Chapter 4

KHALID

 After I left the house, I went to my spot in the woods to practice arrow shooting. I couldn’t care less about the drama I left behind—I just wanted my quiet.

 I hadn’t been there for an hour when I saw a black werewolf running toward the forbidden pack boundary. Rogue was the first thought that crossed my mind.

 I steadied my bow and aimed, letting the arrow graze its fur instead of piercing its flesh. The wolf turned out to be her—the Omega the moon goddess, whom I didn’t remember offending, decided to give me as a mate.

 The moment I saw her, I knew Dilan was bound to be near. I didn’t care about them. But I didn’t like the fact that he was associating with her. Apart from her being obviously weak, one of the reasons I didn’t bother rejecting her in person was because I knew she had told Dilan about me being her mate, and I hated her the most for that. There was no other way he could have known—and started following her around like the fool he was.

 I knew Dilan wasn’t after her out of kindness or support because of the rejection. He had hidden agendas—and that bothered me because…

 I don’t know why it bothers me, but it does.

 So I was going to find out what he wanted. And now that he had arrived, this was it.

 “I’m glad to hear that you’re more patient than me, brother. Though I’m confused as to what you’re doing here.”

 There was a smirk on his face as he spoke. And in an instant, I was in front of him, using my wolf-speed.

 “Now that you’re here, you’re going to tell me what you want. And the reason you’re suddenly so interested in her.”

 Dilan sighed, feigning boredom. “You seemed so cool with that rejection speech. I don’t see why you care what I want now. If you reject someone, it’s supposed to mean you don’t want them and won’t take responsibility for them. I’m not sure if yours has other meanings, but—”

 I gripped his neck and slammed him against a nearby tree, anger coursing through my veins. Fear flickered in his eyes just before he started laughing. “This is the closest we’ve ever been in years,” he said.

 His words took me aback for a moment, so much so that I didn’t even realize when I let him go. He was right, even though I hadn’t noticed it until now. I had barely spoken to him in over five years.

 “Is that why you’re after her?” I asked. “Seeking my attention because you think I’ll care that you’re so close to my cursed excuse for a mate?”

 “Well… that’s not my reason, but I see it’s working.”

 I shook my head and glanced behind us. She was still standing there, at the exact spot where I had left her. She had definitely heard everything we said. The fact that she was naked, even though it was normal for werewolves, bothered me more than I’d like to admit. And for the first time, I was thankful that it was getting dark.

 I hated that they both came here. It meant I wouldn’t be able to train here again. I would have to find another spot to hide my weapons and be alone when I needed to.

 I watched as Dilan walked away from me, heading toward her. I fought the urge to turn away, but I still found myself staring as he pulled off his coat and draped it over her.

 I saw the glint in her eyes as she looked at him—she seemed grateful.

 What in the world is wrong with her? Didn’t she hear our conversation? Was she so foolish that she couldn’t see that Dilan wasn’t helping her out of sincerity? Or was stupidity just another trait of Omegas?

 “How did you get here? Don’t tell me you were about to do something as foolish as running away,” Dilan said as he led her forward.

 She didn’t respond. Her head was bowed as they walked past me, moving away as if they had forgotten I was even there.

 I clenched my fists in rage and unblocked Rex for the first time in two days. He growled slowly inside me, wary of acting out because he knew I could block him again.

 Blocking your wolf was something that required great discipline. It was so rare that I only knew two people who could do it—myself and Pac Kuvan, the man who had trained me from birth. It was said to be dangerous because your wolf was you, and the more you shut it out, the more detached it would become from you.

 But I couldn’t care less.

 I had learned how to do it over six years ago, but I had only started using it a year ago—since the day I found out the Omega was my mate.

 Rex had fought me so much that it took all my self-control not to march over and claim her. Since then, I had started locking him away, because that was the only way I could fight the fact that the moon goddess had been stupid enough to give me something so weak and fragile as a mate.

 But now… I wasn’t sure if I actually cared about Dilan’s intentions with her—or if I was just paranoid that he was more in control of the whole situation.

 •••

 DOVEN

 My head felt like it was being pounded as we finally reached the place where I had left my clothes. Dilan walked ahead while I dressed, then collapsed onto the ground.

 It was dark now—so dark that even with my wolf senses, I could barely see our surroundings.

 I shut my eyes, overwhelmed by emotions cutting through me all at once. I wasn’t sure if I had any more tears left. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to go back to the pack—to keep living there, knowing my mate was in the same place.

 The thought of running away again crossed my mind, but I could barely move a limb. I was so spent that my only remaining possession was my life—and I wouldn’t mind spending that too.

 “Come on,” Dilan called. “It’s getting late.”

 I looked at him, observing his sharp features. His face was small and intelligent, like he knew the reason behind everything that was happening. He was also very handsome, which made me compare his looks to Khalid’s. And then regret it immediately, because it brought back the pain.

 “You’re not coming?”

 “Why…” I hesitated for a moment. “Why are you helping me? Why did you follow me into the woods? I don’t understand.”

 Dilan sighed, rubbing his hands over his waist as he looked around. I thought I heard him mumble, “my goodwill will not be the death of me”.

 “Well… isn’t it obvious?”

 I shook my head.

 “Okay, I’m going to say this once. Just once.”

 “What?”

 “Well… I—”

 Suddenly, a force yanked me off the ground—so fast I barely saw it coming.

 My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes squeezed shut. I felt motion, and at the same time, I was hit by the intoxicating scent of heaven.

 Slowly, I opened my eyes, and they met his face—all sharp angles and seriousness.

 Khalid.

 He was running so fast I couldn’t comprehend it. The rush of air from the movement made me nauseous.

 “Khalid?” I whispered, struggling to stay conscious.

 “That,” he said coldly, “should be the last time you ever hear my brother’s voice.”