Chapter 4
1086 Words
----Elaine-----
Kave’s gaze locked with Bran’s, the tiniest nod passing between them—so small I might have missed it if I wasn’t watching them both like a hawk.
“I’m glad you had someone to keep you occupied while you were waiting,” Kave said smoothly, but there was steel beneath the words. “However, it would do your friend well to remember that you are now my mate… and off-limits to all others.”
Heat surged up my neck at the sharp edge of his meaning. “We were just talking—nothing else!” I blurted, my voice tight with defensiveness.
“I don’t appreciate other males standing so close when… talking… to my mate.” The deep rumble in his voice vibrated through the air, a warning only an Alpha could give. Bran shifted back a step instinctively, bowing to Kave’s dominance even without meaning to.
“Elaine… I’d better go. I… I’ll see you around,” Bran murmured, his voice laced with regret.
“Yes… I’ll see you around,” I answered softly, though my chest ached because I knew the truth—he wouldn’t come near me again. Our friendship was over.
Anger flared in my gut. I kept my eyes fixed on Bran’s retreating form as I snapped at Kave. “You didn’t have to chase him off like that.”
“I didn’t chase him,” Kave replied coolly. “I made it clear that you are my mate now, and a proper distance needs to be maintained.”
“He was just—”
“I know what he was doing.” His voice cracked like a whip, cutting me off. “I could smell his desire for you. And I do not share my mate with anyone. We are bonded, Elaine. You are mine. No other male is permitted to sniff around you.”
“Sniff around me?” I spun toward him, outrage igniting in my chest.
“Yes. That boy needs to remember you’re off-limits before he makes a mistake he can’t undo.”
“Kave, you—”
“Elaine, this conversation is over.” His tone was absolute, immovable. “You are my mate. Bran will stay away. End of topic. Now… are we going for a run or not?”
I considered turning on my heel and walking away just to spite him. But that would mean denying myself something I loved—and Kave was right. I couldn’t lead Bran on. It wouldn’t be fair.
So, with a curt nod, I shifted into my wolf form and took off into the trees.
The forest floor crunched beneath my paws, the world around me a blur of motion. I leapt over fallen logs, darted between trunks, and pushed my muscles harder just for the pure joy of it. Behind me, I could sense Kave’s presence—steady, strong, holding back.
I lengthened my stride, curious to see if I could leave him behind. But each time I surged forward, he matched me effortlessly, the distance between us unchanging. He wasn’t struggling—he was playing with me.
Frustration burned in my chest. I veered sharply off the path into more treacherous terrain, barreling down a leaf-slick slope and splashing through a shallow stream before charging up the other side. My lungs burned, but I refused to slow.
Then, without warning, something slammed into me from the side. I hit the ground hard, snarling and twisting in a flurry of teeth and claws. But in a heartbeat, I was pinned, Kave’s jaws closing around my throat—not with pain, but with dominance. Instinct silenced me, my body going still under the Alpha’s grip.
When he finally released me, we phased back into human form. My chest was heaving, my lungs dragging in greedy gulps of air. Kave looked barely winded.
“Why did you do that?” I demanded between breaths.
“There’s a leg trap directly ahead. A few more steps and you would have been caught.”
I turned my head and saw it—steel teeth barely visible beneath the fallen leaves. A shiver ripped down my spine. My mother had died like that.
“Scouts saw poachers near the property this morning,” Kave explained. “We’re close to the border. I was keeping watch. Rest here. I’ll spring it and check the area.”
“I’m coming with you,” I said, lifting my chin in challenge.
“Fine. But stay behind me.”
He found a sturdy stick and pressed it to the trap’s trigger. The metal jaws snapped shut with a vicious clang, splitting the stick in two. My stomach clenched as I imagined the pain of flesh in its place.
We spent another half hour scouring the area, finding four more traps before Kave was satisfied. He piled them together, marking the spot.
“We’ll tell your father when we get back. He can send more scouts. These won’t be reset.”
I touched his arm. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For stopping me. I could have broken a leg.”
His gaze softened, though his voice was steady. “I’m your Alpha. Protecting the pack is my job—but protecting you is my priority.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “I should’ve been paying more attention.”
“What were you thinking about?”
“You,” I admitted reluctantly. “Testing if you could keep up.”
His mouth curved into a slow, knowing smile. His hand slid behind my head, drawing me in for a brief, heated kiss. “No matter what you throw at me, Elaine… I’ll keep up.”
And somehow, I believed him.
We shifted back into wolf form and ran until the cabin came into view. I headed for the bathroom; Kave went to find my father.
The water pounded over me, washing away dirt and sweat, but not the tangle of thoughts in my mind. Kave had been polite, even protective. He’d saved me from a trap… but he’d also claimed me in a way that left no doubt I belonged to him.
Was this how it would always be? Polite interest, occasional touches, a relationship built more on duty than affection? My heart whispered Bran’s name, and a hollow ache spread through me.
Wrapping myself in a robe, I curled up on the bed, clutching my knees as the weight of my future pressed down on me.
- Writer
