9

MARRYLEN'S POV

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon when I got Xenia's call. I could hear the tension in her voice, something fragile and desperate beneath the surface. She wanted to meet, and there was an urgency in her tone that made me drop everything and head to the clearing we had agreed upon.

When I arrived, Xenia was already there, pacing back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her expression was a mix of confusion, fear, and something else—determination. The sight of her like that made my heart clench. I approached slowly, careful not to startle her.

"Xenia," I called gently, and her head snapped up, her eyes locking onto mine. The relief that washed over her face was palpable, and she immediately came toward me.

"Marrylen, I—I don't know what's happening to me," she said, her voice cracking slightly. She stopped just a foot away from me, her eyes searching mine. "Kaleb told me not to trust you. He said you're dangerous, that you're trying to interfere with the bond we share."

I frowned, a sense of unease settling in my stomach. "Did he, now? And what do you think, Xenia?"

She hesitated, biting her lip. "I don't know what to think. I feel this… pull toward him, like I can't say no. But at the same time, I feel something when I'm around you. It's like I'm being torn in two directions, and I can't make sense of it."

I took a deep breath, resisting the urge to reach out and pull her into a comforting embrace. I had suspected something was off ever since I saw her with Kaleb. "Xenia, listen to me. What you're feeling isn't natural. Kaleb is using the bond to control you, to make you feel like you belong with him. It's something werewolves can do to their mates—it's meant to create loyalty, to keep the pack strong."

She looked away, her brow furrowed in thought. "So you're saying he's manipulating me? That everything I feel for him is… forced?"

I shook my head. "Not everything. The bond enhances feelings, makes them stronger. But it also takes away your freedom to choose. And that's not love, Xenia. That's control."

Xenia's eyes filled with tears, and she looked back at me, her expression vulnerable. "Then why do I feel connected to you too? Why did I see you during the ceremony?"

I stepped closer, my heart pounding. "Because there's something between us, Xenia. Something real. I can't explain it, but I know it's there. You have a choice—even if Kaleb wants you to think otherwise. And I'm here to help you, no matter what you decide."

She stared at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. And then, without warning, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder. I held her tightly, feeling the tremors running through her body.

"I'm scared, Marrylen," she whispered. "I don't know what to do."

I closed my eyes, my hand running gently over her hair. "You don't have to decide everything now. One step at a time, okay? We'll figure this out together. You're not alone."

She pulled back slightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Promise me you won't let him take me. Promise me you'll help me find my own path."

I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the tears that had fallen. "I promise, Xenia. I won't let anyone take away your choices. You're stronger than you know, and I'll be right here by your side."

She nodded, her lips trembling as she tried to smile. "Thank you."

For a moment, we stood there in silence, the world around us fading away. It was just the two of us, and in that moment, I knew I would do anything to protect her. Kaleb might be the Alpha, but Xenia deserved to choose her own destiny—to decide who she wanted to be with, who she wanted to love. And I would fight to make sure she had that chance.