Who else?” she screamed. Her wolf wailed. Kaelen leaned closer, voice shaking. “I would have burned the world to save you.” She struck him. Hard. He barely flinched.
“I saw some of your warriors killing our pack, we opened the gate thinking we were friends, I think remember the shock on my father's face, Kaelen you were their that day but it wasn't because you wanted to save me. You came to wipe us out to take over our land which you couldn't, how could you do that to kael, he trusted you?”
Tears burned her eyes. “You were supposed to protect us!” His hand closed around her wrist not rough, not gentle. Desperate.
“I was searching for you when Ashborne fell.” Her heart thundered painfully. “Lies.”“ You felt the bond snap the night your pack burned,” he whispered. “You know it.” Her breath caught. Because she did. That night. The bond had screamed and gone cold all at once.
Yes it has , you should have tried to save at least one person, if you wanted to prove your innocence to me but you couldn't my father's entire legacy, my mom and brother... She then started weeping.
Emotion surged violently. Her body betrayed her again.She surged forward and kissed him. Fury melted into heat. Grief shattered into hunger. It wasn’t romance. It was collision. Kaelen stiffened in shock for half a breath. Then kissed her like he’d been dying without her.
His hand fisted in her hair. Her fingers dug into his chest. The bond roared. Her wolf howled. Then she ripped herself away.
The slap rang loud. Her entire body shook. “I hate you.” Kaelen swallowed slowly. “You don’t,” he said. “I wish I did,” she whispered. He stepped closer, but didn’t touch her. “Then let me prove you’re wrong.” Her eyes burned “You don’t get forgiveness.” His voice broke.
“Then give me war instead.” Their wolves snarled beneath the surface. The bond trembled. And somewhere deep beneath the pain… Fate began to tighten its grip.
