The forest was eerily silent after the clash. The heavy scent of blood lingered in the air, and the corpses of hunters lay scattered across the ravine's edge. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the echoes of the violent encounter. Amara stood frozen, her body trembling, not from fear but from the aftermath of adrenaline coursing through her veins.
Lucian stood a few paces ahead, his broad shoulders rising and falling as he caught his breath. His claws, now dripping with blood, slowly retracted. His glowing golden eyes dimmed, but his sharp features remained hardened, the fierce protector still alert for any lurking threats. He turned to her, his gaze piercing and unreadable.
"You're lucky they didn't take your head," he said, his voice gruff but low.
Amara bristled, her fear momentarily replaced by anger. "You're blaming me? I didn't ask to be thrown into this nightmare with you!"
Lucian let out a soft growl, his jaw tightening. "You could've been killed if I hadn't been here. Next time, maybe listen when I tell you to stay put."
"Next time? I don't want there to be a next time," Amara snapped, folding her arms across her chest. Her eyes were drawn to the deep gashes across his shoulder and chest, still oozing blood despite his rapid healing. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," Lucian replied, dismissively turning away. His tone was curt, but there was a softness in the way he avoided her eyes.
Amara stepped closer, against her better judgment. Her hands hovered uncertainly near his shoulder, unsure if he'd allow her to touch him. "Let me help."
Lucian stiffened, his body rigid as if her proximity unsettled him more than the hunters had. He shot her a wary glance. "I don't need your help."
"Clearly," she said sarcastically, nodding toward the jagged wound. "That's why you're still bleeding. Alpha or not, you're not invincible."
His lips twitched, the beginnings of a smirk threatening to surface, but he quickly masked it with a scowl. Without waiting for his approval, Amara tore a strip of fabric from the bottom of her gown and gently pressed it against his wound. He hissed through gritted teeth but didn't pull away.
"You're stubborn," he muttered.
"So are you," she countered, focusing on tying the makeshift bandage around his arm. Despite her irritation, she couldn't ignore the warmth radiating from his body or the strange comfort his presence brought her. For a man—or beast—who had just torn through a dozen hunters, he carried an odd sense of calm.
When she finished, she stepped back, trying to put some distance between them. "There. That should hold until you—" She stopped mid-sentence as a wave of dizziness hit her, and her knees buckled.
Before she hit the ground, Lucian caught her, his strong arms wrapping around her with a surprising gentleness. "You're exhausted," he said, his voice softening.
"I'm fine," Amara protested weakly, though her body betrayed her, sagging against him.
"You're not fine," he said firmly. "Humans don't heal as fast as we do. You've been running for hours and nearly got yourself killed. You need rest."
Amara wanted to argue, but the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his breathing lulled her into silence. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to let go.
Lucian carried her deeper into the forest, his steps silent despite the weight he bore. The tension in his jaw and the flicker of his eyes to every shadow revealed his constant vigilance. Even now, with the threat temporarily subdued, he was on high alert.
After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at a secluded clearing. A small, dilapidated cabin stood at its center, half-hidden by overgrown vines and moss. Lucian kicked the door open with ease, carrying her inside. The interior was sparse but functional, with a stone hearth, a rickety wooden table, and a single bed tucked into the corner.
"Where are we?" Amara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Safehouse," Lucian replied, setting her down on the bed. "It's hidden from both hunters and rogues. No one will find us here."
Amara eyed him warily as he busied himself with lighting a fire in the hearth. The warm glow illuminated his features, casting shadows that only emphasized the sharp angles of his face. He looked both otherworldly and painfully human in that moment, a contradiction she couldn't quite reconcile.
"Why are they after you?" she asked finally, breaking the silence. "The hunters, the rogues… What have you done to make so many enemies?"
Lucian's hands stilled, his back to her. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer, but then he spoke, his voice low and rough. "Being an Alpha comes with enemies. You rule, you protect, and you fight. Some want power, others revenge. It's the way of our world."
"But why involve me?" she pressed. "I'm just… a human. What could they possibly gain from coming after me?"
Lucian turned to face her, his golden eyes meeting hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "You're not just a human, Amara. You're my mate. That makes you a target."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Amara's breath caught, her mind reeling. Mate. The word carried a significance she didn't fully understand but couldn't ignore. She had felt the pull, the inexplicable connection to him, but she had fought it, convinced it was a mistake—a cruel trick of fate.
"I didn't choose this," she said, her voice trembling.
"Neither did I," Lucian admitted, his gaze softening. "But the bond is there, whether we like it or not. And as long as it exists, they will come for you. They'll use you to get to me, to break me."
Amara's throat tightened, her fear mixing with something else—something unfamiliar. Guilt. She had spent so much time running from him, from the bond, that she hadn't considered the burden it placed on him as well.
"Why don't you just… reject me?" she asked quietly.
Lucian's jaw clenched, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. "Because rejecting you would break the bond, yes. But it would also kill you."
Amara's eyes widened, her breath hitching. She had no words, no way to process the enormity of what he had just revealed.
Lucian sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "You think I haven't considered it? That I haven't weighed the cost? I would do anything to keep you safe, Amara, even if it means staying bound to this… curse."
His words stirred something deep within her, a mix of anger, sadness, and a strange sense of gratitude. She didn't know whether to thank him or slap him for his arrogance. But before she could respond, the sound of distant howls shattered the fragile quiet of the cabin.
Lucian's head snapped toward the door, his body immediately on edge. "They've found us," he growled.
Amara's heart raced as fear gripped her once again. "What do we do?"
Lucian's eyes glowed brighter, his Alpha presence filling the room. "We fight."
As he moved to the door, readying himself for battle, Amara realized that her life was no longer her own. She was bound to him, to this world of blood and war, whether she wanted it or not. And if she was going to survive, she would have to learn to fight, too.