002 - NATASHA

His jaw clenches, eyes locked on mine. I see the moment it hits him too. The flicker of shock, then fury, then something rawer that he hides too quickly.

I watch as his gaze sweeps over me, lingering on the child. When he speaks, his voice is low, deep, and commanding.

“Put the child down.”

Nikola bristles at his tone, answering with a growl before I can stop her or myself. I pull the child tighter into my arms.

“I’m not yours to order around,” I say, every word edged with defiance. “Neither is she.”

Normally, I would give him the kid, and leave since I'm sure he wouldn't bring her any harm, but the way she's holding me tightly has me torn.

I don't know what those hunter bastards had done to her, but she needs reassurance right now.

I might be a rogue right now, but I'm an alpha first. I don't abandon wolves in need.

His warriors visibly stiffen at my tone. I guess they aren't used to anyone talking back to the king, especially not a rogue.

His suffocating aura presses harder, but I bare my teeth instead. His eyes narrow, as if testing how far I’d go.

We stand locked in silence.

How is it even possible that he's my mate?

I clench my fists until my nails dig into my palms, fighting the spark that wants to drag me closer to him.

Not again.

Not after what the last one did.

I already have—had—a mate. And I don't want another one.

Every breath pulls his scent deeper into me—pine and steel and storm air. My knees weaken. My chest aches. This bond isn’t gentle. It’s crushing and undeniably raw.

“What the actual fuck is this?” Nikola growls at how brutal the bond feels. I'm unable to answer.

How am I supposed to know?

His eyes flash, sharp with warning, but I hold his gaze. My heart pounds so loud, it's like it drowns the forest.

“Look, I apologise for trespassing. Really, I do,” I tell him as my eyes dart around checking for a path I can use to leave. “I’m only here because I heard her call—”

“You heard her?”

I nod, not feeling obligated to give an explanation.

“That’s impossible,” he murmurs, before his jaw tightens. For a second I feel he’s about to rip her from my arms by force.

I can feel his wolf’s aura surging against Nikola, as if trying to force her—us—into submission.

She snaps back without a care who he is. She is as opposed to this bond, this pull that burns through us like fire in our veins, as I am.

The forest folds in on itself. Voices stretch, fading into one sound—his heartbeat. Or mine. I can’t tell anymore.

“We need to leave now, Natasha,” Nikola mutters in my head. “The silver is weakening us and the wound needs to be treated.”

She's right, not forgetting the fact that I am feeling very cold. The hoodie doesn't do much to shelter against the cold wind.

“What’s your name?”

The question sounds strange coming from him.

My lips curl before I can stop them. “Why? So you can put it on my grave?”

A flicker of something—amusement, anger, I couldn’t tell—crosses his face. His gaze slides back to the girl, then returns to me, sharper. “Give her to me.”

The girl whimpers, and buries her face in my neck. My chest squeezes. I tighten my grip.

“She’s safe with me. You’d have found her dead if I hadn’t been here.”

I feel the mate bond pulse, the weight of it nearly crushing, but I can't pay it any heed.

Why is it acting this way? It feels like a chain pulling me closer to him even as Nikola and I fight the attraction.

“Give me my niece.” His voice is lower this time, as he takes a step forward.

His what????

“If you haven't noticed, she doesn't want to let go of me,” I take a step back because I didn't want him too close to me. “If you want her, you’ll have to coax her from me.”

His eyes burn into mine, as if weighing his options. And then—he smiles slowly. Something tells me he's thinking of snatching his niece from me and the thought thrills him.

My vision chooses that moment to swim and I shake my head to clear it.

“Natasha, that blade was poisoned,” Nikola screams. “We need to leave. Now!”

The child’s weight trembles in my arms, and I force my knees to lock.

“You’re wounded,” he says.

I bark a rough laugh. “You’re observant.”

“Let me take her.” His voice stays level, but his eyes… his eyes betray the pull, the same pull burning through my chest.

I shake my head, fighting the dizziness and swallowing the copper taste in my mouth. “She doesn't want to let go.”

The child whimpers against me, making me involuntarily tighten my grip despite my waning strength.

“El,” he says to the girl, stepping closer. “Come to me. Let's go home.”

She shakes her head, not once looking at him.

The ground tilts.

Nikola’s voice flickers weakly inside me.

“Stay awake… Natasha, stay—”

But she’s fading too. Even she can't fight the poison eating through us.

He moves before I hit the ground—faster than any wolf, catching me easily. His touch sends a shock through my veins, freezing the pain for a heartbeat.

The last thing I hear before I fall into darkness is his growl, deep and low.

“Mine.”