I shouldn't have gone.

Every rational part of me knew it. But rational didn't matter when the bond was burning a hole through my chest, dragging me toward him like I was tethered by an invisible chain.

I waited until the estate went quiet. Until the lights in the main house dimmed and the wolves settled into their rooms for the night. Then I slipped out of the servants' quarters, keeping to the shadows, heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.

He had told me which room. Third floor, east wing, last door on the left.

I climbed the back stairs, the ones the servants used, and prayed no one would see me. If anyone caught me sneaking into the Alpha King's room, I was dead. Or worse.

But I kept walking.

The hallway was empty when I reached the third floor. Moonlight spilled through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the floor. I moved quickly, quietly, until I stood in front of his door.

I raised my hand to knock.

The door opened before I could.

Jasper stood there, still dressed but barefoot, his shirt half unbuttoned. His eyes locked onto mine, dark and intense, and the bond flared so violently I had to grab the doorframe to steady myself.

"I wasn't sure you would come," he said quietly.

"I wasn't either," I admitted.

He stepped aside, and I walked in.

The room was huge. Bigger than my entire living space in the servants' quarters. A massive bed dominated one side, dark wood and heavy blankets. A fireplace crackled softly on the other side, casting warm light across the walls. It smelled like him-pine and smoke and something wild I couldn't name.

The door clicked shut behind me.

I turned, suddenly nervous, suddenly aware of how small I felt in this space. How out of place.

"Quinn," he said, and the way he said my name made my wolf stir.

"This is insane," I whispered.

"I know."

"If anyone finds out-"

"They won't."

I looked at him, at the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands were clenched at his sides like he was holding himself back.

"Why did you ask me here?" I asked.

He crossed the room in two strides, stopping just in front of me. Close enough that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes.

"Because I can't stay away from you," he said roughly. "I have tried. All day, I have tried. And I can't."

My breath hitched.

"This bond," he continued, his voice low and strained. "It is not supposed to feel like this. Not this fast. Not this strong."

"I know," I whispered.

His hand came up, cupping my face, thumb brushing across my cheek. The touch sent heat rushing through me, and my wolf purred in satisfaction.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured. "Tell me this is a mistake, and I will let you walk out of here."

I should have. I should have said the words and left before this went any further.

But I didn't.

Instead, I reached up and pulled him down to me.

The kiss was different this time. Slower. Deeper. Like he was trying to memorize the taste of me. His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me against him, and I melted into the heat of his body.

My wolf howled in approval.

He lifted me easily, carrying me toward the bed, and I didn't protest. Didn't think. Just felt.

The mattress was soft beneath me as he laid me down, his body covering mine, his weight grounding me in a way I didn't know I needed. His mouth moved from my lips to my jaw, down my neck, and I gasped when his teeth grazed the spot where a mating mark would go.

"Jasper," I breathed.

He pulled back, breathing hard, eyes searching mine.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

No. I wasn't sure of anything.

But I nodded anyway.

"Yes."

Something in him snapped.

His hands were everywhere, pulling at my clothes, his own, until there was nothing between us but skin and heat and the bond thrumming so loudly I couldn't hear anything else. He was careful, more careful than I expected, his hands gentle even as his wolf pushed at the surface, demanding more.

When he finally claimed me, the bond exploded.

It was overwhelming. All-consuming. Like every nerve in my body was on fire and freezing at the same time. My wolf howled, triumphant and wild, and I felt him-really felt him-for the first time. His emotions, his pain, his need. It crashed into me like a tidal wave, and I didn't know where I ended and he began.

"Quinn," he groaned against my neck, his voice wrecked.

I clung to him, gasping, lost in the sensation of being completely and utterly connected to another person.

It should have been terrifying.

Instead, it felt like coming home.

Afterward, we lay tangled together, his arm heavy across my waist, my head resting on his chest. The fire had burned low, and the room was warm and quiet.

I should have left. Should have slipped out before anyone woke up.

But I didn't want to move.

"What happens now?" I asked softly.

His hand tightened on my hip. "I don't know."

