Chapter 3: The Unseen Force

The wind howled through the trees, a bitter reminder that winter was coming. Leora pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, trying to stave off the chill that had nothing to do with the cold.

It was the anxiety, the unease that had settled into her chest ever since that moment with Kael. Her heart was still in a whirlwind, and no amount of time seemed to ease the tremor of uncertainty that wrapped around her thoughts.

She couldn’t stop thinking about him. The Alpha. Kael.

The bond between them had been growing stronger over the past few days. Every time she saw him, heard his voice, even when he was merely in the same room,

it felt like a shock to her system. Her heart raced, her breath caught in her throat. The connection was undeniable, overwhelming, and it left her breathless.

But he, on the other hand, remained as distant as ever, his emotions locked away behind the cold barrier he had built around himself.

Leora couldn’t understand it. Why?

Why did the bond feel so strong if Kael didn’t show any indication of returning her feelings? He had been nothing but respectful, distant, and professional.

There were no soft smiles, no flirtations, no gestures to suggest that he cared in the same way. Did he even understand the bond? Did he feel it too? Or was it just something he had to accept because of his role as Alpha?

Her mind kept turning in circles as she walked deeper into the forest, the familiar trails underfoot offering a moment of solace, a temporary escape from the confusion of her thoughts.

The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting long, dappled shadows that danced across the forest floor.

The air was crisp, scented with pine and earth, a reminder of how small and fragile she felt in the grand expanse of the world around her.

As she walked, Leora found herself veering off the usual path. She had spent countless hours in the woods, seeking solitude when life felt too heavy.

But today, the familiar trails didn’t bring their usual peace. Her thoughts were too loud, her emotions too raw. She wasn’t looking for quiet—she was searching for answers.

The bond made her feel things she couldn’t control—things she wasn’t sure she wanted to feel. Yet, no matter how much she tried to ignore it, it only seemed to grow stronger.

The pull to Kael was undeniable, like a gravitational force drawing her in with each passing moment. The idea of being his mate terrified her. She wasn’t ready for it. She wasn’t even sure she could handle it.

But there was another part of her—something deep and primal—that didn’t want to fight the bond anymore. It was like a quiet whisper urging her to step forward, to embrace what was inevitable.

How could she? How could she embrace something that made her feel so vulnerable?

Lost in her thoughts, Leora didn’t notice the shadow moving among the trees ahead of her. It wasn’t until the rustle of leaves reached her ears that she snapped back to reality.

Her muscles tensed, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned her surroundings.

Then, a figure stepped out from the shadows. Liam. His hands were raised in a peaceful gesture, his face lit with a teasing grin.

“Jumpy, are we?” he asked, his voice warm with amusement.

Leora exhaled sharply, her shoulders relaxing as she took him in. “What are you doing out here?” she asked, her voice edged with irritation. “It’s not exactly safe to wander alone.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. “I could ask you the same thing. The pack’s been looking for you. Thought you’d gotten lost or something.”

“I’m fine,” she replied, brushing past him. “I just needed some air.”

Liam tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. “Air, huh? Funny, you look like someone who’s trying to outrun her own thoughts.”

Leora paused, her jaw tightening. She didn’t have the energy to spar with him. But Liam, as always, refused to back down. He stepped closer, his expression softening.

“Leora,” he said gently, “you’ve been different lately. Quiet. Distant. Is this about Kael?”

Her breath caught, and she turned away from him, the mention of Kael’s name striking a chord too deep.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction.

Liam chuckled softly, but there was no humor in his eyes. “You don’t think I notice? The way you look at him? Like you’re trying to figure him out but can’t decide whether to be angry or terrified?”

Leora froze, her pulse pounding in her ears. “That’s not true,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Liam stepped in front of her, blocking her path. His usual easygoing demeanor was gone, replaced by something quieter, more serious.

“It is true,” he said firmly. “And it’s not just you. He looks at you too, Leora. Not often, and not in a way most people would notice, but it’s there. He sees you.”

She stared at him, the words sinking in like stones dropped into a still pond. “He doesn’t,” she said, shaking her head. “Kael doesn’t care. He’s too cold, too distant. I’m just... part of his responsibility.”

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t know that. Kael’s not an open book, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel anything. He’s had to be strong for everyone else, and maybe that’s made him forget how to be vulnerable. But you—” he paused, his gaze locking on hers, “you make him feel something, whether he shows it or not.”

Leora’s throat tightened. “If that’s true, then why does he push me away? Why does he make me feel like I’m the only one affected by this bond?”

“Maybe because he’s scared,” Liam said simply. “Or maybe because he doesn’t know how to handle it. You think this is easy for him? You think being tied to someone makes him any less terrified than you are?”

Leora clenched her fists, her emotions warring inside her. She didn’t want to believe Liam’s words, didn’t want to hope for something more than what she’d already resigned herself to.

But the way he looked at her—the way his words resonated—made her wonder if she’d been wrong.

“Leora,” Liam said softly, his voice pulling her back. “The bond doesn’t mean you have to wait for Kael to figure things out. It doesn’t mean you have to let his walls stop you. You’re stronger than you think. And maybe... maybe he needs you to remind him of that.”

Her chest ached as she met Liam’s gaze, the sincerity in his eyes striking a chord deep within her.

She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe that she wasn’t alone in this, that Kael felt even a fraction of what she did. But it was hard to let go of her fears, her insecurities.

“What if I’m not enough?” she whispered, the vulnerability in her voice startling even herself.

Liam’s smile was faint but kind. “You are enough, Leora. You always have been. The question is—when will you believe it?”

The wind shifted, rustling the trees around them, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of Liam’s words lingered in the air, heavy but not unwelcome.

Finally, Leora nodded, her resolve hardening. She didn’t have all the answers, and she wasn’t sure what the future would bring. But Liam was right—she had to make her own choice.

With one last glance at Liam, she turned back toward the pack, the path before her uncertain but no longer as daunting. The bond might have brought her and Kael together, but it was her own strength that would determine what came next.

For the first time, she felt ready to take the first step.