Chapter 6
611words
The intensity in his eyes made me tremble. "What does this mean?"
"It means I'll protect you with my life," he said. "It means no one—not Victor, not anyone—will ever hurt you again."
He leaned in, his lips inches from mine. This time, he didn't pull back. When his mouth touched mine, the world disappeared. The kiss was gentle at first, then deepened with a hunger that matched the fire building inside me. The Mate bond between us hummed with energy, connecting us in ways I couldn't explain.
When we finally broke apart, I was breathless. Derek rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.
"I've been searching for you my whole life," he whispered. "And you were right here, hidden behind herbs and secrets."
As we walked back hand in hand, I realized everything had changed. I'd come here seeking revenge, but I'd found something I never expected—someone who saw me, all of me, and wanted me anyway.
For the first time in three years, I felt hope. Not just for justice, but for something I'd never dared dream of.
Love.
We were almost at the edge of the forest when Derek suddenly stiffened. His hand tightened around mine as he pulled me behind him, his body instantly alert.
"What is it?" I whispered.
"Someone's been watching us," he growled, his eyes scanning the darkness. "They've been following our scent."
A twig snapped in the distance. Derek's eyes flashed amber, his wolf close to the surface.
"Your secret isn't safe anymore," he said quietly. "Someone knows what you are now."
My blood ran cold. If word got back to Victor about my silver wolf, about our Mate bond...
"We need to move quickly," Derek said, pulling me toward the mansion. "Things are about to get dangerous."
As we hurried back, I couldn't shake the feeling that our newfound happiness had just put a target on both our backs. The game had changed—and the stakes were now higher than ever.
The morning after our moonlight run, I woke feeling different. Something had shifted between Derek and me—a connection that went beyond words. The knowledge that I was his Mate still felt surreal, like a dream I might wake from at any moment.
I was exploring the mansion gardens, lost in thought, when I heard shouting from the training grounds. Without thinking, I ran toward the commotion.
A group of young wolves had gathered in a circle. In the center stood Derek, demonstrating combat techniques with Marcus. Their movements were fluid and powerful, a dance of strength and strategy. I couldn't look away.
"The key is anticipation," Derek explained, dodging Marcus's attack. "Read your opponent's body language, not just their—"
He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes finding mine at the edge of the crowd. A smile touched his lips, and in that moment of distraction, Marcus landed a blow.
Derek recovered quickly, continuing the demonstration. Only I noticed the slight tension in his movements. Something wasn't right.
After dismissing the trainees, Derek approached me. "Enjoying the show?" he asked, his voice warm despite the strain I could sense beneath.
"You're hurt," I said quietly.
He shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Derek." I gave him a look that said I wasn't fooled.
With a sigh, he led me to a private corner of the garden. "I was on a border patrol last night," he admitted. "We encountered hunters with silver weapons. I intercepted an arrow meant for one of my younger pack members."
