Chapter 6: New Territory

Dalton's POV

Consciousness returned slowly, like swimming up from deep water. First came the pain – a dull, constant ache in my side where the silver blade had pierced me. Then the sounds – unfamiliar voices, footsteps on wooden floors, wind through different trees.

I opened my eyes to candlelight and shadows. The room was simple but clean. Definitely not pack territory.

"You're awake."

I turned my head, wincing at the movement. Zane sat in a chair by the window, watching me with those unnervingly dark eyes.

"Where—"

"My territory. A safe house about fifty miles from your former pack."

Former pack. The words hit like a physical blow.

"How long?"

"Three days. The silver poisoning nearly killed you."

Three days. I tried to sit up, gasped at the stabbing pain.

"Don't," Zane said. "Dr. Lorett said you need at least another day before you can move safely."

"Tehila—"

"Is fine. Worried about you, which frankly puzzles me, considering everything."

I deserved that. Deserved worse.

"Why did you save me?"

"I didn't. She insisted." He stood, moving closer. "If it were up to me, I'd have left you for the hunters."

"Then why didn't you?"

"Because she asked me not to." His voice carried a warning. "But make no mistake, Dalton. You're breathing because of her mercy, not mine."

"I know."

"Do you? Because from where I'm standing, you're a traitor who sold his mate for political gain, then had a last-minute crisis of conscience."

"That's exactly what I am."

My honest admission seemed to surprise him.

"At least you're not denying it."

"What would be the point? Everyone saw what I did. What I chose."

"And what do you choose now?"

Before I could answer, the door opened. Tehila entered carrying a tray of medical supplies. She froze when she saw I was awake.

"You're up," she said quietly.

"Apparently."

An awkward silence stretched between us. So much to say, no idea how to start.

"I'll give you two a moment," Zane said, but Tehila stopped him.

"Stay. Please."

The 'please' was soft, but Zane immediately returned to his chair. Interesting.

Tehila approached the bed, setting down the tray. "I need to change your bandages."

"You don't have to—"

"Yes, I do. Dr. Lorett showed me how."

Her fingers were gentle as she worked, but she wouldn't meet my eyes. The silence grew heavier.

"Thank you," I finally said.

"For what?"

"Saving my life. Asking them to bring me here."

"You saved mine first."

"After I destroyed it."

Her hands stilled. "Yes. After that."

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

"No, you don't." I caught her hand, ignoring the pain the movement caused. "I'm not sorry I got caught. I'm not sorry it affected me. I'm sorry I did it at all. Sorry, I was too weak to choose you from the beginning."

She pulled her hand away. "It doesn't matter now."

"Doesn't it?"

"The bond is broken, Dalton. You chose Jade. I accepted it."

"But I didn't accept it."

"What?" She finally looked at me, confusion in her eyes.

"I never accepted your rejection. That night in the hall."

Zane sat forward. "That's not possible."

"It is if the rejection wasn't complete. She rejected me, but I never accepted it. The bond is damaged, but not severed."

Tehila stumbled back. "No. You're lying."

"Feel for it," I challenged. "Feel for the bond."

"I don't want to—"

"Please."

She closed her eyes, and I saw the moment she found it. That thin, damaged thread still connecting us. Her eyes snapped open, filled with anger.

"How dare you?"

"I couldn't let go."

"You let go easily enough when you chose my sister!"

"I never chose her. I was pushed toward her, manipulated into believing it was the smart choice."

"By who?" Zane asked, suspicion in his voice.

"My mother, apparently. Though I didn't know about the hunter connection. I thought she just wanted me to mate for political advantage."

"And you went along with it," Tehila said bitterly.

"Yes. Because I was a coward. Because being with Jade meant advancement without challenge. Because loving you meant facing my own inadequacy every day."

"What inadequacy?" She seemed genuinely puzzled.

"You're better than me, Tehila. You always have been. Kinder, braver, more honest. Being your mate meant trying to live up to what you deserved, and I was terrified I couldn't."

