KAIDEN'S POV
I woke before dawn, drenched in sweat.
Her name was still on my lips even though I hadn't spoken it aloud. Layla.
I had a dream about her last night. Her scent filled my lungs in an intoxicating way that ade me feel like I was going insane. Her voice had called out for me in the dark. It was soft and desperate, and her touch—gods, her touch—still burned along my chest as if it were real.
My wolf paced restlessly inside me. His growl echoed through my head. "Go to her. Now. Claim her. She's ours"
"No," I muttered aloud, dragging a hand down my damp face. "She's nothing. She's a lowly omega."
The wolf snapped his teeth at me. I could feel his fury radiating through my veins. Liar. You want her. You need her. I feel it. Don't fight me.
I shoved him back, gritting my teeth until my jaw ached. Control. I needed control.
Throwing off the sheets, I dragged myself out of bed. If I couldn't quiet my wolf, then I'd exhaust him. I'll punish the body until the mind went silent.
-
Later on, I trained harder than usual as I stood alone in the courtyard. Each kick I gave the dummy was filled with my denial. Each punch reminded that I was in charge—not him, not the bond. Sweat poured down my back and my muscles screamed as I pushed past the limits I should have respected.
But no matter how many times my fists met the wooden post, no matter how many drills I repeated, I could still see her face at the back of my mind.
Her lips. That kiss.
It had burned me alive.
"Damn it," I spat. I punched my fists into the post so hard the wood split.
By the time the sun was high, I buried myself in duties. Council meetings blurred together as men droned about borders, treaties, and taxes. I nodded, gave orders, dismissed them. Then I was on the patrol routes, checking in with guards, correcting weaknesses. After that, the warriors—drills, formations, sparring rotations. I left no room for rest, no room for thought.
And yet… she was everywhere.
During sparring, the slip happened.
I had taken on one of the younger warriors. He was cocky and eager to prove himself. Normally, I would have crushed him in seconds. But today— Her scent drifted across the training grounds. Her scent meant she was near and the thought of that alone distracted me. My head snapped toward it. For one fatal second, I wasn't here.
The boy slammed into me, nearly taking me down. Every warrior gasped in shock. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
I growled as I flipped him over with force, pinning him into the dirt. My blade hovered at his throat.
"Never get cocky," I growled.
He nodded, wide-eyed, before I shoved off him. I had won, but it hadn't been clean. And they all knew it.
Murmurs spread like wildfire through the warriors. I could feel their eyes. They were questioning, doubting.
Inside, my wolf roared. "Look at you. You're weak. Distracted. Pathetic. All because you won't claim what's ours"
I stormed away before I broke something—or someone.
And then Allora.
She had been hovering more openly, and today was no exception. She stood at the edge of the training grounds, clapping as I walked forward.
"Impressive as always, Alpha," she said with a smile. "Though you deserve better than betrayal."
My jaw tightened. "Leave it, Allora."
Her eyes sparkled "I only mean to remind you—you shouldn't waste loyalty on those who don't return it."
She let the words hang there.
I ignored her. instead, I barked fresh orders at the warriors. But the sting of her words disturbed me. I couldn't deny it.
Later, in my office, she appeared again, uinvited.
The excuse was thin. She said she was delivering reports that could have easily been handled by a servant. She was dressed in a gown that left little to the imagination. The silk clung to her too tightly and her cleavage was too exposed.
She leaned on my desk, close—too close.
"You've been working too hard, Kaiden," she murmured, trailing her fingers along my arm "You should let someone… ease your burden."
My body tensed. For a moment, I was tempted. This was an easier path. This was a woman willing. Not only that, she was noble. She was the type of woman I should be with as an Alpha. She was beautiful, uncomplicated.
But then my wolf snapped. Don't you dare. She's not ours. Layla is ours.
I shoved back from my desk, standing to my full height. "Enough, Allora. I don't want this. Or you."
Her smile faded and I could see the anger flashing in her eyes before she masked it. "You'll regret choosing her."
I dismissed her "Get out."
She left, but the tension stayed long after the door closed.
-
That night, I drank.
Goblet after goblet, but the burn did nothing to stop the storm inside me. My wolf prowled inside me. he was restless, relentless.
"She's all you think about because she's the only thing that matters. Stop fighting me. Stop fighting us"
"I can't trust her," I muttered into the empty room. "She'll ruin us."
Or save us, my wolf countered.
I slammed the goblet down and stood up. Every wall, every corridor of this palace was suffocating. And before I realized how, my steps carried me forward, down the hall, toward her.
Her chambers.
My hand hovered over the handle. My pulse raced in my ears. My rational mind screamed to turn back. But my wolf pushed "Go in. See her. Feel her"
I pushed the door open.
-
She was there, sitting by the window. The glow from the moonlight painted her skin like she was something celestial. Her hair fell down her shoulders. She looked exhausted.
When the door opened, she turned.
Her eyes met mine. Her eyes widened in surprise and something else, something I couldn't put my finger on.
I said nothing. I just stood there, staring. My chest was tight with anger, longing, confusion. My wolf shoved at me, snarling, urging me to close the distance, to take what was ours.
But I couldn't. I wouldn't. Not again.
The silence stretched until it became unbearable. I forced myself to turn. Maybe this was a mistake. What the hell was I doing here?
My hand reached for the door—
"Kaiden…"
Her voice stopped me cold. Her tone was soft and vulnerable.
I froze immediately. Every nerve of mine was on edge.
Then she whispered the words that undid me.
"I need you."