LOGINBella's POVFor several seconds, I couldn't move.I stood in the middle of the battlefield, staring at Jaxon as he slowly rose from his knees. His face was bruised, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but the hatred in his eyes remained unchanged.He had finally accepted my rejection.After three years of being trapped in a marriage that made me feel unwanted, I was finally free.I should have felt nothing but relief. Yet, his final words kept repeating in my head.One day, you'll understand why I couldn't let you go.I frowned.What was that supposed to mean?He had spent years treating me like I was nothing. Why would he suddenly act as though losing me meant something more?I watched him turn toward his warriors. He didn't look like a man who had simply lost his mate. He looked like someone who had lost something he desperately needed."Stop staring at him."I turned at the sound of Theoren's voice.He was standing beside me, his chest rising and falling heavily. There wa
BELLA'S POVJaxon launched his attack first.He approached Theoren with a sureness that indicated he had victory already in his sights. His punch landed with such force that Theoren had to retreat several steps back.There was a murmur among the Northern fighters.Theoren regained his footing swiftly, but I noted the brief pause before he stood up straight again. His movements were not as flawless as before, having been impaired by Kade's poison.Jaxon had noticed this as well.He kept pushing, throwing his punches one after another. Theoren parried the first, evaded the second, and grabbed Jaxon's wrist before the third landed. I thought for a moment he had managed to get an advantage.But then Jaxon pulled free and threw another punch.It wasn't just about winning the fight. Jaxon was gauging how much abuse Theoren's weakened body could withstand.The shouts of the Moonstone warriors got louder as each punch made contact.I squeezed my fists tighter.Another punch connected with The
POV: BELLA"No."The word slipped out of my mouth before the messenger could finish.Theoren turned toward me. "Bella—""I refuse to meet with him."No need to tell me Jaxon's name more than once; it brought up the dungeons, Peony's sick grin, my father telling me how my mother had died, and the river consuming me when I'd fallen off the cliffs.It would take too many deaths for me to allow myself to fall into his grasp once again.Theoren studied my face before he answered the messenger."Tell the Alpha of Moonstone that he does not have the right to call for someone from my territory. If he wishes to speak with me, then he can say what he wants from across the border."The messenger bowed quickly and hurried away."He's not going to go," I said."Are you sure enough to know?""Sure enough."But Theoren didn't push me on it any further.For a little while, everything returned to normal in the palace, but the air was different now. Everyone knew an Alpha had showed up at the border wi
POV: BELLAI didn't dare move my hand from Theoren's chest.The subtle light under my skin seemed to become brighter, moving from my palm to my fingers. A peculiar feeling ran through my body, and each time I focused on Theoren's wound, I could feel it becoming warmer under my hand.All I could understand is that each time I touched him, he started breathing more evenly.Healer was standing across from us, observing everything in increasing disbelief.But there was one thing that took my breath away.The wound on Theoren's side started healing.The cut was deep enough for blood to soak his clothes and the skin near it looked unnatural and darkened. And now it started closing up.The flow of blood stopped.The dark spots started disappearing.“What am I doing?”There was no response from the healer; he was staring intently at the wound, like he’d never seen anything quite like it.I removed my hand.The healing seemed to come to a near stop instantly.I slowly placed my palm back on Th
POV: BELLA"Theoren?"My voice called out in a soft whisper, even as he lost consciousness in my arms.I wrapped myself tighter around him, trying to prevent him from dropping entirely onto the ground. Just a moment ago, he was fighting off Kade and a whole lot of rogue warriors like there was nothing else in the world.But now, he was unable to even keep his eyes open."Theoren, look at me!"His eyelids fluttered, but he didn't respond.I touched my hand against his cheek. His skin was ice cold and the way the dark veins were visible under it was terrifying me."No. You can't do this to me."I didn't know where these words originated. We haven't had any friendly relations. He has locked me up, interrogated me and asked about the unusual mark on my neck.And still, he took the poisoned blade that was meant for me.We heard the steps of the warriors coming closer. His soldiers appeared at the clearing, with their weapons in hands and hunting for their enemies."Your Majesty!"One of th
POV: THEOREN"Did you really think I came here to surrender?"Kade's grin faded away.They both froze for a second, but then Theoren attacked.He crossed the clearing before Kade could give another order, driving him back with a hit that almost brought him to his knees. But he saw a rogue coming for Bella.He struck the rogue in the face, sending him to the ground, and turned to block another. Metal hit metal as growls erupted from the rogues attacking him.He used the uneven terrain to his advantage, making two rogues collide, then cutting them down. Another came at him from the left. Theoren avoided the hit and struck his throat.But each time he moved further from Bella, his wolf grew restless.Protect her."I know!" Theoren shouted."Theoren!"Bella's voice echoed through the madness.He turned in time to see a rogue grabbing her arm. He reached them in seconds and threw the man away from her."Stay behind me," he commanded.There were red marks on her wrists from the restraints.







