A FEW DAYS LATER

The days dragged by like a slow-moving storm. I kept my distance from Harlan, shutting myself away in my room or occupying myself with the endless arrangements for the ceremony. The pain still lingered, but I buried it beneath the tasks that demanded my attention.

Harlan didn’t come looking for me, and I didn’t seek him out. We lived in the same house but moved as strangers, the silence between us colder than any argument could have been. Lila, on the other hand, had settled into the house as if she’d always belonged. She walked the halls like a queen surveying her kingdom, giving orders to the staff and involving herself in every detail of the upcoming ceremony. I didn’t want her to get on my nerves.

That morning, I stepped into the garden, the soft scent of roses and jasmine wafting in the cool breeze. The arrangements were nearly done, but my mind was elsewhere, lost in a tangle of emotions I couldn’t untangle.

“Careful with those lilies,” I called to one of the servants, “They’re for the centerpiece, and I don’t want them bruised.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the servant replied, adjusting his grip on the delicate flowers.

“Move the vases closer to the fountain,” I instructed another, gesturing toward the shimmering water. “They’ll reflect better in the light there.”

The servant hesitated. “But Miss Lila said…”

I cut him off, “I don’t care what Lila said. Follow my instructions.”

He nodded quickly, avoiding my gaze as he carried the vases to the fountain.

I turned to the head gardener, who was supervising the placement of the pergola. “That beam looks uneven,” I pointed out, shading my eyes against the sun. “It needs to be secured properly before the flowers are added. I don’t want it collapsing halfway through the ceremony.”

The gardener nodded,“I’ll have it fixed right away, Luna anya.”

As I gave the last set of instructions, I caught a faint scent that made my breath hitch. Pine and earth. Strong, grounding, and utterly unforgettable.

Kael.

My body stiffened, my chest tightening involuntarily. I didn’t turn around, refusing to acknowledge his presence, but my wolf stirred immediately, her energy rippling through me like a caged storm.

Ignore him, I told myself firmly, gripping the clipboard in my hands so tightly my knuckles turned white.

But my wolf had other ideas. She growled low, pushing against my restraint, I turned back to the gardener, forcing myself to focus. “Make sure the dais is cleaned and polished before the flowers are set. I don’t want a single speck of dirt visible.”

“Yes, Luna Anya,” he replied, before hurrying off.

I handed the clipboard to another servant and stepped back, my eyes scanning the arrangements. Just as I let out a breath, a loud creak broke through the quiet.

I looked up to see the pergola’s wooden beam splintering, the heavy structure groaning as it gave way. My body froze, my heart lurching in terror as the beam plummeted toward me.

“Anya!”

In a split second someone strong arms wrapped around me, and push me on the ground. We hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me. My body landed on top of him, the solid warmth of his chest cushioning my fall. His arms were still around me, strong and protective, holding me against him as if letting go wasn’t an option.

For a moment, everything stay stilled. The beam crashed mere inches away, sending a tremor through the ground, but I couldn’t focus on that. All I could hear was his heartbeat fast, and powerful beneath me, a rhythm that matched the wild pounding of my own.

My hands were splayed against his chest, and I could feel the rise and fall of his breathing, shallow and rapid. His scent surrounded me, pine and earth, grounding yet intoxicating. My wolf stirred, restless and yearning, her energy rippling through me like a live wire.

I tilted my head up, and our eyes met. Silver, intense and blazing with something unspoken. For a long moment his gaze held mine captive. My breath hitched, my chest tightening as I felt the pull between us.

“Anya, are you hurt?” He asked me but my body didn’t react the way I expected. I felt my wolf respond immediately, pushing against the surface, urging me to answer. She wanted to be near him, to feel his presence more than anything.

I’m fine, I sent back, trying to push the words past the overwhelming pull inside me. The world around us seemed to fade, leaving only the two of us, caught in the silence that hung thick in the air.

Don’t make me feel like this again, his wolf growled, low and possessive, I couldn’t speak. My throat tightened, my body frozen beneath him, and my wolf surged forward, craving his touch.

