19. THORNE

Chapter 19

THORNE

It's been a week. Seven endless days since Elowen declared her desire to leave. To leave me.

Frustration gnaws at me, a relentless ache mirroring the hollowness in my chest.

I survey the training ground, a vast clearing buzzing with activity. Warriors from both the Silver Crescent Pack and Kain's pack spar with newfound intensity.

Grunts and clashes of steel echo through the air, a war symphony that does little to quell the turmoil within me.

I slam my fist against the hilt of my sword, the leather groaning in protest. Is this it, then? My future—hopeless, endless, dark—all without Elowen?

The blame falls solely on me.

A guttural roar tears through the air, snapping me out of my brooding.

Rylan, my ever-reliable beta, stands across the clearing, his training partner a hulking Moonfall warrior twice his size. But Rylan, nimble and quick, weaves through the brute's clumsy attacks with practiced ease, his own blade flashing like a silver serpent.

A grudging respect for the Moonfall warriors flashes within me. They are strong, undeniably. But strength isn't everything.

I need my mate by my side.

Not just because she's the fated mate but because she's the only one who truly makes me want to fight and win this war. I want to fight for the chance to build a future with her. To have pups running around causing trouble, to grow old with her.

It's the best feeling ever.

But it seems impossible. I've ruined everything.

With a deep breath, I force myself to focus on the ongoing training. The threat of the Dark Moon is real, a looming storm that could engulf all our packs.

I have no time to wallow, especially not now when the fate of our world rests on our shoulders.

A guttural roar shatters the training session momentarily, stealing my thoughts. Kain stands across the clearing, chest heaving with a triumphant smirk plastered on his face.

His sparring partner, a hulking enforcer twice his size, slumps against the training dummy, defeated.

Smug as ever.

I'm about to turn away when his booming, annoying voice reaches me.

"Well, well, well," he rumbles, his voice dripping with mock concern. "Look who's decided to grace us with his presence. The mighty Alpha Thorne, taking a break from... what exactly?"

My jaw clenches. The barb is clear—a jab at my perceived inaction, at the emptiness that has settled in my chest since Elowen's rejection. But I won't be baited.

"Just observing," I growl. "Unlike some, I believe in letting my warriors train without unnecessary interruptions."

Kain throws his head back and laughs, a harsh sound that grates on my already frayed nerves. "Unnecessary interruptions? Or perhaps you're just afraid to get your precious paws dirty, Alpha?"

The challenge is there—a gauntlet thrown down. My hands tighten around the hilt of my sword, the leather straining under the pressure of my grip.

"Trying to rile me, Kain?"

"Just doing what I know best, Alpha," he replies with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Just wondering what exactly does the Alpha of Silver Crescent Pack know how to do? Aside from standing aside like a weakling, that is."

My warriors, sensing the tension, pause in their training, their gazes dodging between us. This isn't the time for a brawl, not with the Dark Moon threat looming. But I can't help myself.

"I know how to handle a whiny cur who can't tell the difference between playful banter and a real threat," I snarl, stepping forward.

Kain's smirk drops, replaced by surprise. But a feral grin quickly returns. "Finally decided to join the party, Princess Thorne? Let's see if you can back up that growl with some real bite."

Before I can respond, he lunges. He's a brute, all raw power and aggression.

We clash again and again, the clang of steel a constant beat against the cheers of the surrounding warriors.

Kain fights with a berserker's fury, his attacks powerful but predictable. I meet him blow for blow, using my agility to counter his brute strength. I weave through his defenses, aiming for openings.

But Kain is a seasoned warrior, and his years of experience are evident in his relentless assault. He presses me back, forcing me on the defensive.

Annoyance gnaws at me.

Just as I feel myself falter, a memory surfaces—Elowen's voice, calm yet firm. With renewed focus, I parry a vicious blow, using the momentum to spin away from Kain.

"All you know is brute force, Kain," I taunt, my voice raspy but laced with newfound confidence. "But a true leader knows when to use his head, not just his muscles."

