Talia's POV

Morning came quietly.

No alarms. No rush. Just soft light creeping through the tall windows and the distant sound of movement outside, footsteps, voices, life continuing without me.

For a long moment, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, wondering how this life had become my reality.

I wasn't supposed to be here.

I was supposed to be back home, waking up early, grinding herbs, checking on the old woman down the hill with the bad lungs, brewing tonics for feverish children.

That was my life. It was simple. I made an honest living.

Instead, I was in the den of wolves.

A knock came at the door, gentle and polite.

"Miss Talia?" Ingrid's voice followed. "Are you awake?"

I sat up. "Yes."

She entered with a soft smile, carrying folded clothes in her arms. Her presence was calming in a way I couldn't explain. Maybe because she didn't look at me like I was strange or dangerous or precious.

She just looked... kind.

"We'll go outside today," she said casually, setting the clothes on the bed. "It will help."

I frowned. "Help with what?"

She met my eyes. "With understanding who we are and how we live."

I didn't respond immediately.

The truth was, Ingrid and I had talked long into the night. I had ranted, complained, accused, and nearly cried. She had listened to everything without interrupting me once.

She told me stories about the pack. About Ramon.

"Ramon is the kindest and best wolf I've ever known," she had said softly. "Being an Alpha never made him proud. It only made him careful."

That sentence still rang in my head.

Careful.

I laughed bitterly when she said it.

"I have a life," I told her then. "I take care of sick people back home. People depend on me. So how does he expect me to throw all that away just because of what? Fate, a stupid bond?"

She didn't argue.

"I don't even know him," I continued. "You say he's not proud, but I've never met a more arrogant person in my life."

Ingrid had only smiled.

"Walk with me tomorrow," she said. "Then decide."

And now tomorrow is here.

I dressed quietly, my hands shaking just a little. The clothes Ingrid brought were simple,soft trousers and a loose top.

Nothing royal. Nothing ceremonial. That alone eased my nerves a bit.

When we stepped outside, the air was cool and fresh. The scent of pine and earth filled my lungs, grounding me.

Then I saw them.

The pack.

They were everywhere.

Men and women moving through the open grounds, some carrying baskets, some training, others talking in small groups. At first glance, they looked... ordinary. Like humans going about their day.

But then I felt it.

Their eyes on me.

They looked at me.

Like I wasn't supposed to be here.

Every step I took beside Ingrid felt heavier than the last. Whispers didn't follow me, but awareness did. A shift in wolf's posture. A pause in conversation. A glance held a second too long.

I swallowed.

"They know," I murmured.

Ingrid nodded calmly. "Of course they do."

"That I'm... his?"

"Yes."

My stomach tightened.

I hugged my arms around myself as we walked deeper into the pack grounds. Buildings surrounded us, stone and wood, strong and old. This place had history.

And I didn't belong.

A woman passed us, her gaze sharp and curious. A man bowed his head slightly when Ingrid greeted him. Another stared openly until Ingrid shot him a warning look.

"They're watching," I whispered.

"They always do," Ingrid replied. "It's not cruelty. It's instinct."

Instinct.

I hated that word.

A group of children ran past us, laughing loudly. One of them, a small girl with wild curls, stopped abruptly when she saw me.

She tilted her head. "You smell different."

I froze.

Ingrid crouched beside her. "That's not polite."

The child shrugged. "She smells warm."

I didn't know whether to laugh or panic.

The girl stepped closer and reached for my hand before I could react. Her grip was small and confident.

"Are you Alpha Ramon's mate?" she asked bluntly.

My heart nearly stopped.

"I..." I glanced at Ingrid, helpless.

Ingrid smiled gently. "That's not for you to worry about."

The girl nodded as if that satisfied her completely. "Okay." Then she grinned at me. "You're pretty."

And just like that, she ran off.

I stood there, stunned.

The children weren't afraid of me.

That... unsettled me more than hostility would have.

As we continued walking, I began to notice things.

No one shouted orders. No one bowed deeply or groveled. People greeted each other with respect. Warriors trained hard, but elders watched and corrected patiently.

Food was shared freely.

And then I saw him.

