All Chapters of Too Late To Want Me: his reject, her rising: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Mara’s POV The forest was quiet, almost deceptively so. My clothes were still damp from the lake, clinging to my skin in uncomfortable folds, and the chill of the evening air made me shiver. My hands trembled slightly as I pressed them against the rock where I had set my dress, my mind racing in a storm I couldn’t quiet. The voices I had heard earlier still echoed faintly, and the fear of being discovered in such a vulnerable state made my stomach twist. I couldn’t stay in the cave. I couldn’t risk anyone finding me, especially not Dresden. My pulse quickened at the thought of his scent lingering so close, teasing, almost taunting me. The mate bond was a living thing between us, and I could feel it tightening its invisible grip around my chest. No matter how much I tried to push it down, to deny it, it was there—persistent, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore. I hurriedly stepped over the uneven stones, my bare feet sinking into the damp moss, and grabbed the dress. The fabric f

Mara’s POV The forest was quiet now, almost deceptively so. Every sound—the rustling leaves, the distant call of a night bird, the trickle of water—was amplified in my senses, making it impossible to tell if the silence was a lull or a warning. My body still trembled from the encounter with the rogue earlier, and the tension that Dresden’s presence had ignited in me refused to subside. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, her claws itching to run, her instincts screaming at me to let go, to accept what I had fought against for so long. Dresden didn’t move away. His amber eyes stayed locked on mine, piercing, intense, and unrelenting. “You’re running,” he said softly, almost a statement, not a question. “You’ve been running from this… from me… from yourself, for far too long.” I swallowed hard, trying to find words that wouldn’t betray me. “I… I’m not running. I’m… I’m just… thinking.” “Thinking?” he repeated, incredulous, his tone edged with something darker—anger, frustratio

Mara’s POV The night had barely settled when the tension in the Crescent pack house refused to dissipate. My pulse throbbed with the aftershocks of the confrontation, the words I had spoken to Bella still echoing in my ears. Even now, with Dresden’s hand warm around mine, I could feel the undercurrent of judgment in the room. Pack members who had silently watched the exchange now whispered behind raised hands, their eyes darting between us, curiosity and fear warring on their faces. Dresden’s presence was unyielding, a constant anchor in the storm of my emotions. His fingers curled around mine, and I felt the bond flare sharply, a reminder that we were connected in a way that went far beyond words. My wolf rumbled beneath my skin, thrumming with anticipation and fury, demanding recognition, dominance, and respect. I leaned into him, letting the warmth of his body remind me that I was no longer alone. Not really. “I should’ve never let it get to this point,” I muttered softly, my v

Mara’s POV The night air was thick with anticipation, a living pulse surrounding the Crescent pack house. Shadows shifted across the walls, whispering secrets of old grudges and hidden alliances, and my wolf twitched beneath my skin, sensing every undercurrent, every unspoken plan. I clutched Dresden’s hand, my fingers interlaced with his, letting the warmth, the strength, the undeniable force of our bond ground me. Tonight was no ordinary night. The pack’s annual moon ceremony—a celebration of strength, loyalty, and the sacred bonds of blood—was about to begin. And this year, my return, my bond with Dresden, and the storms that followed had shifted everything. The energy in the air hummed with tension, curiosity, and expectation. Dresden led me through the hallways, his hand firm on my back, guiding, protecting, commanding attention without a word. Every eye in the house followed us, every whisper crackling like dry leaves underfoot. I could feel the weight of judgment pressing d

Mara’s POV The first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, painting soft streaks across the room. My body still hummed from the intensity of last night, my wolf still coiled tight inside me, restless and alert. Dresden’s warmth had lingered even after he left for his morning patrols, a phantom presence that refused to dissipate. I rose slowly, muscles sore, heart still thrumming with the memory of his fingers entwined with mine, the heat of his gaze, the undeniable force of our bond. My wolf shifted restlessly beneath my skin, her instincts whispering, reminding me that our connection had awakened fully—dangerously, irreversibly. A soft knock at the door startled me. Daisy’s voice followed immediately. “Mara? Are you awake? Breakfast is ready.” I exhaled slowly, smoothing the silk sheets across my skin. “I’m coming,” I called, my voice tighter than intended. Daisy’s footsteps approached, her presence always grounding. She leaned against the doorframe, eyes bright but war