Kael, I tried again, but the word was just a whisper lost in the tension between us.

Our wolves fought for dominance, and the connection between us was so raw it burned. His hand gently cupped my face, his touch leaving an imprint on my skin.

You scared me, his wolf murmured through the bond. You shouldn’t freeze like that.

I wanted to say something, anything, but all I could do was stare up at him. The words wouldn't come. Instead, the only thing that filled the space between us was the rising storm of our wolves, pushing and pulling, unable to break free.

“Anya!”

The sharp call of my name shattered the moment.

We both turned to see Harlan striding toward us, and his gaze flickered between us, lingering on how close Kael was to me.

“What happened here?” he demanded,

“The pergola beam broke,” Kael replied, “I pulled her out of the way.”

Harlan’s expression softened when he looked at me. “Anya, are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, trying to sit up. But the moment I moved, a sharp pain shot through my ankle, and I gasped.

“ You don’t look like,” Harlan said, before I could say anything in one smooth motion, he scooped me into his arms as if I weighed nothing.

“Harlan, I can walk…”

“You’re not walking,” he interrupted, “You’re hurt. Just let me take care of this.”

As he carried me back to the house, I glanced over his shoulder. Kael was still standing in the garden, his gaze fixed on me.

Kael… I whispered inside my mind, but it was more a plea than a question.

Harlan noticed, his arms tightening around me protectively. “Kael,” he called over his shoulder, “thank you for helping her. But I’ll take it from here.”

Kael didn’t respond, his jaw clenched as he nodded once. His eyes never left mine, and as the distance between us grew, I felt an ache in my chest that I couldn’t explain.

Once inside, Harlan carried me straight to my room and laid me gently on the bed.

“Stay here,” he instructed, as he brushed a strand of hair from my face. “I’m calling the healer.”

“Harlan, I don’t need…”

“You do,” he cut me off, leaving no room for argument. His hand lingered on my cheek for a moment, his thumb brushing against my skin. “You scared me out there.”

I looked up at him, startled by the vulnerability in his voice.

“Please,” he added. “Just let me take care of this.”

Before I could respond, he turned and left, his absence leaving a strange void in the room.

The healer arrived not long after, she moved efficiently, examining my ankle with careful hands while murmuring incantations under her breath.

“You’re lucky it’s only a sprain,” she said after a moment, “No breaks, but you’ll need to stay off it for a few days. I’ll apply a salve to reduce the swelling and speed up the healing.”

I nodded silently, biting my lip as she worked. The coolness of the salve eased the throbbing pain in my ankle, Harlan stood nearby, his arms crossed, his eyes never leaving me. As the healer wrapped my ankle in a bandage, he moved closer, kneeling beside the bed.

“She’ll need to rest,” the healer continued, looking at Harlan. “No walking, no stress. Let the ankle heal naturally, and she should be fine in a few days.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” he replied.

The healer gave me a kind smile before gathering her things and leaving the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Harlan reached for my hand, “You scared me out there,” he murmured, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles.

“I didn’t mean to,” I said,

His gaze lifted to meet mine, and the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. “I can’t lose you, Anya. Not like that. Don’t ever do that again, please.” He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my fingers, his touch lingering as if to reassure himself that I was still here.

“I’ll be fine,” I said,

“You don’t have to be fine,” he replied, “Not with me. Just… let me take care of you.”

I didn’t know how to respond. He stayed by my side, but it couldn’t stop my thoughts from straying.

The memory of Kael’s touch, his scent, his eyes filled with something unspoken, refused to fade. My wolf stirred restlessly, her longing for him clashing with the warmth of Harlan’s care.

Harlan kissed my hand again, his lips soft against my skin. “Rest, Anya,” he said, “I’ll stay here. I’m not going anywhere.”

I closed my eyes, exhaustion pulling at me, but sleep didn’t come easily. My heart felt torn, caught between the man beside me and the wild, untamed pull of the one who had saved me.