Kain seems startled, but he scoffs. "We'll see about that, Alpha," he roars, lunging at me again.

This time, the fight is different. I dance around Kain's attacks, using his own momentum against him. I feint, I parry, and I land quick, precise strikes that draw sweat on his brow. Slowly, the tide begins to turn.

With a final, well-placed strike, I disarm Kain, the tip of my blade hovering inches from his throat.

His eyes blaze with a mix of fury and grudging respect.

"You win this round, Alpha," he growls.

"As I recall, it was you who was looking for a fight."

A slow smile spreads across his face, devoid of malice this time. "Touché, Thorne," he concedes, raising his hands in surrender. "Seems the Silver Crescent Alpha still has some bite left in him."

I lower my sword, grudgingly respecting Kain. He might be an arrogant oaf, but he's a fierce warrior nonetheless.

As we help each other up, a new wave of determination surges through me. If we can overlook our slight annoyance for each other, this alliance could bear positive fruits.

Maybe, just maybe, this uneasy alliance can work after all.

"Alright, Alpha Thorne," Kain rumbles as he stands, "You got me there. I underestimated your speed."

"And you have a surprising amount of finesse for a brute."

A hearty laugh erupts from Kain. "Finesse? Don't get ahead of yourself, Thorne. But," he adds, wiping sweat, "maybe this pack of mine could use a little more brains alongside all this brawn."

The tension dissipates, replaced by … what? Camaraderie? Maybe it's too soon to tell, but the air feels lighter, charged with a newfound understanding.

Just as I open my mouth to respond, a movement at the edge of the training ground catches my eye. Time seems to slow down, everything around me fades. There, bathed in the golden afternoon sun, stands Elowen.

And Lela, Kain's mate. But Lela barely registers.

Not when Elowen is there.

She's a vision in dark leather armor that hugs her curves perfectly, the sunlight glinting off the polished metal.

Her hair, usually loose and flowing, is braided intricately, a single braid adorned with a silver clasp that shines like a fallen star. Her eyes, the color of a stormy sea, burn with an intensity that sends a jolt of desire straight through me.

She radiates raw, primal power, both captivating and intimidating. Every stride of hers is a statement, her presence demanding the attention of everyone on the field. My breath catches, words failing me as I stare at her, mesmerized.

Instinctively, I take a step towards her, a desperate need to bridge the chasm between us, but before I can even reach her, Kain is there, a smug smile plastered on his face as he intercepts my path.

"Well, well," he drawls, excitement for his mate dripping from his voice, as he flicks a side glance from her to Elowen. "Look who's decided to grace us with her presence."

"Alpha." Elowen offers him a curt nod, her gaze settling on me briefly before returning to Kain. My fists clench, the simmering anger from the fight threatening to erupt again.

This has been the story ever since she joined the Moonfall Pack.

Every attempt to talk to her, to understand her decision, has been thwarted by Kain's constant presence, a physical manifestation of the barrier that separates us even now.

"Move, Kain," I growl, a low rumble vibrating in my chest.

He simply smirks. "Why should I? She's part of my pack now, Alpha Thorne. You don't get to dictate her movements anymore."

His words hit me like a gut punch. He's right, of course. Elowen chose to leave—to join his pack and become their healer.

Even though I know that Kain doesn't want my mate, not with his own right there, who he can't keep his paws off of—it grates on my nerves.

Jealousy flares, a green fire consuming me.

"Elowen," I force myself to sound calm. "We need to talk."

Elowen meets my gaze, and I detect a brief second of regret before she masks it with cool indifference. That indifference? It kills me every time.

I can handle anger, sadness, and any emotion really—anything but this.

"There's nothing left to say, Thorne," she replies. "As the Alpha here pointed out, I belong to this pack now, and you don't get to order me around."

The bitterness in her voice stings, a stark contrast to the warmth and vulnerability I remember.

My heart feels like it's being squeezed in a vice. Why? Why did she choose them? What could they possibly offer her that I couldn't? Was this all because she truly wanted nothing to do with me anymore?

