Alexandra's Point of View
Run!
Again, that thought just exploded in my head. Plain, animal panic. But my feet? They were glued to the spot. I couldn't move.
The rogues were closing in, growling up a storm. You could smell the stink of blood and rot all around. Seriously gross.
I balled my hands into fists. I could still feel that power buzzing under my skin, that weird darkness that woke up in me the other day.
Adrian was the first to make a move.
Quick as you like, he pulls a dagger from his belt. He looked so calm, almost like he was enjoying himself.
Stay behind me, he told me, quiet.
I didn't move.
I Couldn't.
Those shadows were still swirling around me, like they were alive and waiting for something.
The main rogue charged.
Adrian jumped to meet him half way. His dagger flashed as he cut the wolf across the throat. Blood went flying. Before the body even hit the ground, another rogue jumped in.
I took a step back, breathing hard.
Adrian was something else—fast, deadly, no messing about. He fought like he meant it, every move doing damage, every strike a kill.
But more of the rogues kept coming, one after another.
And then…
One of them stopped to look at me.
My heart about jumped out of my chest.
It wasn't attacking, just watching me.
Like it was studying me, waiting for something to happen.
My stomach did a slow, sickening flip.
They weren't after Adrian after all.
They wanted me.
Before I could even think, the rogue lunged—fast, too fast.
My body just took over, and I threw up my hands. The shadows shot out like they had a mind of their own.
The rogue was in the air when the darkness grabbed him, wrapping around his throat and slamming him into the dirt so hard I heard a crack.
Then, nothing.
A voice, sharp, and so familiar.
Well, well.
My stomach sank.
I knew that voice.
Like I knew the feeling of a blade on my skin.
Lucien stepped into the clearing.
My body just froze.
He looked the same. Too the same. Sharp face, chilling eyes, and that little smirk that never reached them.
But now there was something else, too.
Something darker than I remembered.
He scanned the scene. The dead rogues, the shadows still dancing around my fingers.
Then he smiled.
Look at you, he said, so quiet. Finally waking up.
I shivered.
I wanted to say something. Tell him to get lost, or ask a million questions.
But the shadows pulsed, and Lucien's smile got wider.
He wasn't scared.
He was happy.
Like this was exactly what he was waiting.
And that scared me more than anything.
The air was thick and heavy, like right before a storm.
Lucien took a step forward. His boots didn't even make a sound on the blood-soaked ground. He didn't even look at the dead rogues. He only had eyes for me.
Impressive, he said, so quiet. I almost thought you wouldn't make it after rejection. But here you are.
The way he said it made me want to crawl out of my skin.
Like he'd been betting on me falling apart.
Adrian moved in front of me fast, his dagger still covered in blood. You're not welcome here, Graves.
Lucien lifted his head, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. Neither are you, Wolfe. Or did you forget this is my land?
Adrian's jaw tightened, but he stood his ground.
Lucien's eyes snapped back to me. You feel it, don't you?" He sounded almost soft, convincing me. "The change inside you. The power.
I stayed silent.
Because I did feel it.
It was like the invisible grinding under my skin, that weird energy that came alive when I was rejected. It saved me. It protected me.
But I didn't get it.
And I was terrified.
Lucien took another step closer. You were never meant to be just someone's mate, Alexandra.
The way he said my name twisted something sharp in my chest.
Ethan used to say my name like he was making a promise.
Adrian said it was a challenge.
But Lucien—
Lucien said it like it meant something.
His eyes burned into mine, and I couldn't catch my breath.
Then—
A gust of wind blew through the clearing, bringing a new scent.
Familiar, dangerous.
Ethan
My pulse skipped a beat.
Lucien saw it. His smile deepened.
Ah, he said, thoughtful. So he's finally trying to take back what he threw away.
Adrian turned, catching the scent a second later. He was rock solid. This isn't finished, he said, his voice low, before stepping back.
Lucien chuckled. It never is.
Then, he slipped back into the shadows.
I didn't even have time to think when a figure walked out of the trees.
Ethan.
My breath caught in my throat.
He looked the same.
The same sharp features, those gold eyes. But he had changed.
There was darkness in his face. He moved like he was ready to fight.
He looked straight at me.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then, he took a step toward me.
Alexandra.
How he said my name hurt.
I stood straight, not looking away. "You shouldn't be here."
Something flashed over his face. I couldn't read it. "Neither should you.
I glared at him. "Excuse me?"
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You don't understand."
"Then you need to tell me," I snapped. "Because I'm standing here, and it looks like you rejected me, and now you care where I am?"
He clenched his jaw. "I didn't want to reject you.
Those words hit me like a punch.
I couldn't move for a second.
Then, I laughed. Short and ugly. "Sure. You just did it because it made you feel happy, right?
Ethan's eyes darkened. "You don't know what you are, Alexandra.
I felt cold inside.
"What are you talking about?
He hesitated.
And in that moment, I knew he was keeping something from me.
He knew something.
And I didn't.
My heart pounded. Ethan.
His gaze flickered.
Then, quiet—like it hurt him to say it—
You were never meant to be just my mate.
I felt like I was going to fall.
That broke everything I thought I knew.
Because if I wasn't meant to be his...
Then what was I?
The wind howled through the trees.
And at that moment, I really felt it—
The weight of what I was meant to do, something I didn't even ask for.