The healer’s instructions were clear: rest, no walking, and minimal stress. Harlan seemed to take those words to heart, refusing to leave my side.

The first night, he stayed by the bed, sitting in a chair he’d dragged over. Every so often, I would wake to find him still there, his fingers loosely holding mine or brushing the hair from my face. His concern was genuine, but it couldn’t quiet the storm brewing inside me.

By morning, the swelling in my ankle had gone down, but I was still confined to the bed. Harlan brought breakfast himself and insisted on helping me sit up, though I assured him I could manage.

“Let me do this,” he said, and his hands on my shoulders as he adjusted the pillows behind me. “You shouldn’t strain yourself.”

“I’m not completely helpless,” I replied, attempting a smile.

“You were almost crushed by a beam yesterday, Anya,” he said, “Forgive me if I’m a little overprotective.”

I didn’t argue. I couldn’t but no matter how kind or attentive Harlan was, my thoughts kept straying to Kael. The way his arms had felt around me, the way he called my name. My wolf had been restless ever since, her emotions a confusing mix of longing and frustration.

Why him? I questioned her, trying to make sense of it. Why Kael, when Harlan is right here?

But she offered no answers, only a quiet hum of acknowledgment whenever his name crossed my mind.

By the third day, I was restless. Harlan had been a constant presence, ensuring I ate, drank, and rested. He read my favorite lecture in the evenings, and even convinced me to let him carry me to the balcony for fresh air.

“Look at that view,” he said softly, his hand around my waist as he helped me settle into a chair. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

I nodded, my gaze on the distant hills, but my thoughts were elsewhere. My chest tightened with guilt, knowing I should be grateful for his care, and yet, the memory of Kael’s eyes, his voice, his touch, lingered like a shadow I couldn’t escape.

Harlan’s fingers brushed mine, pulling me back to the present. “You seem far away,” he said, “Are you still in pain?”

“No,” I lied, forcing a smile. “I’m just tired.”

He nodded, though his eyes lingered on mine as if searching for something I wasn’t ready to share.

Meanwhile, Lila’s presence in the house had grown more noticeable and more irksome.

She would appear at odd moments, her perfume lingering in the hallways. Whenever Harlan stepped away, she would find an excuse to be near him. But it wasn’t working. Harlan’s attention remained on me, and Lila’s frustration was evident.

“She’s milking this for all it’s worth,” I overheard her mutter to a maid one afternoon. “Harlan hasn’t left her side. It’s pathetic, really. She can’t even walk without him hovering like she’s made of glass.”

I clenched my fists at her words, but I said nothing. My ankle was still tender, and I couldn’t afford to waste energy on her pettiness.

But Lila wasn’t one to give up easily.

That evening, as Harlan helped me back into bed, Lila appeared in the doorway, a tray of tea in her hands.

“I thought you might need this,” she said sweetly, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Chamomile, to help you sleep.”

“Thank you, Lila,” Harlan said, but He didn’t even glance at her as he adjusted the blanket over me.

She lingered in the doorway, her grip tightening on the tray. “You’ve been taking such good care of her, Harlan. It’s admirable, really. But don’t you think she could manage a little more independence by now? The healer said it was just a sprain.”

“She needs rest, Lila. And I’ll decide how best to care for her.”

I avoided looking at either of them, wishing to disappear.“Well,” Lila said after a moment, “if you need anything, you know where to find me.”

She turned and left, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Harlan sat back down beside me, his fingers finding mine once more. “Don’t let her bother you,” he said softly. “She is having a hard time taking care of shadow.”

But that wasn’t true not entirely. Because as much as Lila’s jealousy irritated me, it also highlighted a truth I couldn’t ignore. Harlan’s care, should have been enough. He was my chosen mate, the one I was supposed to build a life with. But my wolf, my heart, couldn’t seem to let go of the pull toward Kael.

As the days passed, that pull only grew stronger, and with it, my confusion.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kael’s face, felt his arms around me, heard his voice. My wolf would stir, and I couldn’t silence her no matter how hard I tried.

