Chapter Seven!
I smiled grimly, my voice cold and steady as I whispered my reply into the bond.”
“Be home to accept my gift, Rowan. Your chances are gone.“”
I severed the connection, leaving only silence in its wake.”
The Pack disappeared into the distance, but this was far from over. A reckoning loomed–and this time, I would be the one holding all the power.
The wagon creaked as it rumbled along the uneven dirt path, carrying me farther from the pack’s territory and deeper into the uncharted wilderness. Each jolt felt like a tear in the mate bond I had shared with Rowan for two decades. My chest ached with the emptiness left behind.
I had chosen this. I wanted this. And yet, leaving everything familiar was a pain I hadn’t anticipated.”
Two decades. Twenty years of love, loyalty, and shared trials bound me to Rowan. He wasn’t just my mate–he was my anchor.
The signs of betrayal had been subtle at first–the faint change in his scent, the distance in his golden gaze, the hollow timbre of his laughter. Then came the unexplained absences, the lingering scent of another wolf on him. My heart broke anew every time I thought of
- it.
The wagon lurched to a stop, jolting me out of my spiraling thoughts. The driver turned, his gruff voice breaking the stillness. “We’re here, Calla. The borderlands.”
I climbed down from the wagon, the biting wind slicing through my thin cloak. The inn ahead was small and weathered, its wooden beams groaning under the weight of snow. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
The innkeeper greeted me with a kind smile and handed me a key. I climbed the narrow stairs to a cramped, drafty room. The bed was lumpy, and the walls were bare, but it was mine.”
I settled by the window, staring out at the unfamiliar landscape. The bond between Rowan and me was a persistent ache, like a phantom limb refusing to be forgotten.“]
As I lost myself in my thoughts, a loud knock at the door startled me.§
“Excuse me,” came a deep, unfamiliar voice.”
I hesitated, then opened the door cautiously. Standing before me was a tall man with piercing green eyes and a rugged, weathered appearance. His scent was unfamiliar, but there was a warmth to his expression that disarmed me.§
“I’m sorry to bother you,” he said, holding up a small parcel. “The innkeeper mentioned a lone traveler had arrived. I thought you might appreciate some extra provisions. This weather is brutal.“}
I blinked, surprised by his kindness. “Thank you,” I said cautiously, taking the parcel.
He extended a hand. “I’m Kael. Just passing through this area myself. It’s rare to see someone traveling alone here.”
“Calla,” I replied, giving the false name I’d chosen. “I’m… finding my own way.“>
His eyes lingered on me for a moment, as if he could sense the weight I carried. “Well, if you need anything, I’m in the room down the hall. It’s not safe to wander these parts alone.“}
With a nod, he turned and left, leaving me to stare after him.
The following day, I ventured out to explore the small village surrounding the inn. The air was cold and sharp, biting at my skin as I pulled my cloak tighter around me.§
As I wandered through the sparse market stalls, I felt eyes on me. My instincts flared, and I turned to see a group of rough–looking wolves watching me from the shadows. My heart raced as I quickened my pace.
“Calla,” a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Kael striding toward me, his presence instantly calming my nerves.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his gaze flicking to the wolves behind me.
“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice trembled slightly.
He didn’t press further, but his protective stance spoke volumes. Without a word, he fell into step beside me, his presence a shield against the unwelcome attention.”
As we walked back to the inn, I found myself relaxing in his company. Kael was easy to talk to, his voice steady and reassuring. He shared tales of his travels, his words painting vivid pictures of distant lands and daring adventures.
By the time we reached the inn, I realized I was smiling for the first time in weeks.
–
That evening, as I sat in the inn’s common room, nursing a warm cup of tea, Kael joined me. “Mind if I sit?” he asked, and I nodded.”
We talked for hours, the conversation flowing effortlessly. For the first time since leaving Rowan, I felt a glimmer of normalcy, a brief reprieve from the storm of emotions threatening to consume me.”
“You have a strength about you,” Kael said suddenly, his green eyes locking onto mine. “But I can see you’ve been hurt. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
His words struck a chord, and for a moment, I considered opening up to him. But the walls I had built around my heart were too
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strong, and I simply nodded.
As I retreated to my room that night, I couldn’t shake the thought of Kael. There was something about him–his kindness, his quiet strength–that drew me in. But I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
Not yet.
The next morning, a familiar scent stopped me in my tracks as I descended the stairs. My heart sank as I saw a rolled parchment waiting for me at the inn’s front desk.
Rowan.
The scent of his wolf clung to the paper, a painful reminder of the bond I was trying to escape. I opened it with trembling hands.
“Why did you leave? Come home, Seraphine. Let’s talk.”
I crumpled the parchment and threw it into the fire, watching as the flames devoured the words.
Kael appeared at my side, his presence steadying. “Is everything all right?“}
I hesitated, then nodded. “Just a ghost from my past.”
He didn’t press further, but the concern in his eyes lingered.
As I stepped into the wilderness once more, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my path had just grown more complicated.
Kael’s kindness was a balm to my wounded soul, but Rowan’s shadow loomed large.
For the first time, I wondered if the road ahead would force me to choose between the two.Д
Chapter Seven
