Part 11 — The Claiming Instinct
1315 Words
The cold night air felt heavier after Selene’s warning.
“It means soon his wolf will stop asking.”
The words echoed painfully inside Elena’s mind.
She looked toward Alessandro immediately.
His silver eyes still hadn’t fully returned to normal.
The dangerous energy surrounding him felt stronger than before.
More possessive.
More unstable.
“Elena,” Dominic said carefully, “you should stay away from him tonight.”
That statement instantly changed Alessandro’s expression.
A low growl rumbled from his chest.
Every guard nearby became tense immediately.
Selene sighed softly.
“And there it is.”
Elena’s heartbeat quickened.
“What’s happening to him?”
Alessandro finally looked away from her with visible effort.
“The bond is reacting to the danger.”
“That’s not all,” Dominic interrupted quietly. “Her blood was spilled.”
Elena touched the small cut on her neck nervously.
“So?”
Selene answered calmly.
“For wolves, blood strengthens instincts.”
Wonderful.
Everything in this world somehow kept becoming worse.
Alessandro stepped backward slowly like he was forcing distance between them.
But even from several feet away, Elena could still feel the invisible pull connecting them.
Strong.
Warm.
Dangerous.
“You need rest,” Alessandro said roughly.
“You keep saying that every time something insane happens.”
Despite the tension, Luca almost smiled.
Dominic remained serious.
“This is not a joke anymore.”
Elena looked at him sharply.
“Then explain properly.”
The older Alpha sighed heavily before answering.
“When mates are threatened repeatedly, the wolf side becomes more aggressive.”
Selene continued calmly, “Especially powerful Alphas.”
Elena slowly looked back toward Alessandro.
His breathing still looked uneven.
“So what exactly happens during this… claiming stage?”
Silence filled the group briefly.
Then Selene answered directly.
“His wolf will try to permanently mark you as his.”
Heat rushed into Elena’s face instantly.
“What?”
“It’s instinctive,” Dominic explained. “Ancient wolves believe marking protects the mate bond.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened visibly.
“That won’t happen.”
But even he sounded uncertain.
Selene noticed immediately.
“You can barely control yourself already.”
A dangerous look crossed Alessandro’s face.
“Careful.”
Elena quickly stepped between them before the tension exploded further.
“Enough.”
Everyone fell silent.
Exhaustion suddenly hit her all at once.
The attacks.
The bond.
The constant fear.
She was tired.
So tired.
“I just want one normal day,” she whispered quietly.
Something painful crossed Alessandro’s expression again.
Because he knew she would never have that anymore.
Not after him.
Later that night, the mansion became quieter again after the wounded guards were treated and the damaged gates secured.
But tension still filled every hallway.
Elena stood alone on her bedroom balcony staring at the dark forest surrounding the estate.
Moonlight covered the trees beautifully.
Yet now she knew monsters lived inside that darkness.
A soft knock came at her door.
“Elena?”
Marco.
She opened the door immediately.
“You should be asleep.”
Marco walked inside quietly.
“You almost died tonight.”
The fear in his voice broke her heart instantly.
Elena hugged him tightly.
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.”
She stayed silent.
Marco looked down sadly.
“This is all because of that mate thing, right?”
Elena blinked in surprise.
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough.”
He sat on the edge of the bed quietly.
“Do you love him?”
The question caught her completely off guard.
Love?
Everything between her and Alessandro happened too fast.
Too intensely.
But when she imagined him hurt…
Or dead…
Pain immediately tightened inside her chest.
Elena looked away slowly.
“I don’t know.”
Marco studied her carefully before speaking again.
“He looks at you differently.”
Her heartbeat quickened slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“Like losing you would destroy him.”
The words settled heavily inside her.
Because deep down…
She already knew it was true.
And the terrifying part?
Losing Alessandro might destroy her too.
Hours later, Elena still couldn’t sleep.
Her thoughts kept returning to the kiss.
The warmth of his hands.
The way he said her name.
The impossible connection pulling them together.
Frustrated, she left her room quietly and walked downstairs for water again.
The mansion remained mostly silent.
But as she reached the lower hallway, she suddenly heard heavy breathing nearby.
Elena froze.
Then she saw him.
Alessandro stood alone near one of the dark windows.
His hands gripped the edge of a table tightly while tension covered his entire body.
His breathing sounded rough.
Painful.
“Elena,” he said immediately without turning around.
“How did you know it was me?”
“I always know.”
The answer sent warmth through her chest despite everything.
She stepped closer carefully.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
Honest.
Simple.
Dangerous.
Elena noticed his hands trembling slightly.
Fear returned quietly.
“What’s wrong?”
Alessandro finally turned toward her.
His eyes flashed silver again.
Not fully.
Just enough to reveal how unstable his wolf remained.
“You shouldn’t be near me right now.”
“Because of the claiming thing?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Elena swallowed nervously.
“But you said you can control it.”
Silence.
Then Alessandro answered quietly.
“I’m trying.”
The honesty in his voice affected her unexpectedly.
For the first time, she truly saw how hard he was fighting himself.
Not because he wanted to hurt her.
Because he was terrified he might.
Elena stepped closer slowly anyway.
Alessandro’s breathing instantly became heavier.
“Elena.”
“You saved my life tonight.”
“That doesn’t change anything.”
“It changes everything.”
Their eyes locked again.
The mate bond reacted immediately.
Strong enough to almost hurt.
Alessandro looked away sharply like he was trying to regain control.
“You need to leave.”
But Elena didn’t move.
Instead, she gently touched his hand.
The reaction was immediate.
Alessandro grabbed her waist suddenly and pulled her against him.
Elena gasped softly.
The silver in his eyes brightened instantly.
“Do you understand what you’re doing to me?” he whispered roughly.
Heat rushed through her body.
“No.”
“Good.”
The dangerous honesty in his voice made her heartbeat race wildly.
His hand tightened slightly against her waist while his gaze dropped briefly to her lips again.
Elena should have stepped away.
Instead…
She stayed.
And that destroyed the last piece of control Alessandro still had.
He kissed her again.
Harder this time.
Hungrier.
Like he was starving for her.
Elena’s hands gripped his shirt immediately while warmth exploded through the mate bond between them.
Powerful emotions crashed into her all at once.
Need.
Desire.
Connection.
Alessandro suddenly growled softly against her lips.
The sound sent chills through her entire body.
Then she felt it.
Sharp teeth brushing dangerously close to her neck.
The marking instinct.
Alessandro froze instantly after realizing what he almost did.
He pulled away sharply, breathing heavily.
“Elena…”
Fear flashed across his face for the first time.
Real fear.
“You need to go.”
She stared at him shakily.
“You almost bit me.”
His expression darkened painfully.
“Yes.”
Silence stretched heavily between them.
Then suddenly alarms exploded across the mansion again.
Luca’s voice echoed loudly downstairs.
“Boss! We found a spy inside the estate!”
Alessandro’s expression immediately turned deadly cold again.
But before leaving, his hand gently touched Elena’s cheek for one brief moment.
Then he whispered something that made her chest tighten painfully.
“I’m trying not to become the monster they think I am.”
And before Elena could answer…
He disappeared into the darkness.
To be continued…
- Writer