I turned my head to look at him. His eyes were closed, his jaw tight, and I realized he was just as lost as I was.

"Your council won't accept this," I said.

"No," he agreed. "They won't."

"Vanessa-"

"I know."

Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.

"Maybe we can keep it quiet," I said, even though I didn't believe it. "Just for a while. Until we figure out-"

"Quinn." He opened his eyes, and the look in them made my stomach drop. "This bond. It is not something we can hide. Not for long."

"Then what do we do?"

He didn't answer.

And in that silence, I felt the first crack of dread settle into my chest.

I woke alone.

The bed beside me was cold, the fire reduced to embers. Pale morning light filtered through the window, and for a moment, I didn't remember where I was.

Then it all came rushing back.

I sat up, heart pounding, and looked around the empty room.

He was gone.

I dressed quickly, hands shaking, and slipped out into the hallway. It was still early. Most of the pack wouldn't be awake yet. I could make it back to my room without anyone seeing me.

I hoped.

I made it down two flights of stairs before I heard voices.

"-convene in the main hall at noon. The Alpha King has requested a formal gathering."

My blood went cold.

I pressed myself against the wall, hidden in the shadows, as two council members passed by.

"Do you think he has made a decision about the alliance?" one of them asked.

"Perhaps. Though I heard Vanessa has been quite persuasive."

They laughed, and the sound made my stomach turn.

I waited until they were gone, then hurried the rest of the way to my room.

A formal gathering. At noon.

I didn't know what it meant, but the dread in my chest had turned into a full-blown knot.

Something was wrong.

I spent the morning trying to stay busy, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking. The bond hummed under my skin, restless and anxious, like my wolf could sense something I couldn't.

At noon, I heard the bells ring.

The gathering had begun.

I wasn't supposed to attend. I was never supposed to attend pack meetings. But I couldn't stay away. Not today.

I made my way to the main hall, slipping in through the back entrance, and pressed myself into the corner behind a stone pillar where no one would see me.

The hall was packed. Wolves lined the walls, council members sat at the front, and Vanessa stood near the center, looking radiant and smug.

And then Jasper walked in.

He looked every inch the Alpha King. Powerful. Untouchable. His expression was cold, unreadable, and my wolf whined at the sight of him.

He didn't look at me. Didn't even glance in my direction.

Elder Rowan stepped forward. "Alpha King, we are honored by your presence. Have you come to a decision regarding the alliance?"

Jasper's jaw tightened.

"I have," he said, his voice carrying across the hall.

The room went silent.

"But first," he continued, "there is another matter that must be addressed."

My heart stopped.

No.

He wouldn't.

"Last night," Jasper said slowly, his eyes scanning the crowd, "I discovered my fated mate."

Gasps rippled through the hall. Vanessa's smile faltered.

And then his eyes found mine.

"Quinn Blackwood."

The room erupted.

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move.

He had just announced it. In front of everyone.

And from the look on his face, I knew what was coming next.

"However," Jasper said, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade, "I cannot accept this bond."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

"Quinn Blackwood is cursed," he continued, his tone flat and merciless. "Born under a blood moon, weak, and unworthy of standing beside an Alpha King. For the good of this pack and my own, I reject her as my mate."

The bond didn't break.

It shattered.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest, I collapsed holding my chest tight.

Around me, wolves whispered and stared.

And Jasper stood at the front of the hall, his face a mask of ice, as I fell apart in the shadows.he shadows.

I couldn't breathe.

The pain was everywhere. In my chest, my bones, my blood. Like something inside me was being ripped apart piece by piece, and I was still conscious enough to feel every second of it.

I heard voices around me. Whispers. Gasps. Someone laughed.

But I couldn't see anything except the floor in front of me and the hands I had pressed against my chest, trying to hold myself together.

It didn't work.

The bond was supposed to break. That was how rejection worked. You said the words, the bond severed, and both wolves moved on. Clean. Final.

But this wasn't clean.

This was agony.

"Get her out of here," someone said.

Hands grabbed my arms, hauling me upright. My legs wouldn't hold me. I sagged between two wolves I didn't recognize, their grips bruising as they dragged me toward the door.

