Chapter 3 – A Fated Bond  

Elena’s POV  

"Alright, Lay, time to blow out the candles!"  

My mother’s joyful voice rang in my ears as I stared down at my birthday cake, a Lightning McQueen design in bright red.  

People laughed at me for picking that cake when I turned seven, saying it was for boys, but I didn’t care. Red was my favorite color, and back then, I loved cars more than anything.  

I took a deep breath and blew out the candles, feeling a small gust of air bounce back onto my face. A camera clicked, capturing the moment forever.  

"Now, what comes next, Lay?" My father’s voice came from my left, while my mother stood smiling on my right.  

I giggled, excited. "I make a wish, and if I wish really hard, the birthday gods will grant it!"  

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A single tear slid down my cheek, landing on an old photograph—me at seven years old, grinning between my parents, Celeste and Julian.  

Back then, life was filled with love and happiness. My parents adored me. But something had changed. They had left, disappeared without a trace, and I still didn’t understand why. What had I done to make them abandon me?  

Today was my eighteenth birthday, but all I could think about was them. Not the fact that, according to legend, I might find my mate today.  

Wolves were meant to have fated mates, but I wasn’t sure if that rule applied to runts like me.  

Every werewolf had a chance to discover their mate on their eighteenth birthday. Some found theirs right away, while others searched for years. I secretly hoped I belonged to the unlucky group that never found theirs.  

Having a mate would be awful. If they were anything like the rest of the pack, they’d treat me no differently—just another excuse to hurt me. A mate was supposed to love and protect you, but I had learned a long time ago that love wasn’t something I could count on.  

And besides, my wolf, Lena, was gone. Would I even have a mate if my wolf had vanished?  

I sighed and tucked the old photo away in my dresser drawer before heading toward the kitchen. On the way, I stopped at the bathroom mirror, tilting my head to inspect the bruise on my neck.  

I thought I had covered it well, but the discoloration still peeked through my makeup.  

If I went back to fix it, Nathan would be furious. He expected breakfast to be ready the moment he walked in, and if it wasn’t, there would be consequences.  

Summoning what little strength I had, I rushed back to my room and applied another layer of makeup over the bruises, hoping it would be enough.  

Unfortunately, my efforts weren’t quick enough.  

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, pain exploded across my face. I stumbled, landing on all fours as I clutched my cheek, trying to process what had just happened.  

"You can’t even be on time, you useless piece of trash."  

Nathan’s voice was sharp with irritation. This wasn’t good.  

If I had to rank my tormentors, Nathan would definitely take second place.  

Before I could react, a hard kick to my stomach sent me sprawling onto my back, gasping for air.  

Cheap shot.  

I tried to push myself up, but Nathan knocked me down again.  

"I think she needs another reminder of her place," he sneered, eyes gleaming with cruelty.  

"Nathan, stop," Harris spoke up, his voice unusually tense. "Last time, we almost killed her."  

His words barely had time to sink in before another kick—this time from Emerson—drove into my ribs, stealing my breath.  

I curled in on myself, arms wrapped around my stomach.  

"I don’t care," Emerson growled, eyes locking onto mine with cold amusement. "She’s a runt. No one will miss her."  

His gaze darkened, his stance shifting. I could tell his wolf wanted to take over.  

If that happened, I wouldn’t survive.  

"That’s enough," Harris warned, stepping in front of me. "Back off before Alpha Asher finds out."  

Nathan hesitated, but after a moment, his eyes returned to their natural brown color.  

Still, he wasn’t done.  

Grabbing a fistful of my hair, he yanked me up and slammed me against the wall.  

I bit back a cry of pain, my ribs screaming in protest.  

"You’ll always be nothing," he snarled, his breath hot against my face. "Just a pathetic, worthless runt. Got it?"  

I nodded quickly, desperate for him to let go.  

Satisfied, he released me, shoving me aside. "Good. Now make my damn breakfast."  

Despite everything, I still had to cook for them.  

I forced myself to move, pain stabbing through my ribs with every step. They were probably broken—not that it mattered. It wasn’t like anyone would help me.  

Happy birthday to me.  

I had planned to leave this pack soon, but first, I needed Alpha Asher’s permission. Surely he wouldn’t care if a runt disappeared. There was no reason for him to refuse.  

But for now, I needed rest. My body ached, and I felt like I could collapse at any moment.  

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.  

Before I could reach my room, a rough hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me into a dark space.  

The sickeningly familiar scent of Connor’s cologne filled the air.  

I hadn’t seen him all morning. I should have known that was too good to be true.  

"Thought you could avoid me today, huh, runt?" he sneered, fingers tightening around my throat before I could react.  

I struggled for breath, my vision already starting to blur.  

"I couldn’t possibly miss your birthday beating," he mocked, his grin widening. "That wouldn’t be very thoughtful of me, now would it?"  

I never understood how he always knew when my birthday was. But every year, without fail, he made sure to remind me.  

I braced myself for the pain, forcing my mind to drift elsewhere.  

But then something changed.  

A new scent cut through the air, rich and warm—a blend of wood and spice.  

It was… intoxicating. Familiar, yet completely foreign.  

It couldn’t be.  

No. That was impossible.  

Was it my mate?  

Or was I just losing my mind from the lack of oxygen?  

Panic surged through me. My hands instinctively clawed at Connor’s, trying to loosen his grip.  

This time felt different.  

This time, I really thought I was going to die.  

Then, all at once, there was a loud crash, and I collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently.  

I couldn’t breathe.  

But as I lay there, my body weak and broken, a thought crossed my mind.  

Maybe dying wouldn’t be so bad.  

No more pain. No more beatings. No more fear.  

For the first time, I would finally be free.  

I barely registered the presence looming over me. My eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus.  

And then I heard the last thing I ever expected.  

"Mate."  

The voice was deep, powerful.  

Alpha Asher Bennett.  

Then everything went black.