Kaiden didn't move closer this time. He stayed at the forest edge, silent, gray eyes locked on me. Every movement I made, every breath, seemed to interest him.
"Why doesn't he attack?" I whispered.
"Because he's observing," Lucien said. "Studying your patterns, your reactions. Kaiden's not the kind to act blindly—he wants proof, control… understanding."
My chest tightened. Proof of what? That I could survive? That I could defy him? Or that I was dangerous enough to claim?
Kaiden's wolf stirred beneath his skin, subtle but unmistakable. His presence radiated tension, and I felt my own energy respond, mark flaring faintly as if acknowledging his.
"You've changed," Kaiden said finally, voice low, carrying through the valley. "The Omega I rejected… she's no longer weak."
I swallowed, jaw tightening. "I'm not yours to judge."
His lips pressed into a thin line. "Not yet," he said, almost quietly. "But every choice you make… every act of defiance… teaches me how to claim what's mine—or lose it."
The words made my stomach twist. Claim? Mine? I didn't belong to him anymore. Not physically, not emotionally, not mentally.
Lucien stepped forward, gaze sharp. "Ignore him. Focus on control. The mark isn't just power. It's influence."
I nodded, letting my focus sharpen. Suddenly, another horn sounded—this one closer, sharper. Distant packs, alerted. Kaiden's ears flicked back instinctively, wolf growling low.
"This is only the beginning," he murmured. "The real test… is survival against more than rogues. Against choices you don't yet understand."
I felt the pulse of the mark, warm and alive, ready. I realized then: Kaiden's game wasn't physical. It was mental, emotional, strategic. And I couldn't afford mistakes.