Chapter 24

Eli walked beside Kieran in silence.

Not because there was nothing to say.

But because everything felt slightly… wrong.

That feeling again.

The pull.

It wasn’t painful.

Just persistent.

Like something in him kept reacting whenever Kieran was near.

Eli frowned.

“…This is getting worse.”

Kieran glanced at him.

“…What is.”

Eli hesitated.

“…This thing. The… whatever connection this is.”

Kieran didn’t respond immediately.

Then calmly:

“…Bond.”

Eli immediately shook his head.

“…No. Don’t start that again.”

Kieran’s expression didn’t change.

But his voice softened slightly.

“…You feel it.”

Eli scoffed.

“…I feel something weird. That doesn’t mean anything.”

Kieran stepped slightly closer.

“…It means everything.”

Eli immediately stepped back.

“…Stop saying that.”

Kieran paused.

Then, surprisingly, he stopped advancing.

“…You are uncomfortable.”

Eli exhaled.

“…I don’t understand you.”

Kieran tilted his head slightly.

“…That is not new.”

Eli looked away.

“…I just don’t get why you keep saying all this bond stuff.”

A pause.

Then Kieran spoke quietly:

“…Because it is real.”

Eli shook his head again.

“…No. I think it’s something else.”

Kieran’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“…Like what.”

Eli hesitated.

Then answered honestly:

“…I think you want something from me.”

Silence.

Not heavy.

Just still.

Kieran didn’t react immediately.

Then:

“…I already have what I want.”

Eli frowned.

“…And what is that supposed to mean?”

Kieran stepped slightly closer again—but stopped when Eli tensed.

He noticed that.

And stopped.

That alone surprised Eli.

Kieran spoke more gently now.

“…You.”

Eli blinked.

“…Me?”

Kieran nodded once.

“Yes.”

Eli scoffed awkwardly.

“…That makes no sense.”

Kieran didn’t argue.

Instead he said:

“…You will understand later.”

Eli muttered:

“…Everyone keeps saying that.”

Later that day.

Eli met Charlotte.

She was already waiting.

Smiling when she saw him.

But her eyes changed slightly the moment she noticed his expression.

“You’re thinking about him again,” she said softly.

Eli sighed.

“…It’s not like that.”

Charlotte raised a brow.

“You always say that when it is like that.”

Eli sat down.

“…I don’t even understand what is happening.”

Charlotte leaned forward slightly.

“…Is it the bond thing he keeps talking about?”

Eli nodded slightly.

“…He believes there’s something between us.”

Charlotte went quiet for a moment.

Then carefully:

“…And you don’t believe him?”

Eli immediately shook his head.

“…No. I mean, it’s not like that. It can’t be like that.”

Charlotte hesitated.

“…Why?”

Eli frowned.

“…Because I don’t think like that.”

A pause.

Then he added:

“…And he’s a man.”

Charlotte’s expression changed slightly—not judgment, but surprise at how strongly he said it.

Eli continued quickly:

“…I’m not against people doing whatever they want. It’s just… not for me. I never thought like that.”

Charlotte nodded slowly.

“…So you think he’s mistaken?”

Eli nodded.

“…Or hiding something.”

Charlotte stared at him for a moment.

Then quietly said:

“…Or maybe you just don’t see it yet.”

Eli frowned immediately.

“…See what?”

Charlotte didn’t answer directly.

Instead she looked down slightly.

“…Never mind.”

Meanwhile.

Kieran stood at the edge of the pack territory.

Elders were present.

Commanders too.

All silent.

All respectful.

No one interrupted him.

Because no one dared.

But his attention wasn’t on them.

It was elsewhere.

On Eli.

One of the elders spoke carefully:

“…The human is still resisting the bond awareness.”

Kieran replied calmly:

“Yes.”

Another elder hesitated:

“…Should we force revelation?”

The temperature in the air dropped instantly.

Kieran turned slightly.

Just enough for them to feel it.

“…No.”

The elder immediately bowed his head.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Kieran’s voice remained calm.

“…He will understand without pressure.”

A pause.

Then softer—almost only for himself:

“…He just doesn’t recognize love yet.”

Back with Eli.

Charlotte walked him home later.

At the corner of the street, she suddenly stopped.

“…Eli.”

Eli turned.

“…Yeah?”

Charlotte hesitated.

Then softly:

“…If someone likes you… like really likes you… would you notice?”

Eli blinked.

“…Of course.”

Charlotte gave a faint, unsure smile.

“…Really?”

Eli nodded.

“…Yeah.”

But neither of them said what they were thinking.

Because both of them already knew—

He wouldn’t notice Kieran.

Not yet.

That night.

Eli lay in bed.

Staring at the ceiling.

The feeling was stronger again.

Not painful.

Not scary.

Just present.

Like someone was close.

Watching over him.

He exhaled slowly.

“…I’m probably overthinking this.”

But deep down—

He wasn’t sure anymore.

Somewhere outside.

Kieran stood beneath the night sky.

Eyes fixed on Eli’s window.

Quiet.

Certain.

Patient.

“…You will see it,” he murmured.

A pause.

Then softer:

“…And when you do, you will stop running.”