chapter 8
Fractured Pride
"She doesn't even see me," he muttered under his breath, his voice raw with frustration.
He stopped abruptly, glaring at the ground as though it were responsible for the chaos inside him. For years, Liam had hidden his feelings for Maya behind a mask of arrogance and indifference. He teased her, pushed her buttons, and watched her fiery spirit spark with every provocation. But he never let her see how much she consumed his thoughts, how deeply he admired her strength, her resilience.
And now? Now she rejected their bond like it meant nothing.
Liam let out a low growl, his wolf restless and agitated. The bond pulled at him relentlessly, a constant reminder of what they could have if only Maya would stop fighting it.
The sound of heavy footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts. His father, Alpha Marcus, strode toward him, his expression thunderous.
"Inside. Now," Marcus barked, his voice brooking no argument.
Liam hesitated for a moment, then followed his father into the grand meeting room. The walls, adorned with symbols of the pack's history, seemed to close in on him as Marcus slammed the door shut behind them.
"I heard," Marcus began, his voice dangerously low. "Maya rejected the bond."
Liam's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.
Marcus stepped closer, his piercing gaze locked on his son. "Do you have any idea what this means for our pack? For our future?"
"I didn't ask her to reject it," Liam snapped, his frustration boiling over.
Marcus's hand slammed down on the table, the loud crack echoing through the room. "This isn't about what you asked! This is about leadership, respect, and the strength of this pack! Her rejection is a direct insult to our family and everything we stand for!"
Liam's wolf bristled at his father's tone, but he held his ground. "I'm trying," he said through gritted teeth. "But Maya isn't someone you can control. She's stubborn, and she—"
"Stubborn?" Marcus interrupted, his eyes narrowing. "She's disrespectful. And you're letting her walk all over you."
"I'm not letting her do anything!" Liam shot back, his voice rising. "I can't force her to accept the bond. It doesn't work that way."
Marcus's expression darkened. "Then make her see reason. You are the future alpha, Liam. If you can't handle your mate, how do you expect to lead this pack?"
Liam flinched at the words, the weight of his father's disappointment pressing down on him. His father's harsh expectations had always been a shadow over him, but this time, it felt unbearable.
"It's not that simple," Liam said, his voice quieter now.
Marcus took a step back, his expression cold and calculating. "Simple or not, you'll fix this. Maya's rejection isn't just about you—it's about this pack's unity. If she refuses to accept her role as your mate, it could sow discord. We cannot afford that kind of weakness."
Liam's hands clenched into fists. "You think I don't know that?"
"Then act like it!" Marcus roared, his voice reverberating through the room. "Stop sulking and start acting like the leader you're supposed to be."
The silence that followed was deafening. Liam's heart pounded in his chest, his emotions a volatile mix of anger and shame.
Finally, Marcus turned away, his voice calmer but no less commanding. "This isn't just about you, Liam. It's about the pack. Remember that."
Liam watched as his father left the room, the door slamming shut behind him. He stood there for a long moment, his wolf pacing restlessly within him.
His father's words echoed in his mind, a relentless reminder of his responsibilities. But as much as he wanted to be the leader his father expected, his thoughts kept circling back to Maya.
He loved her. He'd never said it aloud—not to her, not to anyone—but he did. And the thought of her rejecting not just the bond, but him, cut deeper than he wanted to admit.
As the night wore on, Liam found himself standing outside again, staring up at the moon. His wolf howled within him, a mournful sound that echoed his own frustration.
"Maya," he murmured, his voice heavy with emotion. "Why can't you see that this is bigger than both of us?"
But the night offered no answers, and Liam was left alone with his turmoil.
who didn't know herself anymore.
The sun had barely risen when whispers of Alpha Marcus's fury swept through the pack like a wildfire igniting dry grass. From the warriors preparing for their morning drills to the elders gathering for council, everyone spoke in hushed tones about Liam's predicament. The rejection of the mate bond wasn't just a personal matter anymore—it was quickly becoming the pack's most scandalous topic.
Liam stormed through the training grounds, his jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth ached. His usually calm stride was replaced by sharp, impatient steps, and his piercing gaze made the bravest of warriors turn their heads away. No one dared to approach him, not when the barely-contained rage rolled off him in waves.
He spotted Maya across the field. She was sparring with Caleb, her movements fluid and precise, her focus unwavering. But to Liam, it wasn't her skill that stood out—it was her defiance. The same defiance that had fueled his sleepless night and left his wolf snarling with frustration.
Maya knew he was watching. She could feel his gaze burning into her back, but she didn't falter. If anything, she moved with more purpose, her strikes sharper, her footwork quicker. When she finally landed a perfect hit that sent Caleb stumbling back, she allowed herself a triumphant smile.
It was that smile that sent Liam over the edge.
He strode toward her, his presence commanding and impossible to ignore. Caleb noticed him first, stepping aside with a wary glance. Maya, however, held her ground. She straightened her posture, her chin lifted as if daring him to speak.
"Still brooding, I see," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. Her words carried effortlessly, cutting through the morning air like a blade.
Liam's jaw tightened as he stopped a few feet away from her. His eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade. "Careful, Maya," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You might not like what happens if you keep testing me."
Maya raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk that only fueled his anger. "Testing you? Don't flatter yourself, Liam. I'm just living my life. If that bothers you, maybe you should take a good look at why."
Her laugh was sharp, echoing through the training grounds and drawing the attention of nearby warriors. It wasn't just a laugh; it was a challenge, a reminder that she wasn't afraid of him or the bond that tethered them together.
"You don't scare me, Liam," she added, her voice steady. "You never have."
His wolf growled inside him, demanding action, demanding acknowledgment. Liam's fists clenched at his sides as he fought to maintain control. "You think this is a game?" he snapped, his voice rising.
"Of course not," Maya shot back. "But if it were, you're losing."
The tension between them was palpable, like the charged air before a storm. Maya's defiance, her refusal to yield, was both infuriating and captivating. Liam wanted to shake her, to make her understand the depth of what she was rejecting.
But beneath the anger, beneath the battle of words, there was something neither of them could deny. The bond was there, pulling them together even as they fought against it. And that pull was slowly driving Liam to the edge.
He stepped closer, his eyes blazing with emotion. "You think you can keep running from this? From me?" he asked, his voice a dangerous mix of anger and something softer, something vulnerable.
Maya's expression faltered for the briefest moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face before she masked it with defiance. "I'm not running. I'm choosing," she said firmly. "And I choose my freedom over you."
Liam's heart twisted at her words, but his anger burned hotter, fueled by the sting of rejection. He took a step back, his jaw tightening as he made a decision that would change everything.
"You want freedom?" he said, his voice cold and calculating. "Fine. But you'll learn soon enough, Maya, that freedom comes with a price."
Before she could respond, Liam turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving a stunned Maya behind. She watched him go, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar ache she refused to acknowledge.
Unbeknownst to her, Liam's mind was already racing with plans. He was done waiting, done hoping she would come to her senses. If she wouldn't acknowledge their bond willingly, then he would force her to.
As he disappeared into the woods, a single thought echoed in his mind:
She'll regret this.