Not Ramon.

But his influence.

A young man stumbled during training, dropping his weapon. Instead of being mocked, another warrior helped him up and corrected his stance.

"Alpha says strength without discipline is useless," someone muttered nearby.

I stopped walking.

"What did he say?" I asked quietly.

Ingrid looked at me carefully. "Ramon."

I looked away.

I didn't want to see him differently. I didn't want my anger softened by small observations.

He stole my life, my feelings weren't going to change.

We passed a woman sitting on a bench, her leg wrapped in cloth. Ramon knelt beside her, speaking softly, his expression soft, not commanding.

I watched from afar.

He laughed quietly at something she said. Then he helped her stand.

My chest tightened painfully.

This wasn't the arrogant man I know .

This wasn't the man who told me I was bound to him.

And that scared me more than anything else.

As we moved on, someone stepped into our path.

She was beautiful. Tall. Dark-haired. Her smile was warm and welcoming.

"You must be Talia," she said.

I stiffened.

"Yes."

"I'm Selene," she replied. "I've been hoping to meet you."

Her voice was gentle.

"I know this must be difficult," she continued softly. "Being dragged into our world without choice."

Dragged.

That word wrapped itself around my heart.

"I'm sorry," I said, surprised by how honest my voice sounded.

She shook her head. "You don't need to apologize. I would've run too."

I blinked. "You would?"

She smiled sadly. "Ramon forgets that not everyone is born into strength."

Something about her felt... comforting.

Like an anchor.

As Ingrid excused herself briefly, Selene walked beside me.

"If you ever need someone to talk to," she said quietly, "someone who understands how heavy this place can feel, I'm here."

I nodded slowly.

For the first time since I arrived, I felt less alone.

But as she walked away, I noticed something strange.

She didn't bow to Ramon when she passed him.

And Ramon watched her leave with a look I couldn't read.

A chill ran down my spine.

As Ingrid returned, I exhaled shakily.

"They don't hate me," I said.

"No," Ingrid replied. "They fear change."

"And you?" I asked softly. "Do you fear me?"

She stopped walking and looked at me fully.

"No," she said. "I fear what will happen if you don't survive long enough to choose. Everyone is waiting"

That night, as I lay in bed again, one truth settled heavily in my chest.

This pack wasn't waiting to see if I belonged.

They were waiting to see if I would break.

And somewhere among them...

Not all eyes watching me wished me well.

Talia's POV

"Why the hell are you following me?" I snapped, spinning around to face him.

The irritation was clear in my voice, burning hot and sharp.

It was very early in the morning and I loved this time,I was just walking along the pathway of the house.

I had come out here for peace,for fresh air, for space, for a moment to breathe without feeling watched. And yet, there he was. Ramon Sincarra. Alpha. Wolf. The man I couldn't escape no matter how hard I tried.

His eyes flicked over me slowly, like he was measuring something. Like he always did.

"Watch your mouth, lady," he said calmly, pointing a finger at me.

That did it.

I stopped walking completely and turned to face him fully, my heart pounding, my hands clenched into fists.

"Or what?" I challenged. "What are you going to do to me?"

I stepped closer, daring him. "Lock me up again? Tell me I'm bound to you? Remind me that my life doesn't belong to me anymore?"

He smiled.

That damn smile.

It wasn't cruel nor angry. Just... amused. Like he already knew how this would end, and I was the only one still fighting it.

"You can't control me," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "I see beneath the mask you wear for your people, and you can't fool me. Not for one second."

His eyes darkened slightly, but he didn't raise his voice.

"Can you just be quiet for once?" he said. "You have too much noise in your head. Why not come to me and we talk, peacefully?"

"Fuck you," I hissed, venom dripping from every word.

The air between us thickened.

"Can't you just leave me alone?" I added. "I only came out here for some morning air."

"I saw you leaving," he replied. "So I just..."

"You just what?" I interrupted. "Followed me? You think I'll run away again?"

He didn't answer.

He just looked at me.

And that look, steady, unflinching, made my skin prickle. Like he could see straight through my anger, through my fear, down to the truth I refused to admit.

