Chapter Six
Kendall’s POVThe atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation among the crowd gathered for the mating festival.My heart pounded with nervousness, my senses tingling with the knowledge that Alpha Declan was there, just a few feet away from me.Alpha Declan was my mate, the one I had dreamed of since I could not remember, and now, finally, my dreams were becoming a reality.As I stood staring at him there in the room, my pulse quickened with every sight of his handsome face and powerful presence.It was as if the universe had aligned to bring us together, to fulfill the destiny that had been written in the stars.But my father hovered behind me like a shadow, his disapproving gaze burning into the back of my skull as he continued to demand that I go make introductions to the guests.Ignoring his persistent demands, I focused all my attention on Alpha Declan, my heart singing with the knowledge that he was mine, that we were meant to be together.But just as I was about to say something to him, father’s voice cut through the air like a knife, sharp and unforgiving.“Kendall,” he said, his tone loud and commanding. “I will not allow you to consort with that Alpha. He is not worthy of you, of our family.”My breath caught in my throat as I turned to face my father, my eyes blazing with defiance. “You can’t control who I am mated with, father,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion. “Alpha Declan is my mate, and nothing you say or do can change that.”But before I could say anything else, Declan himself stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he addressed my father.“With all due respect, sir, I believe Kendall and I have a connection that cannot be denied. I would be pleased to have her as my mate.” He said, stopping me from fighting with father, his voice calm but firm.My heart soared at his words, relief flooding through me like a wave. But as I looked into his eyes, searching for reassurance, I found only cold indifference staring back at me.“And as for you, Kendall. You shouldn’t fight with your father. You have to be respectful.” He said, barely looking at me.My countenance changed swiftly. It was as if the Alpha Declan I thought I knew had disappeared, replaced by a stranger I no longer recognized.Before I could process what was happening, Declan turned away from us, his attention already drifting back to the ceremony before us.The sting of betrayal cut through me like a knife, leaving me dealing with a pain I could hardly understand.With tears starting to drip down from my eyes, I turned and fled from the room, the echoes of my father’s demands and Alpha Declan’s rejection ringing in my ears like a cruel mockery of the love I had dared to hope for.Finding quiet somewhere in the gardens, I collapsed to my knees, the weight of my shattered dreams pressing down on me.“Please,” I whispered to the silent sky above, my voice choked with tears. “Please, Moon Goddess, help me.”Several minutes passed, and as I sat there, the mark of dried tears drawn on my cheeks, something strange I hadn’t expected happened.I felt a hand on my shoulder, gentle yet firm. Startled, I looked up to see my father standing behind me, his expression unreadable.“Kendall,” he said quietly, his voice filled with regret. “I… I may not agree with your choice of mate, but… but if this is what you truly want, then I won’t stand in your way. Pack your things. You’re leaving with Alpha Declan.”My heart leaped with a mixture of disbelief and joy. Could it be true? Had my father finally accepted, allowing me to follow my heart and be with the one I loved?With trembling hands, I rose to my feet, barely able to contain my excitement as I rushed to gather my belongings. The moon goddess had answered my prayers.Minutes later, I found myself standing beside Alpha Declan, my bags packed and ready to go. Despite the lingering pain of his rejection, I couldn’t help but feel gratitude toward my father for granting my wish, no matter how hard it felt.Declan still seemed distant, his expression hard as he surveyed the scene before us. But as he turned to me, his eyes softened slightly, and for a brief moment I hoped.He finally spoke, his voice quiet but filled with a hint of warmth that sent a wave of hope through my chest. “We’re almost ready,” he said, his eyes shifting from his men to me. “Are you ready?”“Yes… yes. I am ready.” I nodded eagerly, my heart pounding with excitement as I realized that this was the beginning of our journey together.Without saying another word to each other, soon we made our way to the vehicle waiting to transport us to his pack.The tension between us was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife, but I refused to let it kill my spirits.This was the moment I had been dreaming of, the moment when I would finally be free to pursue my own happiness.As we settled into the vehicle, Declan motioned for me to sit beside him, a silent invitation that I eagerly accepted.Despite his cold demeanor, I couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement at the prospect of being so close to him.The journey passed in silence, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic beat of my heart.As we neared the border of his pack territory, a sudden sense of unease washed over me, like a dark cloud over us.Before I could voice my fears, sounds of gunfire erupted, shattering the quiet of the evening and sending pieces of glass flying through the air.Panic surged within me, but Alpha Declan’s steady voice cut through the chaos reaching to my ears. “Don’t worry, Kendall,” he said, his tone calm and reassuring despite the danger that surrounded us. “I will handle this.”With a sense of terror rising within me, I watched as by Declan sprang into action, his movements quick and precise as he and his men engaged our attackers.As the rogues kept coming, he signaled to his men, who emerged from their hiding place, weapons drawn, ready to defend their Alpha and his new bride at all costs.Huddled in the temporal safety of the vehicle, I watched in as the attack raged on around us, my heart pounding with fear.Chapter SevenDeclan’s POVAs the last of the rogues fled, defeated, Kendall turned to me, her eyes beaming with tears in them. “Are they gone? Are we safe now?” she whispered questions.Turning to her, I offered a reassuring smile, though I could see the fear lingering in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Kendall,” I said, my voice calm and steady. “We’re safe now. The rogues won’t dare to attack us again.”Kendall nodded, though her expression remained tense with worry. I could understand her apprehension; it was only natural to fear the unknown, especially in times of danger.I knew that my pack was more than capable of handling any threat that came our way. “Alpha,” one of my men approached. “We’ve taken care of them, but a few managed to escape into the woods. What are your orders?”I considered my options for a moment before nodding decisively. “Send out a search party,” I instructed. “I want those rogues found and brought to justice. We cannot allow them to continue threatening the terri
