Marked by The Alpha I Was Forbidden To Love

The Bond I Couldn't Break

Morning came too quickly.

And not quickly enough.

I hadn’t slept again.

Not really.

Every time I closed my eyes, I felt it.

Him.

That pull.

That connection that refused to loosen no matter how much I tried to ignore it.

By the time the first light filtered through my window, I was already awake—sitting at the edge of my bed, fingers clenched tightly in the fabric of my dress.

My body felt… wrong.

Too aware.

Too sensitive.

Like every nerve had been sharpened overnight.

And my wolf,

Was restless.

It paced inside me, unsettled, alert… searching.

For him.

“No,” I whispered firmly.

I stood up abruptly, pacing the room.

“This is not real. This is not happening.”

I had lived my entire life in control.

In discipline.

In obedience.

I was not about to lose that because of one encounter.

One man.

But even as I said it…

The lie felt weaker than ever.

A sharp knock sounded on my door.

I froze.

“Selene,” a servant called softly. “You’re expected in the ceremonial hall.”

Of course I was.

Preparations.

Lessons.

Reminders of the life I was supposed to accept.

“I’ll be there,” I replied, forcing steadiness into my voice.

I dressed quickly.

Simple.

Proper.

Perfect.

Just the way they expected.

But nothing about me felt the same.

The moment I stepped out into the corridor, the world hit me differently.

Sounds were louder.

Scents sharper.

Every movement around me too clear.

Too intense.

And beneath it all,

That scent.

Faint.

Distant.

But unmistakable.

My breath hitched.

No.

That wasn’t possible.

He wasn’t here.

He couldn’t be.

And yet…

My body reacted like he was closer than before.

I gripped the wall briefly, steadying myself.

Something was happening.

Something I didn’t understand.

Something I couldn’t stop.

Miles away…

Deep within Shadowclaw territory,

He felt it too.

Kael stood at the edge of the forest, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

Unmoving.

Focused.

The bond had been faint at first.

A curiosity.

Something unexpected.

Now,

It was undeniable.

It pulled at him constantly.

A steady, persistent force that refused to be ignored.

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his dark hair.

“She’s getting stronger,” his Beta muttered from behind him.

Kael didn’t turn.

“I know.”

“You shouldn’t go near Ironfang,” the Beta added. “Not now. Not with tensions the way they are.”

Silence.

Then,

A slow, dangerous smile.

“I wasn’t planning to stay away.”

Back in Ironfang,

I barely made it to the ceremonial hall.

The moment I stepped inside, the scent of incense filled the air—usually calming.

Today…

It did nothing.

“Late,” my father’s voice cut through the silence.

I lowered my head slightly.

“My apologies.”

He studied me for a moment longer than usual.

Too long.

“You will not be late again,” he said firmly.

“Yes, Father.”

I stepped into position among the others, my posture straight, my expression composed.

Perfect.

But inside,

Chaos.

“Focus,” the elder instructed as preparations began.

I tried.

I really did.

But every few seconds,

My attention slipped.

My senses stretching beyond the walls.

Beyond the hall.

Beyond everything I could see.

Searching.

For him.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through my chest.

I gasped softly, my hand flying to my heart.

“Selene?”

I barely heard the voice.

Because in that moment,

I felt it.

Him.

Stronger than ever before.

Closer.

Too close.

My head snapped up instinctively.

Toward the direction of the forest.

“No…” I whispered.

This wasn’t just a connection anymore.

This was a pull.

And it was getting stronger.

“Something is wrong,” my father said sharply.

I forced myself to straighten.

“I’m fine.”

Another lie.

But this time,

Even I didn’t believe it.

Because deep down…

I knew the truth.

This wasn’t fading.

This wasn’t something I could ignore.

This was growing.

And if I didn’t stop it soon,

It would take everything with it.

At the border of Ironfang territory,

Kael stepped forward.

Crossing the invisible line that separated enemy from enemy.

His eyes dark.

His expression set.

The pull guiding him without hesitation.

“Let’s see how long you can resist me, little wolf,” he murmured.

And then,

He kept walking.

Straight into danger.