I tried to look back. Tried to find him in the crowd.

But Jasper wasn't looking at me anymore.

He had already turned away.

They threw me outside like I was trash.

I hit the ground hard, gravel cutting into my palms. The impact jarred something loose in my chest, and I gasped, curling in on myself as another wave of pain tore through me.

My wolf was howling. Screaming. Clawing at the inside of my skull like she was trying to break free and go back to him.

But there was no going back.

He had rejected us.

In front of everyone.

"Pathetic."

I looked up.

Vanessa stood over me, arms crossed, her face twisted in disgust.

"Did you really think he would choose you?" she asked, her voice dripping with venom. "You? A cursed omega with nothing to offer?"

I didn't answer. Couldn't.

She crouched down, her eyes cold and sharp. "He spent one night with you because the bond made him weak. But he is stronger than that. Stronger than you."

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"And now everyone knows exactly what you are. A mistake."

She stood and walked away, her laughter echoing behind her.

I stayed on the ground, shaking, unable to move.

Hours passed. Or maybe minutes. I didn't know.

The pain didn't stop. It just kept burning, twisting, digging deeper. My wolf had gone silent now, retreating so far inside me I wasn't sure she would ever come back.

Maybe that was better.

"Quinn."

I flinched at the sound of my name.

Elder Rowan stood a few feet away, his face pale and drawn. He looked older than I had ever seen him, like the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders overnight.

"You need to leave," he said quietly.

I stared at him. "What?"

"The council has made their decision." His voice was hollow. "You are to be banished from pack lands. Effective immediately."

The words didn't register at first.

Banished.

"You cannot stay here," he continued, and there was something like regret in his eyes. "The bond... it has not broken. And as long as it remains, you are a threat to the Alpha King's authority."

A threat.

I almost laughed. Almost.

"Where am I supposed to go?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer.

"Elder Rowan." I forced myself to stand, even though my legs shook. "Where am I supposed to go?"

"I do not know," he admitted, and he wouldn't meet my eyes. "But you cannot stay here."

"This is my home."

"Not anymore."

The finality in his voice cut deeper than the rejection had.

I looked at him, this man who had known me since I was a child. Who had watched me grow up. Who had seen everything I had endured and said nothing.

"You knew," I said suddenly. "You knew this would happen."

His jaw tightened.

"You knew he was my mate. You felt it. And you said nothing."

"I could not interfere," he said quietly. "The council-"

"The council." I laughed bitterly. "Of course. The council decides everything, doesn't it? Even who gets to suffer."

"Quinn-"

"No." I stepped back, away from him. "You do not get to feel guilty now. You had a chance to help me, and you chose them. Just like everyone else."

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

There was nothing left to say.

I turned and walked away.

I did not have much to pack. A spare shirt, a blanket, and a small pouch of dried food I had been saving. Everything I owned fit into a single bag.

I slung it over my shoulder and stepped outside.

The estate was quiet. No one came to say goodbye. No one even looked at me as I made my way toward the gates.

Except one.

Jasper stood near the entrance to the main house, half hidden in the shadows. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw something flicker across his face.

Regret. Pain. Guilt.

I didn't care.

I turned away and kept walking.

The gates closed behind me with a heavy clang, and just like that, I was alone.

The world beyond the pack lands was bigger than I remembered. Colder. The trees pressed in on all sides, thick and dark, and the path ahead was barely visible in the fading light.

I walked until my legs gave out.

Then I collapsed beneath a tree, pulled my knees to my chest, and finally let myself break.

The sobs came hard and fast, tearing out of me like something feral. My chest heaved, my throat burned, and I couldn't stop.

He had looked at me like I mattered.

He had touched me like I was something precious.

And then he had thrown me away like I was nothing.

My wolf stirred weakly, a soft whimper echoing in the back of my mind.

"I know," I whispered. "I know."

But knowing didn't make it hurt less.

I don't know how long I sat there. Hours, maybe. The sun set, and the forest grew darker, but I didn't move.

I couldn't.

The bond was still there. Still burning. A constant reminder that he had rejected me, but the connection refused to die.

