All Chapters of Chained To An Enemy Alpha: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Zane The forest does not like it when you rush. Between the trees every sound lingers longer, every hoofprint stays in the ground for too long, and even the air behaves as if it remembers who passed through it. The road toward the land of the Red Moon was not long for someone riding alone, with light gear and a clear mind. But now I was not alone, and nothing I carried was light. Elariana lay in my arms like a quiet, warm weight. She did not make me want to slow down. She made me want to go faster. But my wolf warned me at every step. Rushing breeds mistakes. Mistakes breed death. My pack moved in two lines. Scouts in front, rear guard behind, the wounded and those carrying the most important supplies in the middle. No one spoke without reason. Sounds were short and precise. Every movement carried the aftertaste of the night before. The smell of blood, the harsh breath of battle, and the knowledge that we were no longer just being chased. We were being hunted.

Zane The silence in the Sanctuary after the scream was far more terrifying than the sound itself. As if even the stones were waiting for something. As if the water that moments before had been swirling like a vortex around Elariana’s body was now holding its breath, watching to see what would remain of her after the Moon’s judgment: the same woman I had brought here, or someone else entirely, someone who no longer asked permission to exist. The invisible barrier held for one last moment. I felt it stretched tight in the air like a drawn bowstring, and every nerve in my body screamed for me to break through it, to go to her, to grab her, to pull her out of the water, because my instincts could not endure that she was an arm’s length away and still unreachable. My wolf clawed angrily at my ribs from the inside, furious and impatient. And then… something changed. I did not see the wall vanish. There was no flash. No sound. I simply

Elariana The house is quieter inside than I expected. Not empty. Not abandoned. Just restrained. Thick walls soften every sound. The floor does not creak beneath our steps. Every movement has weight, as if the building is used to strong wolves living within it. As Zane carries me inside, I feel that this is not a guesthouse, not a temporary place. This is his home. The Alpha’s house. And now… I am here too. That thought is frightening and calming at the same time. I do not know what I would do with it if I let it circle in my head for too long, so instead I focus on what I feel. The motion of his arms. The steady rise and fall of his chest. The bond between us, stretched tight but no longer painful or raw. It feels firm now, as if it has always been there and I simply never had a name for it. We pass through a wide door into a large room. It is not decorated. Not impressive. A massive bed stands in the center, dark wood, thick mattress, clean blankets. Heav

Zane The temporary room was in the quieter part of the house. Not isolated. Not hidden away. Just far enough to give her space to breathe. That was the intention. Not to confine her. Not to control her. To give her room before the world became too much again. "This will be your room," I said, stepping aside from the doorway so she could enter first. Elariana went in slowly. She did not rush. Her eyes moved across the space, the bed, the window, the small table, the shelves. It was simple, bright, clean. There was nothing threatening in it. I saw that she liked it. Her face relaxed. Her shoulders lowered. "It is nice," she said quietly. I nodded. "You can stay here as long as you want. There is no rush. If you want to change anything, just tell me." For a moment, there was silence. I thought that was it. That she would sit on the bed, look around, maybe ask something. Instead, I saw her gaze stop. Not on the room.

Zane The great hall was always loud in the evening. Not chaotic. Not unruly. Just full of life. Long tables filled up, dishes clinked, conversations crossed and split apart, laughter rose here and there, and the fire in the hearth crackled as if it wanted to be part of the noise itself. This was the rhythm of the pack. What I was used to. Where I belonged. And now Elariana was sitting in it too. Not at the front. Not singled out. Not hidden away. Beside me. From the corner of my eye, I watched her take in the hall. Her body was still a little tense, that could not be hidden, but it was no longer the rigid, ready-to-flee stiffness that crowds used to trigger in her. Her shoulders were not drawn up to her ears. Her hands were not gripping the edge of the table until they turned white. She was breathing. That alone was a victory. The food was in front of her, a proper portion. No one was watching her. No one was measuring. Still, sh