Chapter 4
1197 Words
Elias’ POV
The moment I walked out, I felt his presence. He was waiting.
Kieran.
He stood at the edge of the forest, his posture relaxed, but I knew better than to mistake it for ease. The moonlight barely touched him, casting half his face in shadow. But I could still see the arrogance in his stance, the challenge in his eyes.
He had been watching. He had felt it, the mark.
I clenched my jaw.
He has no claim over her anymore. She’s mine.
And yet, he was here.
“Come to surrender?” I asked, stepping forward.
Kieran smirked. “You always had a sense of humor, Elias. I almost missed it.”
I didn’t laugh. What are you doing here?
His smirk faltered, just slightly. His golden eyes flickered to the house to Lilian. A slow possessive smirk tugged at his lips.
“I see you wasted no time.”
My muscles tensed.
“Did she moan your name, Elias?” he continued, voice taunting. “Did she look at you the way she used to look at me?”
A growl rumbled in my chest. “You lost the right to talk about her the moment you rejected her.”
Kieran’s jaw tightened, but he recovered quickly. “Did I?” His gaze darkened. She hasn't stopped being mine.
Rage flashed through me. “She belongs to no one.”
His smirk returned. “Then why do I still feel her?”
I stilled.
“She’s marked,” I said coldly. “Our bond is sealed. Whatever connection you had with her is gone.”
His expression turned unreadable. “That’s what you think.”
My hands curled into fists. “Your rejection severed the mate bond, Kieran. “You've lost her, you've lost everything. All that remains is your wounded pride.
“You don’t get it, do you?”. He leaned in, voice low and full of venom. “Lilian and I… we were connected long before the bond. And even though I rejected her, she never truly let me go.
I felt the sting of his words but I held firm. It will not break me. His voice was thick with mockery.
“She moved on,” I said, meeting his gaze. “She chose me.”
Kieran’s lips twitched. “That’s cute, Elias. Really. But here’s the thing, you marked her, but she never stopped believing in me. And that,” he tapped his temple “ means she’s still tied to me in ways you don’t understand.”
I didn’t move. Didn’t speak.
Because deep down, I knew there was truth to his words.
Lilian had loved Kieran once desperately, painfully. Even after his rejection, even after she left, a part of her had still ached for him. I had seen it in the way she avoided talking about him, the way his name still brought shadows to her eyes.
Had she truly let go?
Kieran tilted his head. “You can feel it, can’t you? That tether of doubt inside her?
I bared my teeth. “If you came here for a fight, Kieran, I’ll gladly give you one.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I will fight for her, Elias. But not tonight”. “Enjoy the illusion,” he said narrowing his eyes,” but don't fool yourself she hasn't fully chosen you.”
A snarl escaped me but he slipped into the shadow, faster than I could follow.
I didn't move. couldn't. The beast inside me was pacing. furious.
Then, I turned back to the house.
To Lilian.
I found her sitting on the bed, the sheets draped loosely around her body. Her hair was a mess of curls, her lips swollen from my kisses.
She looked up the moment I entered, concern flickering in her eyes. “Elias?”
I didn’t answer. Without a word, I closed the distance and wrapped my arms around her, breathing her in as I pressed my face into her neck.
She stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
I exhaled slowly, letting her scent calm the storm inside me, “nothing you need to worry about.”
She pulled back enough to meet my gaze. “You’re lying.”
I gave her a small smile. “Just thinking.”
Her brows furrowed. “About what?”
I hesitated.
About Kieran. About what he said. About whether or not you still feel something for him.
But I didn’t say it.
Instead, I cupped her face, my thumb brushing her cheek. “because every time I look at you, I remember how lucky I am.”
She blinked. “Oh.” A slow smile spread across her face. “Well… I did choose you, you know?.
I kissed her forehead with a quiet smile. “Yeah, you did.”
She sighed, resting her hands on my chest. “But that's not what's really bothering you is it?
I chuckled softly. “You always see right through me."
She grinned. “I know.
And just like that, the tension in my chest unraveled.
I lay her back on the bed, my body covering hers she gasps softly as my lips trailed down kisses down her throat, hands exploring every inch of her.
“Elias…”
“I need you.” I breathed, my lips brushing against her skin.
She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. “I am yours.”
That was all I needed.
I claimed her again, savouring every moment, her body trembled beneath mine, and when her moans filled the air, I felt her soul intertwinning with mine, nothing carrying said mattered anymore in that moment she was all mine, completely and forever.
And I would never let her go.
We lay together, her fingers drawing slow circles on my chest, our breath in sync.
I tightened my hold on her. “Lilian?”
“Hmm?”
I hesitated, then said, “Do you still think about him?”
She went still.
I exhaled. “I don’t mean like that. I just…” I ran a hand through my hair. “He was here.”
Her head snapped up. “What?”
I nodded. “He confronted me. Said you still have faith in him. That your connection to him isn’t entirely gone.”
She frowned. “That’s ridiculous.”
I searched her eyes. “Is it.?
She paused, and my stomach tightened.
Then, she sighed. “Elias, I won’t lie to you. A part of me will always remember him, “he was my everything,” she paused searching my eyes as her fingers tightened around mine, but that doesn't mean I want him back and it won't change how I feel about you.
I watched her closely, looking for any hint of doubt in her eyes.
There was none.
I nodded slowly. “Okay.”
She smiled softly. “Okay.”
I drew her closer, planting a kiss on her forehead letting her warmth melt into me.
Even as she slept peacefully in my arms, Kieran’s words lingered in my thoughts, refusing to fade.
“This isn’t over.”
And I knew he was right.
- Writer
