Leah sat in silence, her body still thrumming from the fight, from the training, from him. Alric's words echoed in her head, deep and undeniable.
"My mate."
A week ago, she would have laughed in his face.
Now?
She wasn't sure she could.
Because every time she looked at him, every time he so much as breathed near her, something inside her pulled—something raw, uncontrollable.
Something dangerous.
She tore her gaze away, staring at the broken treeline. The clearing was a mess, evidence of their battle scattered in uprooted earth and splintered wood. She had fought harder than she ever had in her life, pushed her body beyond limits she didn't even know existed.
And Alric? He had barely broken a sweat.
Her jaw clenched. She needed to get stronger. Faster.
Leah ran a hand over her face, exhaling sharply. "So, what now?"
Alric leaned back against the fallen tree, his molten eyes half-lidded in thought. "That depends. Are you ready to stop fighting what you are?"
Leah scoffed. "I've never fought harder in my life."
Alric's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Not what I meant."
Leah's fingers twitched. She knew exactly what he meant.
The mate bond.
The connection that burned between them, that made her stomach twist and her pulse spike every time he looked at her like that.
Like she was his.
Her throat tightened.
"I need time," she muttered.
Alric studied her for a long moment before inclining his head. "Take it. But know this—time does not change the inevitable."
Leah's fingers curled into fists. "I decide my own fate."
Alric's smirk deepened. "Do you?"
The challenge in his voice made her chest tighten. She wanted to snap at him, to argue, but something told her he'd just enjoy the fight.
She scowled instead, pushing herself to her feet. "I need to get back."
Alric didn't stop her as she turned toward the trees.
But his voice followed her.
"Do not take too long, Leah."
She hated how much she felt that.
She didn't look back.
By the time she made it home, the sun was well above the horizon.
She slipped inside through the back, keeping her steps light as she moved toward her room.
It didn't matter.
Seth was waiting for her.
Her younger brother stood in the hallway, arms crossed, brows furrowed in concern. "Where the hell have you been?"
Leah rolled her shoulders, already exhausted. "Out."
Seth's frown deepened. "All night?"
"Yes."
"With who?"
Leah's temper flared. "What are you, my keeper?"
Seth's expression hardened. "No. But you've been acting weird. Ever since you left school early, you've been avoiding everyone, disappearing at night—"
"I don't have to explain myself to you."
"No, but maybe to Mom?"
Leah went still.
Seth crossed his arms tighter. "She's worried about you. We both are."
Guilt twisted in her gut.
She hated this—hated lying, hated sneaking around. But what was she supposed to do? Tell them the truth? That she had turned into a wolf overnight? That she was somehow tied to the strongest being she'd ever met?
Yeah. That'd go great.
She exhaled sharply. "I just… need space."
Seth studied her, his brown eyes searching.
After a long moment, he sighed. "Fine. But at least tell me—are you in trouble?"
Leah hesitated.
She thought about Alric. About the heat of battle, the way her instincts screamed whenever he was near.
About the bond tightening around her with every second.
"…No," she said finally. "I'm not in trouble."
Seth didn't look convinced.
But he let her go.
Leah barely lasted a day before she found herself back in the woods.
She told herself it was for training.
That she just wanted to push her limits, to get stronger.
But deep down, she knew the truth.
Her body needed this.
It needed him.
Alric was already waiting when she arrived, standing at the edge of the clearing like he had known she would come.
Maybe he had.
Leah stopped a few feet away, crossing her arms. "So. More training?"
Alric smirked. "Unless you've decided to surrender?"
Leah bared her teeth. "Not a chance."
Alric chuckled, stepping forward. "Good. Then let's begin."
They fought until the stars came out.
Leah lost. Over and over.
But she was improving.
She was learning.
And Alric was watching.
Not just as a teacher.
Not just as a fighter.
But as her mate.
She could feel it in the way his gaze lingered, in the way his touches burned even when they were meant to be rough.
The bond between them tightened with every clash, every snarl, every breath.
And Leah was running out of ways to ignore it.
By the time they stopped, Leah was sprawled on the ground, chest heaving, body aching.
Alric stood above her, his molten gaze unreadable.
Leah swallowed hard, turning her head to glare at him. "What?"
Alric crouched beside her.
"You are strong, Leah." His voice was low, steady. "But strength is not enough."
Leah frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Alric reached out, fingers brushing the side of her neck.
Heat coiled low in her stomach.
"You are fighting this," he murmured. "Fighting me."
Leah's breath caught.
He leaned in, his molten gaze locking onto hers. "What are you so afraid of?"
Leah's heart pounded.
She wanted to push him away. Wanted to snap at him, to deny everything he was saying.
But she couldn't.
Because she wasn't afraid of him.
She was afraid of herself.
Afraid of what she was becoming.
Of what she already was.
Alric's fingers lingered for another heartbeat. Then, he pulled back.
"I will not chase you, Leah," he said quietly. "But I will not wait forever."
Leah swallowed past the lump in her throat.
He wasn't lying.
He wouldn't wait.
Because he didn't need to.
The bond was already there. Already wrapping around them like a noose.
It was only a matter of time.
Leah closed her eyes, exhaling shakily.
"…I know."
It was the closest thing to an answer she could give.
For now.