8

XENIA'S POV

The tension in the air was almost palpable as I walked out of the cave. After the encounter with Tochex and Octavyous, my mind felt like it was spinning. I knew that joining this pack wouldn't be a walk in the park, but the hostility I encountered from them felt like more than just skepticism—it felt personal, like I wasn't welcome in their world.

I needed a moment to myself, a moment to just take a breath and process everything that had happened. The bonding ceremony, the power surge that left me unconscious, and now the stares and sneers of the pack members. It was like everything was happening too quickly, leaving me feeling completely overwhelmed. Kaleb had left me alone to rest, but I couldn’t just sit there anymore. I needed to understand what was going on.

I wandered outside, feeling the cool breeze against my skin, trying to clear my mind. There was something about this place that both terrified and intrigued me. The mystery of it all, the way I was connected to Kaleb and even Marrylen—it all felt surreal. As I stood at the edge of the clearing, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned to see Kaleb, his face softening when he saw me.

“You should be resting, Xenia,” he said, concern evident in his voice.

“I needed some air,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I could see the worry etched on his face, but there was something else too—something that felt like he was holding back.

“What happened back there, Kaleb?” I asked, my gaze steady on his. “Why did I pass out? Why did I feel Marrylen’s presence during the ceremony?”

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he was debating how much to tell me. “You are my mate, Xenia. Our bond is sacred, and the ceremony was meant to solidify that. But…something interfered. You mentioned seeing another presence. Are you certain?”

“Yes,” I replied, crossing my arms. “I felt her, Kaleb. I saw Marrylen, and I heard her voice calling out to me just as I heard yours.”

Kaleb’s jaw clenched, his eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. Anger? Fear? It was hard to tell. “Marrylen… she’s dangerous, Xenia. You shouldn’t trust her.”

His words took me by surprise. Marrylen, dangerous? She had been nothing but kind to me, even protective. “Why do you say that?” I asked, taking a step closer to him. “She’s been helping me, Kaleb. She’s the reason I even made it to Beddington safely.”

Kaleb shook his head, his eyes darkening. “You don’t understand, Xenia. She’s trying to take you away from me, from the pack. She’s interfering with our bond, and that’s dangerous for both of us.”

I stared at him, the weight of his words settling heavily in my chest. There was something in the way he spoke, something that made me question everything. “Kaleb, are you sure this is about Marrylen being dangerous? Or is it because you feel threatened by her?”

His eyes flashed, a hint of frustration breaking through his calm façade. “I’m trying to protect you, Xenia. You belong with me, with the pack. That’s where you’ll be safe.”

“Safe from what?” I demanded, my voice rising. “From Marrylen? Or from making my own choices?”

For a moment, silence hung between us, heavy and unspoken. Kaleb stepped closer, his hand reaching out to cup my face. “You don’t know what’s at stake here, Xenia,” he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “The bond we share, it’s powerful. It’s what keeps the pack together, what keeps me grounded. I can’t lose you.”

I looked up at him, my heart pounding. There was sincerity in his eyes, a vulnerability I hadn’t seen before. But there was also a possessiveness, a need to control what was happening between us. And that scared me.

“Kaleb, I need time,” I whispered, stepping back from his touch. “I need to figure things out on my own. I can’t just… blindly follow this path without knowing what it means for me.”

He let his hand fall to his side, a pained expression crossing his face. “I understand,” he said, though his voice held a trace of reluctance. “But remember, Xenia, no matter what happens, you’re mine. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

As he turned and walked away, I felt a chill run down my spine. His words lingered in the air, a reminder of the bond that tied us together—whether I wanted it or not. I knew I had to talk to Marrylen, to understand why I felt her presence during the ceremony. There was more to this than Kaleb was letting on, and I needed answers.

And maybe, just maybe, I needed to decide for myself what my place in this world truly was.