It twisted inside me, sharp and vicious, like a wound that wouldn't heal.

And I realized something.

This was not just rejection.

This was a curse.

I pressed a hand to my chest, gasping as another wave of pain rolled through me.

A curse.

The word echoed in my mind, over and over, until it was the only thing I could hear.

I had been born cursed. Everyone said so. Born under a blood moon, marked from the start.

But this was different.

This was worse.

Because now I was tied to him. Bound to the man who had destroyed me. And no matter how far I ran, no matter how much I wanted to forget, the bond would always pull me back.

I would never be free.

A howl echoed in the distance, long and low.

I looked up, heart pounding.

Another howl answered. Closer this time.

Rogues.

I scrambled to my feet, grabbing my bag, and started running.

The pain slowed me down. My legs were weak, my body still reeling from the rejection, but I pushed through it. I had to.

Because out here, I was prey.

And if the rogues found me, I was dead.

I ran until I couldn't anymore. Until my lungs burned and my vision blurred and I collapsed against a tree, gasping for air.

The howls had stopped.

But I knew they were still out there.

Watching.

Waiting.

I closed my eyes and prayed to a moon goddess who had never listened to me before.

Please.

Just let me survive the night.

But deep down, I wasn't sure I wanted to.

That night, every sound in the forest made me flinch. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves. I sat with my back pressed against the tree, knees drawn to my chest, listening.

The howls had stopped hours ago, but I knew better than to relax.

Rogues didn't give up that easily.

By the time the sun rose, I was exhausted. My body ached from sitting in one position too long, and the bond was a constant, throbbing pain in my chest that I couldn't ignore.

But I was alive.

That had to count for something.

I forced myself to stand, wincing as my stiff muscles protested. My bag felt heavier than it should have, even though there was barely anything in it. I pulled out a piece of dried meat and chewed it slowly, trying to make it last.

I had no idea how long my supplies would hold out. A few days, maybe. A week if I was careful.

After that, I would have to figure something else out.

I started walking.

I didn't have a destination. Didn't have a plan. I just knew I needed to put distance between myself and the pack lands. Between myself and him.

The forest was thick and unfamiliar. I had never been this far from Burrowtown before. The trees here were older and taller, their branches tangled overhead like a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight. The air smelled damp, like rain and earth and something faintly metallic I couldn't place.

My wolf was still silent.

I tried reaching for her a few times, calling out in my mind, but she didn't respond. It was like she had retreated so far inside me that I couldn't find her anymore.

Maybe she was ashamed.

Or maybe she was just tired of fighting.

I walked until my legs burned and my feet blistered inside my worn boots. When I finally stopped, the sun was high overhead, though I could barely see it through the trees.

I sat down on a fallen log and pulled out my water canteen. It was half empty already. I took a small sip, just enough to wet my throat, and forced myself to stop.

Water would be a problem soon.

Everything would be a problem soon.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and tried to think.

I couldn't go back. That much was clear. Even if I wanted to, the pack would never take me in again. I was banished. Cursed. A mistake they wanted to forget.

But where else could I go?

There were other packs, but they wouldn't accept a lone omega with no resources and no connections. Especially not one who had been rejected by an Alpha King. Word would spread fast. It probably already had.

I could try to make it to a human city, but I had no money, no identification, and no way to survive in their world.

That left the wildlands. The spaces between pack territories where rogues roamed and laws didn't apply.

I shuddered.

I had heard the stories. Wolves who ventured into the wildlands alone rarely came back. And when they did, they were never the same.

But what choice did I have?

A sharp pain lanced through my chest, and I gasped, doubling over.

The bond.

It pulsed, hot and vicious, like a knife twisting between my ribs. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I felt him.

Jasper.

Not his thoughts. Not his words. But his presence. His pain.

He was suffering too.

The realization should have made me feel better. Should have felt like justice.

But it didn't.

It just made everything worse.

Because no matter how much he hurt, it would never undo what he had done. It would never take back the words he had said in front of everyone. It would never erase the way he had looked at me like I was nothing.

The pain faded slowly, leaving me shaking and breathless.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and forced myself to stand.

