All Chapters of Too Late To Want Me: his reject, her rising: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Mara’s POV The silence after the attack was deafening. The once-lively Crescent pack house felt hollow, the echoes of chaos still reverberating through the walls. Broken furniture, overturned chairs, and the faint scent of scorched herbs lingered in the air. My wolf roamed restlessly beneath my skin, a coiled force of anger, fear, and anticipation, vibrating through every nerve. Dresden’s hand held mine tightly as we surveyed the damage. His amber eyes were stormy, focused, unyielding. I could feel his protective energy radiating around us, a shield that both comforted and thrilled me. He never let go, not even for a second, and the connection between us felt absolute, consuming, undeniable. “Who were they?” I whispered, barely audible. My voice trembled, even as my wolf bristled, ready to fight again. Dresden exhaled slowly, his jaw tight. “They’re not random rogues. They know you… Mara. They’ve been waiting. And they’re coming back for a reason I can’t yet see.” A shiver ran d

Mara’s POV The figure in the shadows stepped closer, and the pale moonlight revealed features I had hoped never to see again. My chest tightened, my heart stuttered, and my wolf growled low, a sound deep and feral, vibrating through my entire body. It was him—the one who had orchestrated so much of my past, the one responsible for the fire that had consumed my parents, the one who had made me run, hiding, surviving. “Ronan,” I whispered, disbelief and rage lacing my voice. He smirked, a cruel, twisted curve of lips, eyes cold and glinting with amusement. “Mara,” he said slowly, savoring my reaction. “Ten years… ten long years of hiding, running, pretending. And now… you’re finally awake. Finally… you are mine to claim.” I staggered back instinctively, instinctual fear prickling through me, but Dresden’s hand on my back held me steady. His presence was solid, grounding, a tether that reminded me I wasn’t alone. “Not while I’m here,” he growled, amber eyes flaring. “Stay where you

The night had fallen with a quiet that felt wrong, oppressive, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. I moved silently beside Dresden, our steps barely disturbing the fallen leaves, our senses stretched to the edge. The bond between us thrummed like a live wire, every heartbeat echoing the other’s. The air smelled of damp earth and the faint iron tang that always followed when danger lurked close. “Something’s off,” I whispered, my voice almost lost in the rustle of the trees. My wolf had been restless all evening, muscles taut, instincts screaming in warning. Dresden’s amber eyes scanned the shadows, narrowing. “I feel it too,” he murmured, his voice low, filled with tension. “Stay close. No distractions.” I nodded, though my heart pounded at more than just caution. The weight of responsibility pressed on me—not just for myself, but for the pack. They depended on us, even if they didn’t realize it. I could almost hear the faint hum of their fears, their unspoken worries

The aftermath of the battle clung to the Crescent pack like a heavy fog. The forest bore scars of the skirmish—trees splintered, earth churned, and the air still smelled of iron and smoke. I stepped lightly through the clearing, my senses alert, wolf thrumming beneath my skin, each heartbeat echoing the adrenaline that refused to fade. My limbs ached, cuts stung, but there was a fierce energy coursing through me, something that felt like fire and ice at once. Dresden was silent beside me, his presence a constant anchor. His eyes scanned the horizon with unwavering intensity, amber orbs sharp, calculating, never resting. Every so often, his hand would brush against mine—not just in comfort, but as a grounding tether. The bond was alive, a pulsing force that seemed almost tangible in the crisp dawn air. “We can’t let our guard down,” Dresden said finally, his voice low, carrying the weight of command and the intimacy of a shared heartbeat. “Ronan will strike again. He’s cunning, pati

Mara’s POV The night was alive with whispers, the wind carrying secrets from the forest to the edges of Crescent pack territory. My senses were stretched taut, every sound amplified—the rustle of leaves, the distant howl of a lone wolf, the faint crack of a twig underfoot. My wolf thrummed beneath my skin, fierce, hungry, and impossibly aware. She could smell the tension, taste the threat lingering just beyond the treeline, and I could feel her pulse as if it were my own heartbeat. Dresden’s presence beside me was a tether to reality, a solid warmth against the storm raging in my mind. His hand brushed mine occasionally, grounding me, reminding me that we were not alone. “They’re close,” he murmured, amber eyes scanning the horizon. “Ronan won’t come alone. Expect everything—strength, deceit, speed.” I swallowed hard, the weight of the past, of the pack’s expectations, pressing down on me. My wolf growled low in my chest, urging me forward, readying me for confrontation. I had tra