And through it all, Harlan remained by my side, his love and care a constant reminder of the life I was supposed to want.

But deep down, I knew, something had shifted. Something I couldn’t explain, something I couldn’t control. And no matter how much I tried to push it away, it refused to be ignored.

A few days passed, and I was feeling much better. My ankle was still tender, but I could move around the house with little difficulty. Harlan, after making sure I was comfortable and didn’t need anything, finally left to attend a pack meeting that required his presence.

The house felt quieter without him, and I decided to spend some time in the library. The shelves were slightly disorganized, and I thought arranging the books might help distract my restless mind.

I was reaching up to place a leather-bound book back on the shelf when I heard the door creak open behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was; the faint scent of roses and the sharp click of her heels were unignorable.

“Anya,” Lila’s voice came, sickly sweet but laced with venom.

I glanced over my shoulder. “Lila.”

She stepped inside, her arms crossed as she leaned casually against the nearest bookshelf. “You seem to be recovering well,” she said, “It’s impressive how quickly you’ve managed to bounce back. Harlan must be relieved.”

I turned back to the books, unwilling to engage. “Is there something you need, Lila?”

She chuckled as she walked closer. “Need? No. I was just wondering how it feels to have Harlan’s attention only because you got yourself injured. Must be nice having someone dote on you all the time.”

I froze for a moment but kept my focus on the books. “Harlan is my mate. Of course, he’d care for me.”

She laugh. “Your chosen mate,” she corrected,“But I wonder… how long will that last? Harlan’s a man of duty, Anya. He’s devoted, yes, but for how long can he ignore the… incompatibilities?”

I placed a book down carefully, my patience starting to fray. “What are you trying to say, Lila?”

She smirked, stepping closer. “I’m saying you don’t fit into his world as well as you think you do. You’re clinging to a man who deserves someone who matches him…someone like me.”

“You’re wasting your time, Lila. Harlan chose me. And no amount of scheming or petty comments will change that.”

“Scheming?” she asked,. “Oh no, I don’t need to scheme, Anya. I’m simply stating the obvious. Harlan doesn’t look at you the way he used to. And honestly, I can’t blame him. You’re... distracted, aren’t you? Thinking about someone else, maybe?”

My heart skipped a beat, and I turned to face her fully, my anger rising. “Enough, Lila.”

But she didn’t stop. She stepped closer, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed. You’re restless, uneasy. And why is that, Anya? Is it because of him? Because of the way Kael…”

“Don’t,” I snapped,

“Oh, I hit a nerve, didn’t I? Poor Anya, torn between her chosen mate and the one her wolf truly wants. Does Harlan know? Or are you planning to keep playing the perfect little mate while your thoughts betray him?”

My wolf stirred, her growl rumbling in the back of my mind. I took a step forward, narrowing the distance between us. “You don’t know anything about me, Lila. And if you value your place in this pack, I suggest you stop pushing me.”

She raised an eyebrow, “Or what?”

I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Or you’ll find out exactly what happens when someone crosses me.”

“You think you can scare me?” she said. “You’re nothing, Anya. Just a placeholder. And sooner or later, Harlan will see that when I tell him the truth about kael.”

I straightened, my anger simmering just below the surface. My patience finally snapping as Lila continued to provoke me. Her words felt like daggers, and every part of me wanted to scream at her to leave. But when she mentioned Kael, something inside me broke.

Before I even realized what I was doing, I lunged at her, my hands gripping her shoulders and slamming her into the nearest wall. The force of the impact rattled the shelves, and Lila gasped in shock, her eyes wide with fear. I held her there, my fingers tightening around her neck, lifting her off the ground slightly as my wolf roared within me, demanding control.

“You don’t get to talk about him,” I hissed, “You don’t know anything about me, Lila. And if you ever try to come for what’s mine again, I will make you regret it.”

Her hands scrambled at my wrist, gasping for breath, but I didn’t let go. My gaze was locked on hers, my anger boiling over.

“You… you’re crazy,” she choked out, “You can’t…”