I've really fucked this up, and I have no idea how to fix it.

A thousand questions churn within me, a vortex of confusion and despair. But before I can even process them, Elowen, Lela, and Kain walk away, leaving me stranded in the middle of the training ground. My heart feels like a lead weight in my chest.

She doesn't even glance back. Is she really going to forget me? Forget I ever existed? Can I let that happen?

As I watch them disappear towards the tents, frustration knots my stomach. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

The full moon hangs heavy in the night sky, its silvery light bathing the camp in an ethereal glow. Sleep eludes me. The usual symphony of crickets and rustling leaves is replaced by a gnawing restlessness that claws at my insides.

I toss and turn in my makeshift bed, the wolf within me restless and agitated.

Suddenly, a warmth envelops me, a gentle tug that jolts through my body.

It's a fleeting sensation, a whisper of a pull, but the familiarity slams into me like a tidal wave. Elowen.

I bolt upright, heart hammering against my ribs. How? The bond between us is severed, a gaping wound inflicted by my own betrayal. Yet, the phantom sensation of her pull lingers, a ghost of memory etched onto my soul.

Was it wishful thinking? A cruel trick of the moonlight? No, the certainty within me is undeniable. It was Elowen. But where? How?

Ignoring the throbbing ache in my muscles, I scramble out of bed, throwing on a cloak as I race out of my tent.

My territory bustles with activity, warriors preparing for the night patrol under the watchful eye of the full moon.

"Viktar!" I bark, spotting my enforcer by the fire. "Have you seen Elowen?"

Viktar, ever-observant, raises an eyebrow. "Not since dusk, Alpha. Why?"

"I… I felt something," I stammer. How to explain the inexplicable? "A pull, a warmth… like Elowen."

Viktar's expression turns serious. "Did it feel like a summoning?"

I shake my head, the memory replaying in my mind. "No, just a… a tug. A brief touch."

I rush into the moonlit woods, the ethereal light filtering between the branches in a mosaic of silver and shadow. Every fiber of my being searches for Elowen with a desperation I didn't know I had.

Finally, I spot her, a lone figure bathed in the light of a clearing. Tears stream down her face, staining her cheeks silver, her voice ragged as she moans and softly calls out to the night sky.

As I draw closer, a primal growl escapes my throat. Her scent, intoxicating and thick, fills the air - the undeniable signature of a she-wolf in heat. Shame and desire wash over me like a wave of fire tinged with a desperate need to protect her.

"Elowen," I call softly.

She spins around, her eyes wide.

"Thorne," she breathes, her voice shaky. "You shouldn't be here."

"I felt..." I trail off, unable to articulate the mix of emotions that had drawn me to her. "I felt you…" I take a deep breath. "You're in heat."

"It's nothing," she says quickly, her gaze darting away from mine. "You should leave."

But the tremor in her voice, the raw vulnerability etched on her face, speak louder than words. In that moment, I know the full moon isn't the only thing driving her emotions to a peak.

I shake my head. "I can't leave you like this."

Another wave of desire wracks her body, and she crumbles to the ground, crying softly. Desire clenches my body tight.

She takes a hesitant step towards me, then another, the moonlight highlighting the vulnerability in her eyes. "I need…" she starts, then stops, biting her lip. The air crackles with unspoken desire, a desperate plea masked by her pride.

A war rages within me. My heart aches to offer her solace, to fulfill the bond we once shared. But the memory of her words, the sting of rejection, is still fresh.

"This isn't a good idea, Elowen," I say gruffly.

"Isn't it? Isn't this what you wanted? An alpha staking his claim?"

The bitterness in her words stings, but it also holds a sliver of truth. I betrayed her trust, and there are consequences.

Taking a deep breath, I meet her gaze. "I… I want you, Elowen," I admit. "But I also want… more."

Her eyes narrow for a moment and then soften. "More? There's no more , Thorne."

But her defiance is brittle. And that's when I notice it—the Mendshore Bloom—the very same one I'd given her weeks ago, clutched tightly in her hand.

