Chapter 3

My breath hitched.

Something clawed my chest — sharp, sudden, a talon hooking between ribs.

So this is how he does it.

Kael used that name. The one the whole pack used to mock me.

What he really meant: Revoke your mate candidate status. Walk away. Have nothing.

I raised my chin.

Held his gaze.

Twelve years collapsed into this moment.

His golden pupils flickered — that shift I knew better than my own heartbeat. The aggression rolling off him pulled back. Barely. Enough.

I knew him.

We knew each other too well.

One tail-flick, we read the other's mind.

Twelve years of fever nights. Burning moons. Staying awake when moonlight sickness took him — pressing my tongue to his forehead, licking sweat until shaking stopped.

Twelve years of scars.I went alone into enemy territory. Brought back a Fresh Elk Heart. Proved loyalty with my body. The fang that caught my jaw left a mark that never faded.

Every night snow stopped falling, he shifted — that massive ancient form — pulled me close, showed me auroras like he'd kept them just for me.

We never imagined leaving.

Never dared bare true fangs at each other.

But this time, Kael was different.

He put away Alpha dominance. Set it aside, deliberate and calm.

Then stepped in front of Lila anyway.

"Lila's being generous. She's not holding it against you. Apologize, and we move on."

Something cracked.Not loud. Not dramatic.Just — gone.

Twelve years, apart in one sentence.I almost laughed.

"No."Softness vanished from his face.

Fury replaced it — cold, absolute, the kind from deep and Alpha.

"Fenrisa." His voice dropped to warning. "You're testing my last nerve."

His last nerve.When did Kael have limits with me?

He used to say I was his limit. That no beast alive would touch me while he breathed.

Apparently that limit had a name now.Lila.

Suddenly pointless. Small. Exhausting.I turned toward my tent.

"Fine."Low growl tore from his throat. I heard him grab Lila's wrist, heard pine needles crunch under boots, then forest swallowed them.

I didn't look back.Inside, I spread the contract parchment flat.

Two hours to midnight.

Blood moon would peak. Assignment would lock. No ritual, no blood, no wanting could undo it.

I could go south. Marshlands. Territory that never knew my name.I didn't reach for the knife.

Just sat. Stared at parchment a long time.Then started reading.

Old texts. Southern geography. Marshland survival codes. Every rule, every danger, every thing needed to start over somewhere else.

Read until eyes burned.

Wolves began howling at midnight.

Rolled through valley like smoke — low, layered, rising from every direction.

Assignment done.I sat very still. Waited for fear.

It didn't.Sky stays up fine when you leave his territory.

Three days later, glacier canyons alone to hunt and clear my head.

Pack-link opened without warning.

Kael's voice slid in like he still had every right.

"Fenrisa. Temper's really something lately."

I kept walking.

"Sent a dozen messages. You haven't answered one. Blocking my scent mark too — seriously?"Silence.

"Actually planning to leave for full moon season? Fine. But don't expect me to haul your crates. All those hides and bags — let's see who helps."Two words back.

"Sure. Bye."

Southern marshlands, young wolves already organizing. Eager ones, friendly ones — posting on pack-link they'd meet northern arrivals at border on landing day.

Without Kael, world kept spinning.

Almost surprised how easily.

Then one more message.

Weight hit before words — pure Alpha anger, pressing against link like fist against glass.

"Think you're so bold, running south. Don't come crying when I've chosen someone else. You'll be the one begging me to take you back."

I shook my head.

Cut the link.

---

September arrived on schedule.

Booked airship ticket two weeks early. Departure at dawn. I'd always hated rushing.

The Everglades platform smelled like rain that hadn't fallen yet.

I had been on the ground for four minutes when pack-link cracked open.