Chapter 5 Corbin

"That damn woman," I mutter, fists slamming into the punching bag in a steady rhythm that borders on violent.

The pain I felt earlier wasn't just emotional—it was physical, raw, as if my chest had been cracked open. And that shouldn’t be possible. We’re not mated. Not truly. She hasn’t even come into her wolf yet. And still, I felt every flicker of fear that tore through her.

Wolves aren’t supposed to feel each other like this. Not until the bond is accepted. Not until both wolves are fully grown. Anika has no wolf. Not yet. So why the hell am I bleeding emotions that aren’t mine?

I jab harder. Rage fuels each strike, sharp and fast.

I keep seeing her face in that trance—hollow, haunted, her pain bleeding into me like we shared one soul. And when she came back...I wanted to hold her, keep her there in my arms where nothing could hurt her. Ezra whimpered when I left. He wanted to stay.

But I can’t.

She’s a rogue.

She’s not meant to be mine.

Even if my wolf howls otherwise.

After training, I head to my room, needing distance, needing cold water and a clear mind. But fate isn’t done with me yet.

As I cross the lounge, I see her.

Anika. Laughing with Briar like she belongs here. Her laugh is soft, unexpected. Something about it spreads a warmth through the space, infecting everyone—except me.

I freeze mid-step, my eyes locked on her. She’s too damn comfortable. Like she’s done this a hundred times. Like she has a place here. Briar catches my stare, and the grin slides off his face. Ezra’s aura must be rolling off me like fire.

Briar bows and mutters something about seeing us later before bolting out the door.

Now it’s just her and me.

She stands slowly, like she senses the shift in the air. Step by step, she closes the distance, stopping inches from me. Her scent hits me all over again—wild and soft, like untouched woods after rain. My eyes betray me, flicking to her lips. She bites the bottom one. I feel my throat tighten as I swallow hard.

Ezra is on edge inside me, growling, She’s ours.

I want her. I want to claim her right here. Damn everything else.

But I can’t. I won’t.

She can’t be Luna. She can’t be mine.

If I give her hope, it will destroy us both.

I turn without a word and walk away, her presence clinging to my skin like smoke.

I can feel her eyes burning into my back. And her aura—it shifts. Furious. Defiant. Untouched by a wolf, yet powerful enough to knock the air from my lungs.

She’s dangerous like that. Unshaped. Unleashed.

And I want her anyway.

After a long shower, I meet up with the others for patrol. The cold night air should clear my head. It doesn’t.

Beta Banks is already at the rendezvous point, fully geared. He nods, and I take the lead.

We cover a few kilometers in silence before he speaks.

“Bro, you good? Briar said you’ve been off since the rogue came.”

“Briar needs to mind his own business,” I snap, voice low and sharp. “As do you.”

He raises his hands. “Geez, calm down. Anyone would think she’s your mate the way you’re acting.”

I stop dead.

Banks freezes under my stare. I don’t need to say a word—he backs off quickly, muttering something under his breath as we keep moving.

I hate this. I hate that he’s right. I hate that it shows.

No one can know. Not even my Beta. Not because I don’t trust him—but because I’ve been trained not to trust anyone. Especially when it comes to mates. Especially when it involves rogues.

She’s under the Luna’s protection for now. That keeps her safe. But if the pack knew she was my mate? Even Ezra knows the risk.

We keep patrolling until something stops me in my tracks.

The moon, full and silver, breaks through the trees—and her scent cuts through everything else.

Ezra lifts his head, ears alert.

I step forward.

There, at the edge of the lake, is Anika.

She’s glowing. Not metaphorically. Actually glowing.

Standing in the water, skin bathed in moonlight, every inch of her looks divine. Holy. Otherworldly.

And then it happens.

She shifts.

For the first time.

In a blink, a brilliant silver wolf takes her place—larger than I expected, radiant in a way that steals the breath from my lungs. Her eyes find mine across the water.

Ezra lets out a howl and breaks free.

I shift before I can stop it, bones snapping as he takes control.

He charges toward her.

Her wolf charges right back.

They collide mid-air, her paws pressing him to the ground with surprising strength. Ezra snarls, shoves her off, and pins her in return—but he doesn’t bite. He nuzzles. Sniffs. Then lowers his head until it rests on hers.

And for the first time in days—maybe longer—Ezra is still.

Peaceful.

Then she shifts again, back into her human form. She places her hands on Ezra’s fur, her forehead against his.

“Mate,” she whispers. “You’re my mate… aren’t you, Corbin?”

Ezra doesn’t respond. He knows this can’t end the way we both want it to.

He steps back, and I return to human form.

She’s staring at me now, waiting. Wanting. Everything inside her stripped bare under the moonlight.

And I—

I can’t say yes.

I can’t say no.

So I say nothing at all.

Because I am torn between blood and bond. Between what I was raised to be, and what fate says I am.

And somewhere in the middle, I know—

This war between my heart and my heritage is just beginning.