"You're in heat, Elowen," I state, realization dawning on me. "And you need me."

Shame flickers across her face before she meets my gaze defiantly, lifting the Mendshore Bloom in her hand. "If—if the flower can mend bonds, I want it for this night only. The bond… allows for temporary mending. Just to quell the heat. Nothing more."

It feels like a gut punch. Temporary mending? A one-night reprieve from the pain of her betrayal? The humiliation stings, yet the primal urge to protect her, to be the one to ease her suffering, roars louder.

A soft moan escapes her lips when I don't reply. "It's just for tonight, Thorne," she whispers.

I stare at her, hurt and anger warring within me. Can I do this? Can I be with her, even for a single night, knowing that come morning, the wall between us will be back in place?

But as I see the raw pain in her eyes, the primal instinct of my wolf within propels me forward. "Alright—for tonight."

A single tear traces a path down her cheek. It's the only response I get before she reaches out, her hand trembling slightly as she opens her palm.

The Mendshore Bloom lies there, a silent plea for a connection neither of us fully understands.

With a deep breath, I reach out and take the flower, its petals cool and soft against my skin. The moment our fingers touch, a surge of energy courses through me, a reconnection that's both exhilarating and terrifying.

The bond is back but fractured—fragile like the moonlight filtering through the leaves. Yet, for tonight, it's enough. We stand in the silent forest, the heat of the bond and the heat within her blurring the lines between need and desire.

Forget the morning. For now, in the cool embrace of night, all that matters is the woman before me.

I take her hands in mine and shiver, loving the way her skin feels against me, electric and alive.

I pull her closer, and my lips meet hers in a tender kiss.

A soft moan escapes her, and she wraps her arms tight around my neck, dragging me closer until our lips connect again. Harder. Urgent. Passionate.

I wrap my hands around her small waist and tug her flush against me, my tongue darting inside her mouth to lick, suck and nibble against hers.

She feels like fire, tastes like life, and is everything I want.

I don't know if it's the bond mending or I'm just totally in love with Elowen, but I feel her—I feel her every touch, sigh, the softness of her body against mine, and the way her fingers twist into my hair in desperation.

Another wave of heat washes over her, spreading into me, and we both groan. I push her against the nearest tree, hoisting her legs up to wrap around my hips, my movements frantic and desperate for only one thing.

Elowen.

My mate.

"Mine," I growl, kissing her lips, down her neck, to her nipples which I suck through the cloth. It makes her back arch as she cries out in the dark woods.

I yank her top down her shoulders while my hips push her tighter against the tree, my hardness pressing against her.

Her pleas make no sense, and yet they are the sweetest sound in the world.

Her top slides down her chest, revealing the creamy expanse of her breast, and my mouth waters as I take her rosy nipples between my lips. Her hands tighten in my hair.

I look up to find her almost mad with desire. "Thorne—take me." Is all she can say.

My lips close around her breast while my free hand yanks hard at her trousers, tearing them down until my finger curls around her wet, sticky panties, yanking them away from her body, baring her to me.

"Fucking hell," I growl.

She moans under my touch. "Thorne…"

Ah! Yes!

With my hip and one arm holding her against the tree, I fumble with my buckle and finally drag my jeans down, my hardness jutting out, red, angry, and with one mission in mind.

Elowen—take her over and over and over.

As if she knows what I'm thinking, Elowen groans. "Yes, please, Thorne."

I guide myself against her opening, and with a single, hard thrust, I pound into her.

She cries out, her nails digging into my skin, her back arched, and her head thrown back in pure ecstasy as I start to fuck her.

I take her against the tree and on the moist forest ground. I take her everywhere possible, over and over and over. As long as the heat keeps returning, I keep going, driving us both mad with lust.

And when I start to feel my pleasure build again, I'm far too gone to think. I am raw, and I speak without reserve. "I love you… I love you so much, Elowen, I can't live without you, I love you so fucking much."

But she says nothing back.