Five

POV: Caelan Ironwood

Caelan didn't go to his office on rturning, instead, he went to the training yard.

The night air was cold. The moon was hidden behind clouds. He stripped off his bloodied shirt, rolled his shoulders, and began to drill.

Punch. Block. Kick. Sweep.

Over and over, until his muscles burned. Until his lungs screamed. Until the scent of honey and whiskey faded from his senses.

But it didn't really fade.

It clung to him like smoke. Like the bond he couldn't sever, couldn't complete, couldn't control.

He hadn't knotted in three years.

His body refused other females. He'd tried, the first time, his wolf had gone limp the moment he entered her. The second time, he'd thrown her out of his bed before they'd even started. Her scent was wrong. Her touch was wrong. Everything was wrong. He eventually learned that no other female could please or satisfy him.

But Sera, her scent.....

Focus.

He drove his fist into the training post, causing wood to splinter.

The primal omega gene, that was what mattered. He didn't need to want her, he didn't need to feel anything. He just needed to complete the bond. Knot her, impregnate her. Produce heirs powerful enough to restore Ironwood's magic.

It was a transaction, nothing more.

He punched the post again, again, and again.

"Alpha."

He stopped and turned immediately.

Finn stood at the edge of the yard watching him.

"The Blackmoor envoy is here. Lord Silas sends his regards and an offer."

Caelan's blood went cold. He grabbed a towel and wiped the blood from his knuckles.

"What kind of offer?"

"The kind that comes with a collar."

~~

The envoy was a weasel-faced beta with a smile that made Caelan want to break his teeth.

Behind him stood two omegas; collared, drugged, and with empty eyes. And a wooden, bound in iron, pulsing with dark magic.

"Alpha Ironwood." The envoy bowed low. "Lord Silas sends his congratulations on your acquisition."

Caelan didn't respond. He simply stood, arms crossed, expression blank.

The envoy's smile faltered. He straightened.

"Lord Silas is aware of your... situation; the pack. The territory. The heir problem." His eyes flicked to Caelan's waist. "He's willing to provide omegas; breeders. As many as you need."

The two collared girls didn't react. Their eyes stayed fixed on the floor, it was like they didn't have a soul at all.

"I don't want your breeders," Caelan replied.

"No, of course not. Not when you have a primal omega." The envoy's smile returned. "A gift, then. In exchange for a small favor."

"What favor?"

The envoy opened the crate.

Inside, nestled in black velvet, was a collar. Silver and black. Studded with rubies that looked like dried blood. Runes etched into the metal, binding runes, slave runes, runes that would strip an omega of their will.

"A binding collar," the envoy said. "For your primal omega. She wears it for one week. Lord Silas observes her compliance. If she behaves, he releases the breeders. No strings attached."

Caelan stared at the collar, whatever this was, he knew that he could never gain any from it. Silas was an enemy and no amount of gifts could change that.

He moved; he crossed the room in three strides, grabbed the envoy by the throat, and flung.

The envoy hit the far wall. Plaster cracked and bones crunched. He crumpled to the floor, gasping as blood bubbled from his lips.

"Tell Silas," Caelan said, his voice low and cold, "that if he comes near my territory again, I'll feed him his own heart."

The envoy tried to speak but failed.

Caelan turned to Finn. "Get these omegas to the healer. Burn the collar."

"Yes, Alpha."

He walked out of the hall without looking back.

~~

He found himself outside Sera's door before he'd consciously decided to go there, but he knocked anyway.

Silence followed. It stretched for a few seconds before he spoke.

"Sera." His voice was flat. "We need to talk."

More silence, and he was about to knock again when he heard her voice from inside:

"About what?"

"The attack. Silas. What happens next." He paused. "Open the door."

"No."

He exhaled through his nose. Trying to stay calm. She thought this was a joke, she thought this was a light matter. She didn't understand how dire the situation was.

"I'm not asking."

"You can stand there all night. I don't care."

He could break the door down. It would take seconds. But the damage to their already nonexistent trust would be irreparable. So he waited.

A full minute passed, then two. And the door finally cracked open. Her face appeared in the gap, she was pale, exhausted, and defiant.

"Say what you came to say."

"Silas wants you. He sent a collar."

Her eyes flickered to his hands to see if he was holding a collar. He wasn't.

"And?"

"And I told him no. He'll try again. Probably within the week."

"So you want me to be grateful."

"I want you to be alive." He met her gaze. "The bond is the only thing standing between you and death. I need you to complete it. Not because I want you. Because I need your bloodline to save my pack."

Her jaw tightened. "My defective bloodline?" She asked and he nodded. "At least you're honest."

"Honesty is all I have left." He replied. And she hated him so much.

"I want to leave." She said.

But he shook his head immediately.

"You're not going anywhere, Sera. You're only leaving as a corpse, and even at that, I won't let you die until you give me an heir."

Her eyes darkned and she glared at him, but he was unaffected by her glare. He was was standing on business.

"One week."

"What?"

"One week. I'll stay. I'll consider your... proposal. But you don't touch me unless I say so. You don't come near me without warning. And you find another way to deal with Silas that doesn't involve putting a collar on my neck." She said.

Caelan considered, she obviously had a plan of her own, but he was willing to give her some time to think things theough. Whatever the outcome, he knew he would do what needed to be done to save his pack.

"Done."

"Good." She started to close the door but he spoke.

"Sera."

She paused.

"I'm not your enemy."

He wanted her to know. But the look she gave him told him that ship had sailed. She shut the door.