I kept talking, my words spilling out faster now, sharper. "You think because you're the king of this place, you get to decide where I go and who I am. Well, you don't."

Still, he said nothing.

That irritated me even more.

Then suddenly, his expression changed.

It happened so fast I barely had time to react.

His hand shot out, gripping my wrist firmly. Not painful, but strong.

"Quiet," he whispered.

Before I could protest, he pulled me sharply toward him and moved us behind a thick tree. My back pressed against the bark, his body blocking me completely.

"What are you..." I started.

He covered my mouth with his hand.

"Not a sound," he murmured close to my ear.

My heart slammed against my chest.

I couldn't see anything. Couldn't hear anything except my own breath and his.

His eyes were fixed on something beyond the trees, his body tense like a drawn bow.

I followed his gaze, but all I saw was forest.

"What is it?" I whispered.

He didn't answer.

His hand tightened around mine slightly, grounding me, steadying me. And that was when I noticed how close he was.

Too close.

His breath brushed my cheek. His chest pressed against my back. He smelled... intoxicating. Earthy. Warm. Wild.

Damn it.

Talia, what does he have over you?

My body reacted before my mind could catch up. My breath hitched. My pulse raced. My skin burned where he touched me.

I shifted nervously, but he held me tighter.

"Stay still," he whispered.

I trembled, and he felt it. I knew he did.

Slowly, carefully, he leaned closer, his mouth near my ear. "There are eyes on us," he murmured. "And not all of them belong to my pack."

A chill ran through me.

I swallowed hard.

I turned my head slightly, trying to see his face. "What the fuck is..."

I didn't finish the sentence.

Because his mouth crashed into mine.

All thoughts vanished.

It was nothing like the first kiss. This one wasn't controlled or cautious. This was hunger. Frustration. Weeks of tension exploding all at once.

His lips moved against mine with urgency, like he was afraid to stop. Like he had been holding himself back for too long.

My hands came up instinctively, gripping his shirt.

I felt dizzy.

His tongue brushed against my lips, asking, and I answered without thinking, opening to him, letting him in.

Heat spread through my body, fast and overwhelming. My knees weakened, and if he hadn't been holding me, I would have collapsed.

He groaned softly, the sound vibrating through me.

The forest disappeared. The danger disappeared. There was only him.

Ramon.

His hands slid to my waist, pulling me closer, like he needed to feel every inch of me against him. Like distance was unbearable.

I melted into him, my anger forgotten, my fear drowned beneath the rush of sensation.

God, I wanted him.

That truth hit me hard.

I wanted him more than I wanted freedom. More than I wanted answers. More than I wanted to hate him.

And that terrified me.

Just as my body leaned fully into his, just as my heart surrendered to the moment....

He pulled away abruptly.

Just like the first time.

Like ripping himself from a fire.

I gasped, my lips tingling, my breath unsteady. His forehead rested against mine, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Damn it," he muttered.

I could feel his heartbeat increasing.

"I had to stop you from talking, he said very softly. I saw some strange faces and I didn't want to take any chances".

None of what he said made any sense to me.

Did he have to stop?

I pushed him and got up, dusting my clothes.

I was desperate, confused. I couldn't help but ask,"Why did you stop?"

He caught my wrists gently but firmly.

"Because if I don't," he said hoarsely, "I won't be able to stop at all."

His eyes met mine, dark and blazing with things he wasn't saying.

Just like that.

Leaving me cold. Shaken. Wanting.

"You're not ready," he said quietly. "And I won't take what you haven't chosen to give."

I stared at him, stunned, angry, aching.

"You don't get to decide that," I snapped weakly.

He smiled sadly. "I already have."

"Come on, let's go back and you must always let me know when you're leaving the house, okay?"

I followed him without saying a word.

One truth echoed painfully in my mind:

No matter how hard I fought it...

No matter how much I hated him for taking my life from me...

I was already falling.

And I wasn't sure I could stop.

Talia's POV

The evening was quiet when I heard a soft knock on my door.

"Talia?"

I looked up from the small journal I had been scribbling in. I had asked Ingrid to get it for me.

Ramon stood there, tall and imposing as always, his expression unreadable.

