BEFORE HE COULD BREAK ME

ANYA

When I opened my eyes, the room was quiet, too quiet.

Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting the walls in faint gold. My head ached, and every part of my body felt heavy, but the pain was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

Slowly, everything came rushing back, the forest, the rogues, the blood... and then him.

The man who had found me.

The man whose scent still lingered faintly on the sheets.

My mate.

My breathing hitched as I sat up slowly, clutching the blanket around me. How was that even possible?

The Moon Goddess had already given me a mate, one who broke me in front of everyone. Was this some kind of mistake?

"He’s not a mistake," my wolf whispered softly in my mind. He’s our true one.

“No,” I murmured, shaking my head, though my voice trembled. “I can’t go through this again. I won’t.”

He was powerful, I could feel it even in his absence. Whoever he was, he wasn’t just a man. The way his energy filled the air... it was commanding, terrifying, and overwhelming all at once.

But I didn’t even know his name.

And I didn’t want to.

I was just the Beta’s daughter, the ugly one, the rejected one. Nothing good came from being mated to someone powerful. The higher they stood, the easier it was for them to crush you.

I needed to leave before he decided I wasn’t worth keeping.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed the blanket aside and tried to stand. My legs trembled, my back screamed in pain, but I forced myself upright. Every step toward the door felt heavier than the last, but determination was all I had left.

"Don’t leave" , my wolf pleaded softly. He saved us.

“He’ll regret it when he sees me,” I whispered back. “Better I leave first.”

But before I could move, the door opened from the other side.

And there he was.

The man from the forest. The one who had carried me.

He filled the doorway effortlessly, tall, broad, eyes so intense they made the air shift around him. I froze, breath caught in my throat.

The bond between us flared to life, raw and electric, pulling me toward him even though every instinct screamed to run.

For a long moment, neither of us said a word. He just looked at me, his gaze unreadable, steady, almost… searching.

"We can’t run from him," my wolf whispered again, soft but sure.

“I have to,” I whispered back, even though I didn’t even believe it.

“Why are you up? Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”

His voice was deep, calm — yet it carried that kind of authority that made my heart skip a beat.

I froze where I stood, fingers still clutching the door handle. I wanted to say something, anything — but my throat burned, and the words just wouldn’t come.

He took a step closer, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. This man was… beautiful.

Dark hair that looked impossibly soft, piercing eyes that glowed faintly under the light, and a jawline that could cut through stone. His presence filled the room — commanding but strangely gentle.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” he asked, his brows furrowing slightly. “What’s your name? Who hurt you? Are you mute?”

I blinked. Goddess, does he always ask this many questions?

Still, I stayed quiet. What if he wanted to know my name just to reject me, just like Rafael did? My chest tightened at the memory. I couldn’t go through that again. I wouldn’t survive it.

“Water,” I finally managed to whisper. My throat ached with every word.

Without a word, he walked closer and suddenly lifted me into his arms.

“W–What are you doing?” I gasped, startled.

“Carrying you to the bed so you can drink water,” he replied simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“I can walk myself, you know,” I muttered weakly, trying to sound braver than I felt.

“I know that,” he said, glancing down at me, “but it’s clearly written on your face that you’re in pain.”

I shut my mouth after that. There was no point arguing, not when his scent was this intoxicating, not when every breath I took made my wolf hum softly in my head.

Moments later, the door opened and another man stepped in, carrying a tray with a glass of water and a bowl of soup. He is almost as tall as my mate, though his features were softer. He had dark blond hair, neatly trimmed, and his gray eyes held warmth despite his strong build. His aura was powerful too, confident, steady. The faint mark on his neck told me he was already mated.

“This is the water you asked for, Alaric,” the man said respectfully.

So… Alaric.

That was his name.

Alaric took the water from the man and handed it to me. His hand brushed mine, and that familiar spark ran through me again, warm, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.

“Here,” Alaric said, crouching slightly as he handed me the glass. His voice was gentler this time, low and careful, as though he were afraid I’d shatter if he spoke too loudly.

I obeyed, taking slow sips. The water soothed my dry throat, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. When I finished, he set the glass aside, his sharp gaze never leaving me.

The other man excused himself, leaving us alone.

I could feel Alaric’s presence pressing against me, commanding, protective, overwhelming. It scared me how much my wolf responded to him, how she wanted to curl closer, to breathe him in.

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t stay here. Not again. Not after everything.

“I’m leaving,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

His brow furrowed. “What did you say?”

“I’m leaving,” I repeated, forcing strength into my voice.

Something flickered in his eyes, confusion, maybe anger, but before he could speak, I met his gaze.

“I reject you.”

The words hung between us, sharp and final.

His eyes darkened instantly.

“What?” he said, voice low, dangerous.