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.

Talia's POV

Something felt wrong before anyone said a word.

It started with the silence.

The pack grounds were never truly quiet.

There was always movement, laughter, the sound of training, the rhythm of life. But that morning, the air felt heavy. It felt too still. Like the forest itself was holding its breath.

I noticed it when Ingrid didn't smile at breakfast.

I noticed it when warriors gathered in small groups, their voices low, eyes sharp. I noticed it when Karon didn't joke, didn't tease, didn't laugh even once.

And then I noticed Ramon.

He hadn't looked at me since training the night before. Now, when he entered the hall, the room shifted. Conversations stopped. Backs straightened. Faces hardened.

Something had happened.

I stood slowly, my chest tight. "What's going on?"

No one answered.

Ramon's gaze snapped to me instantly.

"Stay where you are," he said sharply.

That tone.

It wasn't calm. It wasn't gentle. It was command.

My spine stiffened. "Don't talk to me like that."

He crossed the room in long strides and stopped right in front of me. His eyes were dark, stormy, burning with something that looked dangerously close to fear.

"We need to talk," he said. "Now."

"I'm not a child," I shot back. "You don't get to..."

"Talia," he snapped. Then, softer, but tighter, "I really do not have the time for your quarrels today."

That word stopped me.

"Just come with me."

He took my wrist, not rough, but firm, and guided me toward my room. I could feel eyes on my back the entire way. Whispers followed us like shadows.

The door shut behind us with a heavy thud.

"What happened?" I asked immediately. "Why is everyone acting like...."

He turned to face me, jaw clenched. "The rogue pack sent a message."

My heart dropped.

"Rogues?" I whispered.

"Yes."

I swallowed hard. "What kind of message?"

He hesitated. Just for a second.

That hesitation scared me more than any answer.

"They know about you," he said.

The room felt smaller. "Know... what about me?"

"They know who you are," he replied. "What you mean. And what you are to this pack."

My hands curled into fists. "What did they say, Ramon?"

He exhaled sharply and finally met my eyes.

"They said if I don't surrender territory," he said slowly, "they'll take you."

The words hit me like a slap.

"Take me?" I repeated, disbelief flooding my voice. "You mean kidnap me?"

"They didn't use that word," he said grimly. "They said break."

My stomach twisted violently.

I took a step back. "Why me?"

His voice was rough when he answered. "Because you're human. Because you matter to me. Because they think you're my weakness. They saw you that night, remember?"

Something snapped inside my chest.

"So this is my fault now?" I asked bitterly. "I come here, and suddenly I'm a target?"

"No," he said quickly. "This is not your fault."

"Then why does it feel like I'm being punished for existing?" I demanded.

He rubbed a hand over his face. "That's not what this is."

"Then what is it?" I asked. "Because it feels like the moment I arrived here, danger followed me."

His eyes softened just a little. "Danger existed long before you."

Silence stretched between us.

Finally, he spoke again. "You're not leaving the pack grounds."

I stiffened. "Excuse me?"

"You won't go out alone," he continued.

"You'll be escorted at all times. Training will continue, but only with guards present.

No wandering. No early walks. No....."

"No freedom, no breathing, how about just kill me" I cut in.

His jaw tightened.

"You don't get to lock me up," I said coldly.

"This is not a prison," he snapped.

"Then why does it feel exactly like one?" I shot back.

He stepped closer. "Because you don't understand what they'll do if they get their hands on you."

"And you think scaring me into obedience is the solution?" I asked. "Dragging me deeper into your world and calling it protection?"

His voice dropped. "I am trying to keep you alive."

"Fuck you, Ramon". I said

"I was alive before you," I said quietly. "I was safe."

His eyes flared. "You think the human world would protect you from monsters like them?"

"At least it was my choice," I snapped.

That hurt him.

I saw it in the way his shoulders tensed, the way his eyes darkened with something like regret.

"You don't see it," he said softly. "You don't see how fragile you are to them."

I laughed bitterly. "And you don't see how strong I had to be before you took my life away.",

Silence crashed between us again.

Then he spoke, slower now. "This is exactly why I wanted you trained."

"So I can fight rogues now?" I scoffed. "Is that it?"

"So you won't freeze when fear comes," he replied. "So you won't die because you thought peace meant safety."

I looked away, my throat burning.

"I won't let them touch you," he said firmly. "Not ever."

I turned back to him. "You don't get to promise that."

"I do," he said. "As your Alpha."

"There it is," I whispered. "That stupid title again."

He flinched.

"You keep using power when you're afraid," I said. "And every time you do, you push me further away."

His voice broke just slightly. "I would rather have you angry than dead."

That stopped me.

Because I saw it then.

The kind that claws into your chest and refuses to let go.

"I won't be hidden," I said quietly. "I won't be caged for your peace of mind."

"And I won't bury you," he replied just as quietly.

We stood there, staring at each other, two people on opposite sides of the same fear.

Outside, the pack prepared for war.

And somewhere beyond the forest...

Someone had marked me as prey.