"You're going to start training," he said simply.

I blinked. "Training?"

"Yes. Self-defense. Everyone in the pack learns it," he replied, his eyes scanning the room like he expected me to argue.

"I... I don't understand," I said, sitting up. "Where I come from, I was safe. I took care of people. I was fine. Why do I need training? Why bring me from my safe space to here to... watch my back?"

He didn't answer. He never explained more than he had to. "Get ready. Karon will come for you."

I frowned, the irritation rising in me like always when he didn't explain himself. "That's it? No reasoning? No 'Talia, this is for your own good'? Nothing?"

"Just... get ready," he said, his voice calm but final.

I groaned, knowing resistance was useless. He turned and left, leaving me with my thoughts and a growing sense of dread.

******

Karon arrived shortly after, just as the last light of sunset faded. Ingrid brought him in, he just stepped into the room, tall and lean, with an easy confidence that made me tense.

"You ready?" he asked.

I folded my arms, trying to look brave. "I guess."

He raised an eyebrow. "Guessing isn't good in a fight. But it's a start."

I bit my lip. "I'm not exactly used to... this."

"Most people aren't," he said, with a small smile. "Come on. Let's go."

The training ground was lit by torches, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The forest loomed around us, dark and quiet. Karon wasted no time, showing me the basics: stance, balance, and movement.

At first, everything was exhausting. My arms burned, legs trembled, and my head spun from trying to remember the instructions.

"You're too stiff," he said, adjusting my stance. "Relax. Move with me."

I tried, stumbled, and he laughed lightly. It was... unexpected.

He was Warm and easy to talk to. And it made my heart lift a little.

"Don't look at me like that," he teased. "You're making me feel like a proper human."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile. Maybe I didn't have to fear everyone here.

Karon was patient. If I stumbled, he didn't snap. He explained again, demonstrated, and guided me slowly through every movement.

"You're learning fast," he said after a while. "Faster than I thought."

"I've been... doing things my whole life," I muttered. "Just... different things."

"Like taking care of people," he said, nodding. "I like that. You'll need that instinct here too. Not just strength."

We sparred lightly, him holding back, letting me get used to the movements. My punches were clumsy, my balance off, but he corrected me gently, teasing me when I got it wrong, praising when I did it right.

"You're stubborn," he said once, laughing after I refused to give up a move.

"Stubborn is different from dumb," I shot back.

"Touché," he said, grinning.

"Careful," he said softly. "Even small mistakes can hurt."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, brushing dirt off my pants.

"You're improving," he said, his tone proud but casual. "Better than I expected."

"Better than you expected?" I asked, surprised.

"Maybe I underestimated stubbornness," he said with a laugh.

I laughed too. His laughter was easy, warm, and contagious. Somehow, the weight of the pack, the constant tension, faded a little whenever he laughed.

Training was hard, Karon's patience never wavered. He pushed me, corrected me, and sometimes teased me relentlessly, but always with a kind laugh.

I managed a sequence of attacks perfectly, landing a mock strike on him.

"Finally," he said, laughing. "You're brave, Talia. Weldone."

I laughed too, the sound mixing with his. "Brave?"

"Yes," he said, still chuckling. "Brave, stubborn, and just a little crazy. It's a very perfect combination."

I shook my head, grinning. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe," he said, smiling.

And then I noticed him.

Ramon. At the edge of the clearing. He was watching quietly. His eyes fixed on me with a weight I couldn't name. Approval? Concern? Something deeper.

The bastard had been watching me.

Karon noticed him, but didn't say anything. Ramon didn't move.

I didn't know how long he had been standing there, but the intensity of his gaze made me feel... exposed.

I was going to ignore him.

I turned back to Karon, who gave me a small, knowing smile. "You did well today."

I exhaled, laughing softly again. "Thanks. I think I might survive this after all."

Karon chuckled, shaking his head. "You're not just surviving, Talia. You're learning to fight. That makes you brave."

We laughed again, and the sound carried through the clearing. But even in the warmth of laughter, I felt the weight of Ramon's eyes. Standing there silently, he seemed to watch more than my progress, he watched me.

And I knew that whatever I did, he would always see.