CHAPTER THREE — The Bond That Burned

The forest felt different after he arrived.

He stood there like he belonged to the land itself unmoving, powerful, impossible to ignore. The air around him hummed with something ancient, something that made my skin prickle and my heartbeat stumble over itself.

I hated it.

I hated the way my chest tightened when he looked at me.

I hated the way my wolf stirred for the first time in my life, stretching awake like she had been waiting for him.

And most of all, I hated the way his presence made everything else fade.

Rohan cleared his throat beside me, breaking the suffocating silence. “You should go,” he said sharply to his brother.

The words surprised me. Rohan rarely challenged anyone, especially not him.

Jake, Alpha Jake, I reminded myself turned slowly, his sharp gaze sliding from my face to Rohan’s. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“This isn’t your place,” Rohan snapped. “You came for me. Not her.”

My heart thudded painfully. Not her. The words stung more than they should have.

Jake’s eyes flicked back to mine, something unreadable flashing across his expression. Curiosity. Frustration. Hunger.

“She’s exactly why I’m here now,” he said quietly.

A tremor ran through me.

Rohan stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body. “Leave her alone.”

I should have been grateful.

Instead, something twisted inside my chest.

I hated feeling small. Hidden. Like something fragile that needed protection.

“I can speak for myself,” I said, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound strong.

Both of them turned to look at me.

Jake’s gaze sharpened. Rohan’s softened.

“I didn’t ask for this,” I continued, lifting my chin. “I didn’t ask for any of you to show up and turn my world upside down.”

Silence pressed down on us.

Jake studied me with an intensity that made my breath hitch. “You felt it too,” he said quietly.

I swallowed. “Felt what?”

“The bond,” he said simply.

The word echoed in my head like a curse.

I shook my head. “No. Whatever you think you felt it’s wrong.”

His jaw clenched. “You’re lying.”

The truth was etched into every inch of my body. My heart raced when he was near. My wolf stirred, aching, restless, reaching for something she’d never known before.

But admitting it felt like surrender.

“I don’t want it,” I said. “I don’t want you.”

Something dark flickered in his eyes, quickly masked. “You don’t get to choose whether it exists.”

Rage flared, sudden and hot. “Then choose to reject me,” I shot back. “If you’re so powerful, do it. Reject me and let me live my life.”

The forest went unnervingly still.

Rohan stiffened. “Bella”

Jake’s jaw tightened, his fists curling at his sides. “You have no idea what you’re asking.”

“Then explain it to me!” My voice cracked. “Explain why my chest hurts every time you look at me. Explain why I feel like I’m losing myself.”

For a moment, something vulnerable crossed his face.

“You’re my mate,” he said quietly. “And rejecting you would rip my wolf apart.”

“So I’m just a burden to you?” I demanded. “Another weakness you have to carry?”

He took a step toward me before stopping himself. “You’re not a weakness.”

“Then what am I?”

His voice dropped, raw and honest. “You’re my undoing.”

The words hit harder than any insult ever could.

I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. “I never asked for this.”

“I know,” he said. “But neither did I.”

Silence fell again, thick and suffocating.

Rohan looked between us, his jaw tight. “Brother, this is wrong. She’s not ready. You’re terrifying her.”

“I would never hurt her,” Jake snapped.

“You already are,” Rohan shot back.

Something inside me snapped then.

“I’m not some fragile thing you get to argue over!” I cried. “I didn’t ask to be born an omega. I didn’t ask to be rejected by my family. And I certainly didn’t ask to be bound to an Alpha who looks at me like I’m a problem to be solved.”

Jake flinched.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “But I can’t pretend the bond isn’t there.”

“Then go,” I whispered. “If you care at all… go.”

His gaze searched mine, desperation flickering beneath his composure. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do,” I lied. “I need space. I need to breathe without feeling like my chest is on fire.”

Rohan placed a hand on my shoulder. “Go,” he told his brother firmly. “Before you break her.”

Jake hesitated.

For a heartbeat, I thought he might refuse.

Then he exhaled sharply and stepped back.

“This isn’t over,” he said, his voice low. “No matter how far you run.”

I lifted my chin, even as my heart shattered. “I’m not running.”

He looked at me for a long moment something unspoken passing between us then turned away.

The forest seemed to exhale when he disappeared into the trees.

The moment he was gone, my legs gave out.

Rohan caught me before I hit the ground, steadying me as sobs ripped from my chest.

“I didn’t want it to be like this,” I cried. “I just wanted to be strong.”

“You are strong,” he said softly. “Stronger than you know.”

I shook my head, tears soaking into his shirt. “He makes me feel like I’m breaking apart.”

Rohan’s arms tightened around me. “Then you’ll learn how to put yourself back together.”

I pulled away slowly, wiping my face. “He thinks I’m his weakness.”

Rohan met my eyes, something fierce burning in his gaze. “Then he’s wrong. You’re not his weakness.”

“What am I then?”

He hesitated, then said quietly, “You’re the storm he doesn’t know how to survive.”

The words settled deep in my chest.

I looked toward the trees where Jake had vanished, my heart aching in ways I didn’t understand.

I didn’t know what fate had planned for me.

I only knew this

If being his mate meant losing myself,

then I would rather burn the bond to ash

than let it cage me.

And for the first time, I realized the truth:

The greatest battle ahead wasn’t against the pack.

It was against the bond that dared to claim me.