Chapter EightKendall’s POVThe next morning, I woke with a heavy heart, the events of the previous night weighing heavily on my mind. Despite my best efforts to push aside the hurt and disappointment, they lingered like a dark cloud, casting a heavy cloud over the new day.As I lay there, the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness wash over me. I had stormed out of the room in a fit of anger after Declan’s cold rejection last night.Unable to bear the thought of facing Declan after his rejection, now in the quiet solitude of the morning, I couldn’t shake the feeling of regret that ate at me from within.With a heavy sigh, I rolled over in bed, expecting to find Declan lying beside me, his presence a constant reminder of the distance that still separated us. But to my surprise, the other side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold and made.Confusion and disappointment flooded through me as I sat up, scanning the room for any s
Chapter NineKendall’s POVTwo weeks had passed since I arrived among Declan’s pack, and each day felt like years of loneliness. Declan remained as stubborn and cold as ever, his indifference to me constantly reminded me of my failure to win his affection.The pack members, too, made it clear that I was not welcome among them. They treated me with disdain and suspicion, their eyes cold and unwelcoming every time as they went about their duties.It was clear that they saw me as nothing more than an outsider, an stranger among them. Despite my best efforts to fit in though, to prove myself worthy of their acceptance, it seemed that nothing I did was enough to earn anyone’s trust.No matter how hard I worked or how honestly I tried to please them, I remained a stranger. But somehow, I refused to give up hope. Knowing that he was the key to everything, I was determined to prove to Declan and his pack that I was worthy of respect, that I belonged by his side as his mate.One evening, as I
Chapter TenKendall’s POVAs the day of the wedding approached, a sense of dread settled over me like a heavy cloud. I couldn’t shake the feeling of terror of what the future held with Declan as my mate and husband that gripped my heart. But with the arrangements for the wedding already made, there was no turning back now. The ride back to my father’s pack for the ceremony was a silent one, filled with tension and unspoken resentment between us. I sat stiffly beside Declan, staring out the window as the scenery blurred past, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.I missed my home, the familiar sights and sounds of my father’s pack. Returning felt like stepping into a nightmare, a reminder of the life I was leaving behind and the uncertain future that awaited me. Throughout the journey, I didn’t say a word to Declan, and he seemed content to let the silence stretch between us. Perhaps he too was wrestling with his own doubts and fears, or maybe he simply didn’t care.As we arrived at my fa
Chapter ElevenKendall’s POVFeeling suffocated by the weight of my choices, I fled to the bathroom, seeking comfort in the only place where I could be alone with my thoughts.The tears came fast and hot, streaming down my cheeks in silent torrents as I collapsed to the floor, the sound of my sobs echoing off the walls.But after a while, a new sensation washed over me, one that was far more unsettling. My stomach churned with nausea, and before I knew it, I was retching violently into the toilet bowl, the bitter taste of bile burning in the back of my throat.I stayed there for what felt like an eternity, the pain and despair running over me. But as the minutes stretched on, a new feeling began to take root within me, a feeling of defiance that that I had always had.I couldn’t go back to Declan, couldn’t bear the thought of spending the rest of my days in a loveless marriage, trapped in terrible life of humiliations, a life that was originally of my choosing — what a shame.No, I ha
Chapter TwelveDeclan’s POVAs I stood there in the dim room, the dagger clenched tightly in my hand, I watched as Kendall’s eyes widened in terror.The fear radiating off her was palpable, her body trembling as she backed away from me, her breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps.I could feel the power coursing through me, the rush of adrenaline as I held the dagger high, its gleaming blade catching the faint light of the room.But even as I reveled in the fear that I had instilled in Kendall, a part of me felt a twinge of guilt, a flicker of remorse at the sight of her cowering before me.But I quickly pushed aside those feelings, burying them deep within me as I advanced towards her, the dagger held out menacingly in front of me.“You thought you could escape from me, didn’t you, Kendall?” I taunted, my voice dripping with malice. “You thought you could just run away and leave me behind.”Kendall’s eyes widened even further, her breath coming in short gasps as she pressed herself ag
Chapter ThirteenKendall’s POVAs I dashed through the darkened woods, my heart pounding in my chest, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of twigs sent shivers down my spine, but I pushed on, driven by the desperate need to escape.My breath came in gasps as I ran, my muscles burning with exertion. I didn’t know where I was going, didn’t have a plan beyond putting as much distance between myself and Declan as possible.But as I emerged into a clearing, the moonlight casting a glow over the landscape, I saw a path leading towards the mountains in the distance. I recognized those mountains from our journey here, the towering peaks a familiar sight that filled me with hope.If I could reach them, if I could find a way to navigate through the terrain, perhaps I could find a way to escape this nightmare once and for all.But as I pushed myself to keep running, the exhaustion began to take its toll, my legs heavy with fatigue. I stumble
Chapter FourteenKendall’s POVAs I cowered in the corner of the dark dungeon cell, my heart pounding in my chest, I stared in horror at the wolf-man before me. His eyes shone with a wild hunger, his sharp teeth revealing in a menacing snarl. I knew I had to fight for my life, but the fear coursing through me threatened to paralyze me.“Kill him, Kendall,” Declan’s voice echoed through the darkness, his tone mocking. “That’s the only way you’ll ever leave this place.”I shook my head in disbelief, tears streaming down my cheeks as I realized the gravity of the situation. How could I possibly fight against such a powerful and dangerous creature?Staring back in horror at the wolf man before me, his eyes shining red with rage, I felt a chill run down my spine. Declan’s words echoed in my mind, his cruel demand hanging in the air like a death sentence.I glanced back towards Declan. “What?” I replied, shocked by his words."You heard what I said, Kendall,” he taunted, his voice cold and