"So you chose someone worse?"

"I chose someone who made me feel superior. Who fed my ego instead of challenging my soul."

"And now?"

"Now I know that feeling superior is worthless when you're inferior inside."

She turned away. "Pretty words don't fix broken things."

"I know."

"Then why tell me about the bond?"

"Because you deserve the truth. All of it."

"The truth?" She whirled on me. "The truth is you destroyed me! You made me feel worthless, unlovable, unwanted. You let me believe something was wrong with me while you snuck around with my sister!"

"You're right."

"Stop agreeing with me!"

"Why? You're saying everything I've told myself for three days."

"Three days of guilt don't erase months of betrayal."

"Nothing erases it. But maybe—"

"Maybe what? Maybe we can try again? Maybe you've learned your lesson?" She laughed bitterly. "I'm not that naive anymore, Dalton. You killed that girl."

"I know."

"Then what do you want?"

"To earn the right to apologize properly. To make amends, if possible. To accept the rejection if that's what you truly want."

"If?"

"You haven't asked me to accept it yet."

She was quiet for a long moment. "No. I haven't."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Zane stood abruptly. "This is pointless. He made his choice. You're under no obligation to forgive him."

"I know," Tehila said softly.

"Then why—"

"Because the bond still exists, Zane. Damaged or not, it's still there. I feel it every second."

Something passed between them, a look I couldn't interpret. Zane's jaw clenched.

"You still love him."

It wasn't a question.

"I don't know what I feel," she admitted. "Anger, hurt, betrayal—"

"Love," I added quietly.

"Love isn't enough."

"No," I agreed. "It's not."

A knock interrupted us. Jamie entered, looking panicked.

"We have a problem. Scouts just reported Alpha Thorne is mobilizing the pack. He's coming for us."

"How many?" Zane asked immediately.

"Full force. Every warrior he has."

"When?"

"Dawn. Maybe sooner."

Zane cursed. "We need to evacuate. Get everyone ready to move."

"Where will we go?" Tehila asked.

"Deeper into my territory. But we'll be leaving tracks. He'll follow."

"Unless we give him what he wants," I said.

Everyone looked at me.

"He wants me," I continued. "I'm the Beta who betrayed him. The example that needs to be made."

"You can barely stand," Tehila protested.

"I can stand enough."

"This is suicide," Zane said.

"Maybe. Or maybe it's redemption."

"You don't get to play hero now," Tehila said angrily. "You don't get to die dramatically and leave me with more guilt."

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to live with what you've done. Like the rest of us have to."

"While putting everyone here at risk?"

"We were at risk the moment we defied him," Jamie said. "This isn't just about you."

"But I could end it. Surrender myself—"

"He'll kill you," Tehila said.

"Probably."

"And you're okay with that?"

"If it keeps you safe? Yes."

She slapped me. The force knocked my head sideways and sent fire through my injuries.

"You don't get to die for me," she hissed. "You don't get to make that choice for me again."

"Then what choice do I get to make?"

"The choice to fight. With us, not for us."

"I can barely move."

"Then you'll learn to fight differently." She turned to Zane. "We're not running."

"Tehila—"

"We ran once. Look where it got us. He'll keep coming until we stop him."

"He has three times our numbers," Zane pointed out.

"He has warriors. We have something else."

"What?"

"We have people fighting for their freedom. He has people fighting for his ego."

Zane considered this. "It's still suicide."

"Maybe. But at least it's our choice."

I watched her, this woman I'd betrayed and broken. She was different now. Harder. Stronger. The soft girl who'd saved injured wolves was still there, but wrapped in steel.

"You've changed," I said.

"I had to. The girl you knew died that night in the hall."

"And who was born?"

She met my eyes squarely. "Someone who doesn't need anyone's permission to exist."

Before anyone could respond, another wolf burst in.

"They're not waiting for dawn. They're here!"