The air still felt heavy long after the voice disappeared.
Like something unseen was watching.
Waiting.
Planning.
"He's coming."
Those were the last words I said, and even now, they echoed in my chest like a warning I couldn't ignore.
The Alpha King didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the dark horizon, his expression unreadable—but his aura?
It had changed.
Stronger.
Colder.
Deadlier.
"Then we don't wait for him," he said finally.
I turned to him.
"What do you mean?"
His golden eyes met mine, sharp and decisive.
"We prepare you."
Something in his tone made my chest tighten.
Not fear.
Anticipation.
"I'm already strong," I said, lifting my chin slightly.
"I fought them. I transformed."
"Yes," he agreed calmly.
"But you have no control."
That hit harder than I expected.
"You don't understand your power," he continued. "You don't know its limits… or its consequences."
I clenched my jaw.
"I'll learn."
"You will," he said.
A pause.
"With me."
We moved away from the others again—this time toward a secluded clearing deep within the territory.
The moon hung high above us, casting silver light across the ground.
Everything felt… different here.
Quieter.
Focused.
"This is where I train," he said.
I looked around.
The ground was marked with deep claw scratches, broken stones, and faint traces of old battles.
Power lingered in the air.
"Perfect," I muttered.
He turned to face me fully.
"Shift."
Just like that.
No warning.
No buildup.
I blinked.
"Now?"
"Now."
I hesitated.
Not because I was afraid.
But because…
"I don't know how to do it on command."
His gaze didn't soften.
"Then figure it out."
Something inside me snapped slightly at his tone.
"I'm not one of your soldiers," I snapped back.
"And I'm not asking you to be," he replied evenly.
We stood there, tension rising between us.
"I just found out I'm some 'royal bloodline' you didn't even tell me about," I continued, frustration spilling out. "I'm hearing voices in my head, getting attacked by monsters, and now you expect me to just—what? Perform on command?!"
Silence.
For a moment… I thought I crossed the line.
But then—
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"You think I don't understand pressure?" he said quietly.
My breath hitched slightly.
"I was born into it," he continued. "Every decision I make determines whether people live… or die."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried weight.
Experience.
Burden.
"And right now," he added, his gaze locking onto mine, "you are the difference between survival… and destruction."
That shut me up.
Not because I was afraid of him.
But because I could feel the truth in his words.
A long silence stretched between us.
Then—
"Fine," I said quietly.
I closed my eyes.
I reached inward.
To her.
My wolf.
"I need you," I whispered internally.
For a moment…
Nothing.
Then—
"You always did."
Power surged through me instantly.
Stronger than before.
Faster.
Wilder.
Pain followed.
Sharp.
Intense.
But this time…
I didn't fight it.
I embraced it.
My body shifted—bones cracking, muscles reforming, senses exploding.
And then—
I was there.
Standing before him in my wolf form.
Silver and gold.
Radiating power.
The Alpha King didn't move.
But I saw it.
That flicker in his eyes.
Approval.
"Good," he said.
But he wasn't done.
"Now attack me."
My head snapped up.
"What?!"
"Attack me," he repeated.
My wolf growled low.
"Finally."
"No—wait," I said, trying to regain control. "You want me to fight you?!"
"Yes."
"That's insane!"
"If you can't fight me," he said calmly, "you can't fight what's coming."
I hesitated.
Then—
My wolf moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
I lunged at him without warning.
But he was ready.
He shifted instantly.
A massive black wolf stood before me—larger, stronger, radiating pure dominance.
Our bodies collided mid-air.
Power slammed into power.
I hit the ground hard—but rolled quickly, recovering.
He didn't give me time to think.
He attacked again.
Faster than before.
I barely dodged, his claws grazing my side.
Pain flared.
But instead of fear—
Something else rose.
Excitement.
I growled and charged again.
This time—
I fought back.
Claw met claw.
Teeth snapped.
Bodies moved like lightning.
But no matter how fast I was…
He was faster.
No matter how strong I felt…
He was stronger.
Within minutes—
I was pinned.
His massive form held me down, his teeth just inches from my throat.
"Yield," he commanded.
My wolf snarled.
"Never."
I pushed against him.
Struggled.
Fought.
But he didn't budge.
"Yield," he repeated.
"No," I growled back.
For a moment—
Everything went still.
Then—
Something changed.
A new surge of power exploded from within me.
Stronger than before.
Wilder.
Uncontrolled.
The ground beneath us cracked.
The Alpha King's eyes widened slightly.
"What—"
I broke free.
Not by force.
By power.
Pure.
Raw.
Overwhelming.
I stood, my body glowing faintly, energy radiating off me like a storm.
My wolf's voice echoed louder than ever.
"We are not meant to kneel."
The Alpha King slowly stepped back, watching me carefully.
Not afraid.
But cautious.
"Good," he said again, his voice deeper now.
But there was something else in it.
Respect.
And something more dangerous.
Interest.
I shifted back slowly, my body trembling slightly from the energy.
"You were holding back," I accused.
"Of course," he replied.
That annoyed me.
"I'm not weak."
"I know," he said.
A pause.
"You're dangerous."
My breath caught slightly.
Not because of the words.
But because of the way he said it.
Like it wasn't a warning.
But a fact he admired.
We stood there, the tension between us shifting into something else.
Something heavier.
Something neither of us fully understood yet.
Then—
He stepped closer again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And this time…
I didn't step back.
"You felt it, didn't you?" he asked quietly.
"The power."
I nodded.
"It's like it has a mind of its own," I admitted.
"It does," he said.
My eyes lifted to his.
"And if you don't control it…"
A pause.
"It will consume you."
A chill ran down my spine.
But before I could respond—
My wolf whispered again.
"Not just power…"
I frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
But then—
I felt it.
A different kind of pull.
Not power.
Not danger.
Something else.
Something… between us.
I looked at him.
And realized—
He felt it too.
His gaze darkened slightly.
"This bond…" he murmured.
My heart started racing.
"What is it?" I asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"It's not just the mark."
My breath caught.
"Then what is it?"
He stepped even closer.
Close enough that I could feel his breath.
"Something far more dangerous."
A pause.
His voice dropped lower.
"Something neither of us can break."
My heart pounded violently now.
"Which is…?"
He held my gaze.
And said the one thing I wasn't ready to hear.
"A mate bond."
Everything stopped.
My thoughts.
My breath.
My heartbeat.
Because that was impossible.
Wasn't it?