For the rest of the morning, Faye trained alone. Or at least, she pretended to be alone. She could feel Darian's presence at the edges of the training field, his gaze flickering toward her every few minutes.
The bond made it hard to ignore him. It was like an invisible thread tugged at the corner of her mind, reminding her constantly that he was there. That he existed. That they were connected.
But she would ignore it. Ignore him. Ignore fate. She had survived eighteen years without anyone. She didn't need him now.
By afternoon, Solen called her over, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Faye, the Alpha wants you in his office. Immediately."
Her stomach tightened. The Alpha—the father who rarely acknowledged her unless necessary—didn't summon her often.
She walked through the packhouse halls, hearing whispers trail behind her.
"That's her… the Alpha's forgotten daughter."
"She's the next Luna now?"
"Serene must be furious."
Faye kept her head down. She refused to give them more of her attention than they deserved.
She stepped into the Alpha's office. He sat behind his desk, Serene standing beside him, looking far too composed.
Darian stood near the window.
Of course he was here.
The Alpha folded his hands. "Faye. We need to discuss… the bond."
She clenched her jaw. "I didn't ask for it."
"No one is accusing you," he said. "But the pack needs stability. Darian is next in line to lead. His Luna must be strong, respected, and—"
"Loved?" Faye asked bitterly.
A flicker of something—guilt? Regret?—passed through the Alpha's eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Serene took a step closer. "The elders said the bond may be dissolvable after thirty days. Until then, Faye should avoid… conflict."
Faye snorted. "Funny, considering who you're marrying."
Serene stiffened. Darian's jaw clenched.
"Faye," the Alpha warned.
She held his gaze. For once, she didn't lower her eyes.
"We are done being small."
"I'll cooperate," she said at last. "But I won't be controlled."
Darian finally spoke, voice steady but strained.
"We need to talk. Alone."
Faye shook her head immediately. "No. We don't."
His wolf pushed against hers, a subtle pressure, demanding attention.
"Yes, we do," it seemed to growl.
The Alpha nodded. "You will. This bond affects both of you. Figure it out."
Faye glared at all of them before storming out of the office.
She slipped into the old greenhouse behind the packhouse—one of the few quiet places left. The air smelled of earth and sunlight.
Darian entered a moment later, closing the door behind him.
Faye didn't turn around. "Say what you have to say."
He hesitated. She felt it.
"I didn't know," he finally said. "About the bond. About your wolf. About any of it."
"That makes two of us."
"I'm not trying to make this harder."
"You existing makes it harder," she shot back.
Darian exhaled slowly. "I can't break the engagement yet. The elders won't allow it."
"I don't want you to," Faye said immediately.
And that was the truth.
The last thing she wanted was to be tied to him publicly, to become the Luna everyone would hate or mock.
Darian stepped closer, tension rolling off him. "My wolf wants—"
"Don't," she said sharply, spinning to face him. "Do not finish that sentence."
He stared at her.
For the first time, he looked genuinely lost.
"I don't know what to do," he admitted.
That stunned her into silence. Darian Hale didn't admit weakness. Ever.
Her wolf stirred, cautious but curious.
"He is struggling too…"
Faye took a step back, holding herself together. "Figure it out without me," she said quietly. "That's what you've always done."
She brushed past him and left the greenhouse before her wolf could argue.
As she stepped outside, someone stepped into her path.
Elder Mira.
Her eyes, wise and unsettling, locked onto Faye's.
"You must be prepared," Mira said. "This bond—late, powerful, unpredictable—will test you both."
Faye swallowed. "Test us how?"
Mira's expression darkened.
"Wolves like yours awaken for a reason. And not all reasons are gentle."
Faye barely slept that night. Elder Mira's warning replayed in her mind.
"Something is coming. We feel it."
Faye wrapped her blanket tighter around herself, staring at the moon through her small window. "If something's coming, why now? Why after eighteen years of nothing?"
By morning, the entire packhouse gathered.
People whispered more than usual. They looked at her longer. Stepped out of her way faster. She didn't know if it was fear, curiosity, or resentment—but every reaction tightened the pit in her stomach.
As she walked down the stairs, two pack members suddenly stopped talking when they saw her.
"…I'm telling you, it wasn't normal. Her wolf showed up late—who knows what else is wrong with her."
"Don't say that," the other whispered quickly. "If she's really tied to the future Alpha, we could get in trouble."
Faye's wolf snarled. "Let us teach them a lesson."
"No," Faye whispered. "They're not worth it."
She kept moving.
When she reached the training grounds, Solen waved her over. His expression was unusually tight.
"You're late," he said abruptly.
"It's seven in the morning," Faye said.
"Exactly." Solen rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Listen—things are changing. The Alpha wants you and Darian practicing together from now on."
Faye blinked. "Together? Why?"
Solen hesitated, which immediately made her suspicious.
"Because your wolves need to learn to control the bond. And because the pack needs to see you two cooperating."
That word again.
Cooperating.
As if they were some kind of political alliance.
Faye's jaw clenched. "And what if I refuse?"
Solen sighed. "Then Elder Mira will bring you in for… evaluations."
Darian arrived a moment later, his eyes flicking from Solen to Faye.
"Ready?" he asked, voice stiff.
"No," Faye said honestly.
Solen clapped his hands. "Too bad. Let's begin."
Their exercise was simple: stand ten feet apart and try to block each other's wolf energy. It was a test of control, strength, and emotional focus.
Except the moment Darian released his energy, Faye's wolf surged forward—uncontrolled, instinctive, reacting like a spark thrown onto dry leaves.
Shadows shot from beneath her, swirling in a tight circle, forming something sharp-edged and dangerous.
Darian's eyes widened. "Faye—pull it back!"
"I'm trying!"
Her wolf wasn't listening. It was acting on instinct, matching Darian's power with its own, escalating fast.
Solen stepped forward. "Faye! Listen to my voice. Control it—"
Her wolf snapped, the shadows lashing out—close enough that Solen flinched back.
Darian moved suddenly, stepping in front of Solen, shielding him. Faye's wolf hesitated at once, the shadows freezing mid-air.
Darian's voice was calm. "Faye. Breathe."
She inhaled sharply—then forced her wolf down with all the strength she had.