The horn sounded across the valley, sharp, urgent, a warning that made my blood run cold. I froze, heart hammering, and instinctively touched the mark on my neck. Its pulse thrummed faster, warning me too.
Lucien's eyes darkened as he scanned the horizon. "They know," he said quietly. "Your presence has been detected. And they're not coming for you yet… but soon."
I swallowed. "Who? Another pack?"
"No," he said, voice low. "Something worse."
Before I could ask more, movement appeared at the forest edge. Kaiden. Alone—or so it seemed at first. His broad silhouette was flanked by shadows that hinted at warriors hidden among the trees. His gray eyes locked onto mine. Possession. Warning. Challenge.
"You're walking a dangerous path," he said softly. His voice carried weight, authority, and something I couldn't name—a spark that made my pulse twist.
"I'm not walking," I whispered, chest tight. "I'm surviving."
Kaiden's eyes narrowed, a flash of frustration crossing his face. "Surviving is not enough. Not when your power exists… and not when it's mine to claim."
My mark flared violently beneath my skin, responding to the intensity in the air. "I'm not yours. Not now. Not ever."
He studied me like I was a puzzle. A dangerous puzzle. "Interesting," he murmured. "You've changed. The Omega I rejected… she's gone."
I held my ground, breathing steady despite the fear and the strange pull I felt toward him. Lucien's hand brushed my shoulder briefly, grounding me. "Control your emotions," he said softly. "Your power is not just energy—it's influence. Let it speak for you, not against you."
Kaiden took a slow step closer, wolves behind him shifting uneasily. "You could be unstoppable," he said, almost quietly, yet the words echoed across the clearing. "If you chose me."
I flinched, my chest tightening with a mix of anger, fear, and something darker. "I choose myself," I replied, letting the words carry authority, letting the mark flare brighter as if to emphasize them.
Kaiden's jaw tightened, but he didn't retreat. Instead, his gaze lingered, calculating, measuring the force I had become. "Very well," he said finally, voice low, "but do not think your independence will last forever."
The wind carried his words like a threat. And for the first time, I realized the real danger wasn't just the approaching packs or rogue hunters—it was the Alpha I'd once been tied to, watching, waiting, and unwilling to let go.