Rejected By The Alpha, Claimed By The Enemy

Chapter 10: Bonded

After the fight with Kieran, something shifted between us.

Dante didn’t treat me like glass anymore.

He treated me like his.

Every night he came to my room. Not to sleep. Just to talk.

To sit with me. To make sure I was okay.

On the 3rd night, the bond snapped into place.

I woke up gasping. Pain in my chest. Like my heart was being pulled.

"Dante," I whispered.

His door opened instantly. He was already there.

"I felt it too," he said. Eyes glowing gold. "The bond."

He sat on my bed. Took my hand.

"It means the moon goddess approves. It means..." He swallowed. "It means we’re really mates now."

I touched his chest. His heart was racing.

"Does it hurt you too?"

"Only when you’re hurting." He brushed my hair back. "And right now, you’re scared."

"I am." I admitted. "What if this is fake? What if you get tired of me?"

Dante leaned down. Forehead to mine.

"Then you’ll have to kill me. Because I’m not letting you go. Ever."

My breath caught.

"Elara," he said. "Can I?"

I knew what he was asking.

To mark me. To complete the bond.

I nodded.

He moved slowly. Like I might break.

His lips on my neck. Soft. Reverent.

Then sharper.

Pain. Heat. Pleasure.

I cried out as the bond slammed into me.

Images. His memories. His pain. His loneliness.

And me. Always me.

When it was over, I was shaking.

He was too.

Dante pulled back. Two small marks on my neck. His scent all over me.

"Mine," he growled, voice rough. "Say it."

"Mine," I whispered back. "You’re mine."

He kissed me. Deep. Claiming.

Like he’d been waiting his whole life.

---

We didn’t sleep that night.

In the morning, the whole pack knew.

You could smell it on me. On him.

Rafe just grinned. "About damn time."

But peace didn’t last.

That evening, a scout ran in.

"Alpha! Silver Moon is moving! Full army. They’re marching on us!"

Dante went still. Then he stood.

"Kieran," he said. "He’s coming for her."

He looked at me.

"I need you to stay here. In the bunker. With guards."

"No."

"Elara—"

"I’m not hiding while you fight for me." I stood too. "I’m your mate. I fight with you."

Dante stared at me for a long time.

Then he nodded. "Fine. But you stay behind me. Always."

He started giving orders. Armor. Weapons. Walls.

That night, before battle, he came to me.

Fully armored. Sword at his side.

"If anything happens to me—"

"Don’t." I cut him off. "Nothing is going to happen to you."

He smiled. Sad. "Promise me something."

"What?"

"If I fall. Run. Don’t stay for me. Live."

Tears burned. "I won’t."

Dante cupped my face. "You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, little wolf.

Rejection, rogues, war... all of it was worth it. Because it led me to you."

He kissed me. Hard. Desperate.

Like it might be the last time.

From the walls, we could hear them.

Thousands of Silver Moon wolves.

And at the front... Kieran.

Dante squeezed my hand one last time.

"Stay close."

Then he walked out to meet them.

And war began.

End of Chapter 10