The forest was alive with sound—the crunch of leaves underfoot, the call of distant birds, the soft rustle of the wind through the trees. But Rhea barely noticed any of it. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she weaved between the towering pines, her hands trembling at her sides. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one cutting deeper than the last.
Could Zane be telling the truth? Could Kaelan have lied to her, used her?
She shook her head, trying to banish the doubt, but it clung to her like a second skin. The mark on her neck still burned faintly, a cruel reminder of everything she'd just learned. She pressed her fingers against it, as if she could erase it somehow, but the sensation only made her feel more helpless.
"I can't trust him," she whispered to herself, the words barely audible over the sound of her boots crunching against the dirt path. "I can't trust anyone."
The thought sent a chill through her. She had always been alone—before Kaelan, before this whole mess. And now, even surrounded by people who claimed to care about her, she felt more isolated than ever.
Her feet carried her forward, almost on autopilot, until she reached a small clearing. The trees parted to reveal an old, crumbling stone structure, covered in moss and vines. It looked ancient, forgotten—a place lost to time. And standing in the center of it, as if he'd been expecting her, was Zane.
He turned when he heard her approach, a slow, knowing smile spreading across his face. "Rhea," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't come."
Rhea stopped just at the edge of the clearing, her heart pounding in her chest. "I shouldn't be here," she admitted, her voice shaking. "But I need answers."
Zane spread his arms wide, as if to say, I'm here. Ask away. "And I'll give them to you. But first, come closer. I won't bite." His smile widened, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Not unless you ask nicely."
Her stomach twisted at his tone, but she forced herself to take a step forward. Then another. She stopped a few feet away from him, keeping her distance. "The mark," she said, her voice firm despite her nerves. "Did you put it there?"
Zane tilted his head, as if considering her question. "I did," he said finally, his voice soft. "I won't lie to you, Rhea. Yes, I gave you that mark."
Her fists clenched at her sides. "Why? What does it mean?"
Zane's gaze softened, and for a moment, he almost looked... sincere. "It means you're special, Rhea. It means you're connected to me—to this world. You belong here."
"No," she snapped, her anger flaring. "That's not what it means. Kaelan said it's a Soulmate Bond."
Zane's expression darkened at the mention of Kaelan's name, but he quickly masked it with a sly smile. "Ah, Kaelan. Of course he'd say that. He wants you to believe you're meant to be with him. But did he tell you the whole truth?"
Rhea froze, her heart skipping a beat. "What do you mean?"
Zane took a step closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The bond isn't about love, Rhea. It's about power. The mark ties you to the strongest wolf in the pack—the Alpha. Kaelan doesn't see you as his soulmate. He sees you as a tool to break the curse."
Her breath hitched, the words hitting her like a physical blow. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Zane countered, his tone gentle but insistent. "Think about it, Rhea. Why would someone like Kaelan—a leader, an Alpha—be interested in someone like you? A human, weak and vulnerable. He doesn't love you. He needs you."
The doubt she'd been trying so hard to suppress came flooding back, threatening to drown her. She thought about Kaelan's intensity, the way he always seemed to be holding something back. Was it possible that he'd been using her all along?
"I don't know what to believe," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zane reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm. She flinched but didn't pull away. "Believe me," he said softly. "I've never lied to you, Rhea. I've never pretended to be something I'm not. Can Kaelan say the same?"
She stared at him, searching his face for any sign of deception. But all she saw was sincerity—or at least, something that looked like it. Her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions, and she didn't know how to make sense of any of it.
Meanwhile, Kaelan was tracking her.
The moment she'd run from the clearing, he'd felt a sense of dread settle over him. He didn't know where she was going, but he knew she wasn't safe. And the thought of her out there, alone and vulnerable, was enough to send him into a frenzy.
He moved through the forest like a shadow, his heightened senses guiding him. Her scent lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable. He followed it relentlessly, his mind racing with questions. Why had she run? What was she thinking?
When he reached the ancient stone ruins, he stopped dead in his tracks.
There she was—standing with Zane.
Kaelan's chest tightened, a low growl rumbling in his throat. He stepped closer, staying hidden in the shadows, his sharp eyes taking in the scene before him. Zane was leaning toward her, his expression soft, his voice low. Whatever he was saying, it was working. Rhea looked confused, conflicted.
Kaelan clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He wanted to charge into the clearing, to rip Zane apart. But something held him back. He needed to hear what was being said.
"I don't know if I can trust you," Rhea said to Zane, her voice trembling.
"You can," Zane insisted, his tone gentle. "I know I haven't always been the good guy in this story, but everything I've done, I've done for a reason. I care about you, Rhea. More than he ever could."
Her brow furrowed, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Why me? Why do you care?"
Zane stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "Because you're different. You're not like the others. You see the world in a way that no one else does. And I can't stand the thought of Kaelan using you, manipulating you. You deserve better."
Rhea's throat tightened, tears stinging her eyes. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that someone cared about her for who she was, not for what she could do.
But before she could respond, a low, menacing growl cut through the air.
Her head snapped around, and she saw Kaelan step out of the shadows, his eyes blazing with fury. "Get away from her," he snarled, his voice cold and deadly.
Zane smirked, not the least bit intimidated. "Ah, the Alpha. Took you long enough."
Kaelan ignored him, his gaze fixed on Rhea. "What the hell are you doing, Rhea?"
She took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. "Kaelan, I—"
"You were talking to him?" His voice was sharp, laced with betrayal. "After everything I've done to protect you, you go running to Zane?"
"It's not what it looks like," she tried to explain, but the look in his eyes stopped her. He was hurt—deeply hurt—and it cut through her like a knife.
"You don't trust me," he said, his tone low and bitter. "After everything, you still don't trust me."
"Kaelan—"
"Save it," he snapped, his voice cold. He turned his gaze to Zane, his hands curling into fists. "You've crossed the line for the last time."
And with that, he charged.
Rhea screamed as Kaelan lunged at Zane, the two wolves colliding in a blur of motion. The sound of snarls and growls filled the air, and Rhea was frozen in place, torn between stopping them and running away.