Kara's POV
Panic.,
I fled the house where the strange woman was killed mysteriously. I no longer felt safe there, but I could feel the panic rising in my chest as I walked by the bush path. The mark on my son, what did it mean? Why did he have it? Before I could process it, a rustling sound snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Who's there?" I hissed, my heart pounding.
A figure stepped forward. It was him. The young man. He was still here, still determined to help me, but the tension between us was thick.
"They're looking for you, Kara," he said urgently. "You can't stay here. You need to leave."
I shook my head, my voice unsteady. "I can't just run. I have to protect Hilda. He's not just any child. He's everything. He's the key."
"I know," he said, his voice low. "But you don't understand. Your son isn't just an heir. That mark? It ties him to something much older... something dangerous."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I glanced down at Hilda, the weight of what he said sinking in. "What does it mean? What happens if they find out about him?"
"They'll destroy him," the young man said flatly. "And you. If they catch us now, it's over."
I gripped Hilda tighter, my mind racing. "I can't let that happen. I can't let them take him." I stopped myself, but the truth was there, heavy in the air. He wasn't just my son, he was the future. My future.
"We don't have time for this," the young man said, his voice sharp. "Zara's coming. She won't stop until she has everything. Kaden's too weak to help you now."
I shot him a look. "No. Kaden will fight. He will." My words faltered, but the determination in my chest wouldn't let me back down.
"You're not getting it," he said, his tone hardening. "Zara's grip is tightening. And even if Kaden rises, it might be too late."
The growl cut through the air, sudden and sharp. My heart skipped.
"Go," he hissed, grabbing my arm. "Now."
I froze. "I can't just keep running. I have to face this. I won't let Zara,"
"You don't have a choice!" His voice cracked with urgency. "Zara's coming. The kingdom's falling. Your son's fate, your fate, it's all riding on what you do next. Fight, or let them crush everything."
The growl came again. Closer. My breath hitched.
"You have one chance, Kara. One shot. What will you do?" His grip tightened on my arm, his eyes locked on mine, forcing me to make a choice.
I swallowed hard, my pulse thundering in my ears. "I'll fight," I whispered, my voice steady. "For him. For us."
The young man nodded, his expression hardening. "Then let's show them we're not backing down."
Lira's POV
"Where is he, Lira?" one of the guards asked again. The voice was harsh, demanding, and it cut through the air like a knife. "We know you know where the Alpha is hiding!" The guard's grip tightened on my arm as they dragged me down the dimly lit corridor.
I kept my eyes steady, but my heart was pounding in my chest. "I don't know anything," I growled, though the lie felt sour on my tongue. The fear twisting inside me was hard to ignore.
One of the guards smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. "We know you're lying. You're not fooling anyone. Tell us now, or we'll make you talk."
They shoved me into the room and walked away. Unknown to them, this was the very room where Kaden was hidden. My knees buckled slightly as I stumbled, and my heart raced. My eyes locked onto him instantly. Kaden, the Alpha, weak and motionless on the bed. I had to force myself to look away. The sight of him, so helpless, stirred a flood of memories from a time long ago.
Flashback ..,
The memory hit me like a punch to the gut, dragging me back to a time I couldn't forget.
The battle had been brutal. The sounds of clashing swords, the howling of wolves, they all mixed together, a chaotic mess. I had been left on the ground, bloodied and broken, my pack all around me, dead. Abandoned. Left to die.
Then, he appeared.
Through the chaos, Kaden cut through everything like he was made for this. His eyes met mine, his gaze steady and piercing.
"What's your name?" His voice was strong, yet somehow gentle.
"Lira," I managed to rasp, barely able to lift my head. "I've lost everything... my pack..."
Without a word, Kaden knelt beside me, his eyes scanning my wounds, his hands surprisingly gentle as they brushed over my torn skin. "You're not dead yet," he said, his voice firm. "Come with me. I'll take care of you."
I didn't argue. I couldn't. He lifted me in his arms like I was weightless, carrying me back to his camp. He never asked about my past. He didn't push me to speak. For the first time in days, I felt safe.
I blinked, snapping back to the present. My heart weighed heavy as I looked at Kaden now, lying weak and unconscious before me. I had grown strong under his care. I had healed. I had learned. And, over time, we became something more. Something unspoken but undeniable.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice trembling with the weight of the gratitude I couldn't quite put into words. "You saved me, Kaden. I owe you everything."
Kaden's eyes softened, and I felt the pull of something deeper. "You don't owe me anything," he said gently. But there was something else in his gaze. Something more. "You've become more than just a survivor, Lira. You've become... my mate."
I met his eyes, searching for the truth behind his words. "You're asking me... to stay with you?"
He smiled softly, a warmth in his eyes I hadn't seen before. "Yes. I need you by my side."
From that moment, everything changed. Our bond deepened, and I came to love him in ways I never expected. We married, our lives intertwining. But even with all that love, there was still something missing: a son.
But no matter what, our bond never broke. We fought together, side by side.
My thoughts snapped back to the present as I looked at Kaden, still lying unconscious in front of me. A heavy weight settled over my chest. I whispered to him, even though I knew he couldn't hear. "I'll never betray you, Kaden."
My heart hurt with the weight of the choices I had made. "I will do whatever it takes to protect you."
Suddenly, the sound of a guard's voice broke me from my thoughts.
"What's going on, Lira?" one of them demanded, his voice rough and accusatory. "You're still hiding something, aren't you?"
Without thinking, my instincts took over. I moved quickly, walking to the window. My hand reached out, and I let out a loud, piercing "Woo-woo-woo!" The sound echoed into the night, reaching the kingdom beyond. I let it ring out three times, knowing it would carry my message to my.....bloodline.