I couldn't afford to break down. Not here. Not now.

I kept walking.

By late afternoon, I found a stream.

The water was cold and clear, running over smooth stones that glittered in the faint sunlight. I knelt beside it and drank deeply, not caring if it was safe. I was too thirsty to care.

When I had my fill, I splashed water on my face and neck, washing away the dirt and sweat. It didn't make me feel better, but it helped.

I sat back on my heels and stared at my reflection in the water.

I looked terrible.

My face was pale and gaunt, with dark circles under my eyes. My hair was a tangled mess, and there was a bruise on my cheek I didn't remember getting. I looked exactly like what I was.

Broken.

I turned away from the water and pulled out my blanket, spreading it on the ground near the stream. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

I lay down and stared up at the trees.

The bond throbbed again, softer this time. A dull ache instead of a sharp pain.

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore it.

Sleep didn't come easily.

When it finally did, it was restless and full of dreams I didn't want.

I woke to the sound of footsteps.

My eyes snapped open, and I froze.

Someone was nearby.

I stayed perfectly still, barely breathing, straining to hear.

The footsteps were slow. Deliberate. Like whoever it was wasn't trying to hide.

My heart hammered in my chest.

A figure stepped into view.

It was a man. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair and clothes that looked like they had seen better days. He moved with the easy confidence of someone who knew how to handle himself.

A rogue.

He stopped a few feet away and looked down at me.

"You are a long way from home," he said. His voice was low and rough, but not unkind.

I scrambled to my feet, putting distance between us. "Stay back."

He raised his hands slowly, a gesture of peace. "Relax. I am not here to hurt you."

"That is what they all say."

He tilted his head, studying me. "You are alone out here. No pack scent. No supplies worth stealing. You are either very brave or very stupid."

"Neither," I said flatly. "Just desperate."

Something flickered in his eyes. Understanding, maybe.

"What happened?" he asked.

"None of your business."

He didn't push. Just stood there, watching me like he was trying to figure something out.

"There are rogues in this area," he said finally. "Dangerous ones. If they find you, they will not be as polite as I am."

"I know."

"Then you should leave."

"And go where?" I snapped. "I have nowhere to go."

He was quiet for a moment.

"There is a place," he said slowly. "About a day's walk from here. Neutral ground. It is not much, but it is safer than this."

I stared at him, suspicious. "Why would you help me?"

He shrugged. "Why not?"

"That is not an answer."

"It is the only one you are going to get."

I didn't trust him. I didn't trust anyone anymore.

But I also didn't have a choice.

"Fine," I said. "Show me."

He nodded and started walking.

I grabbed my bag and followed, keeping a careful distance between us.

We walked in silence for a long time. The sun began to set, casting long shadows through the trees. My feet ached, and the bond pulsed with every step, but I didn't complain.

Finally, he stopped.

"We will camp here tonight," he said. "It is too dangerous to travel in the dark."

I didn't argue.

He built a small fire while I sat on the opposite side, watching him warily.

"What is your name?" he asked once the fire was going.

I hesitated. "Quinn."

"Quinn," he repeated, like he was testing it out. "I am Lucien."

I didn't respond.

He pulled out a piece of bread from his pack and tossed it to me. I caught it, surprised.

"Eat," he said. "You look like you are about to collapse."

I wanted to refuse. Wanted to tell him I didn't need his help.

But I was starving.

I ate the bread slowly, savoring every bite.

Lucien watched the fire, his expression unreadable.

"You were rejected," he said quietly.

I stiffened. "How did you-"

"I can feel it. The bond. It is still there, is it not? Twisted and wrong."

I didn't answer.

He looked at me then, and there was something in his eyes I couldn't name. Sympathy, maybe. Or recognition.

"You are not the first," he said. "And you will not be the last."

"That is supposed to make me feel better?"

"No. Just letting you know you are not alone."

I laughed bitterly. "I am alone. That is the whole problem."

He didn't argue.

We sat in silence after that, the fire crackling softly between us.

And for the first time since the rejection, I felt something other than pain.

Not hope.

But maybe something close to it.