CHAPTER TWELVE
988 Words
12: The Connection
Elena lay on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling, her muscles aching from the relentless training. Every inch of her body throbbed, a dull reminder of the hours she had spent dodging, blocking, and striking under Kieran’s watchful eye. But exhaustion wasn’t what kept her awake.
It was him.
Kieran.
She couldn’t stop thinking about him—about the way his golden eyes burned with intensity when he looked at her, about the way his voice dropped when he spoke her name. The way his touch lingered just a second too long when he corrected her stance during training.
She turned onto her side, pressing her face into the pillow, trying to will away the thoughts. But it was useless.
The connection between them was undeniable, like an invisible force constantly pulling them closer. And that terrified her.
Because she didn’t know if it was real.
Was this bond something natural? Or was it just a trick of fate—some supernatural force binding them together against their will?
She needed answers.
Throwing off the blanket, she slipped out of bed, shivering as her bare feet touched the cool wooden floor. The cabin was silent, the fire in the hearth reduced to glowing embers. She grabbed the nearest sweater and pulled it over her head before making her way to the door.
Outside, the night was still. The air smelled like pine and damp earth, and the moon hung full and bright in the sky, casting everything in a silver glow. She spotted Kieran instantly—he was sitting on the porch, his elbows resting on his knees, staring out into the trees.
His presence was magnetic.
He turned his head slightly as she approached, as if sensing her before she even made a sound. His golden eyes caught the moonlight, glowing faintly.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, his voice soft.
Elena hesitated, wrapping her arms around herself. “No,” she admitted. “I… I needed to talk to you.”
Kieran didn’t say anything, but he shifted to make room for her on the bench. She sat beside him, careful to keep some distance, though their shoulders still brushed. The warmth of him was impossible to ignore.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The sounds of the forest surrounded them—the rustling leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the quiet hum of the wind through the trees.
Finally, Elena took a breath. “This bond,” she said, turning to face him. “Is it real? Or is it just… magic?”
Kieran exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “It’s real,” he said. “But it’s more than that.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
He turned his gaze to her then, something unreadable in his expression. “The bond is a connection, yes. But it’s not something that forces feelings. It only amplifies what’s already there.”
Elena’s heart stuttered.
“So… what you feel,” she whispered, “it’s not just because of the bond?”
Kieran didn’t look away. “No.”
Her breath caught in her throat.
The air between them grew heavier, charged with something neither of them wanted to acknowledge.
Elena swallowed hard, forcing herself to break eye contact. “But… why me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why am I important?”
Kieran hesitated. “Because you’re the lunar chosen.”
She shook her head. “That doesn’t mean anything to me.”
He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling. “It means you’re more than just human, Elena. You’re… meant to be a bridge between our world and yours. There’s something inside you—something rare. Marcus wants that power. He thinks he can control it.”
A shiver ran through her. “And you?” she asked. “Do you think I have this… power?”
Kieran studied her for a long moment. Then, to her surprise, he reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her wrist.
A spark shot up her arm at the contact.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her pulse hammering.
“It’s not about power,” Kieran murmured. “It’s about who you are.”
Elena’s head spun. She knew she should pull away. She knew this was dangerous. But she didn’t move.
Because despite everything—despite the fear, the uncertainty—she wanted this.
Wanted him.
She didn’t know if it was the bond, or if it was just them, but in that moment, it didn’t matter.
Kieran’s fingers slid up, brushing her palm, sending another jolt through her. His eyes darkened, his jaw clenching as if he was holding something back.
“Elena,” he said softly, almost like a warning.
She didn’t know what came over her, but she leaned in slightly, her breath hitching.
His gaze flickered to her lips.
For a second, she thought he might close the distance.
But then—
A low, distant howl echoed through the trees.
Kieran tensed instantly, his entire body going rigid.
Elena snapped back, startled. “What was that?”
Another howl. Closer this time.
Kieran was already on his feet, his eyes scanning the darkness. “Stay inside,” he said, his voice sharp.
Elena stood as well, gripping his arm. “Wait—what’s happening?”
Kieran didn’t look at her, his focus locked on the trees. “It’s Marcus’s pack.”
Her stomach dropped.
She turned toward the cabin, but before she could take a step, something moved in the shadows. A figure emerged from the trees—tall, broad, and unmistakably not human.
Golden eyes flashed in the darkness.
A growl rumbled through the air.
Elena’s breath caught.
Kieran moved in front of her instantly, his stance shifting into something predatory.
“Elena,” he said, voice low, dangerous. “Run.”
- Writer
