4
1008 Words
Selene's POV
Neither of us looked away.
The bond pulsed between us like a living thing, tightening with every second of silence. Cain's expression remained unreadable, but I could see it in his eyes.
He felt it too. He simply refused to admit it.
"You should leave," he repeated.
Something inside me snapped.
"No."
His brows lifted slightly.
"No?"
"I didn't come all this way just to be thrown out of your house."
"This isn't your house."
"And I didn't ask to be brought here."
The corner of his jaw twitched.
"Then leave."
"I would have, if your brother hadn't insisted I meet you."
Behind us, Zane sighed."I have a feeling neither of you is going to make this easy."
Neither Cain nor I acknowledged him.
Our attention remained fixed on each other.
"I didn't ask for this bond," I said.
"Neither did I."
"Good."
His gaze hardened."Because I'm not interested in sharing mates."
The words stung more than they should have. I folded my arms.
"Trust me, the feeling is mutual."
For a brief second, something flickered across his face.
Relief?
Disappointment? I couldn't tell.
The bond pulsed again.Stronger.As though it disagreed with both of us. Cain let out a slow breath.
"Come inside."
I frowned."What?"
"We're not discussing this in the hallway."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked into the study.
Zane looked at me."I promise he has better manners than this."
"I'll believe that when I see it."
The study was even larger than I'd expected.
Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling.
A fire burned quietly in the stone fireplace, filling the room with warmth that somehow failed to chase away the tension.
Cain remained standing behind his desk.
He didn't offer either of us a seat.
Typical.
He folded his arms."How much has Zane told you?"
"Enough to know my life has become very complicated."
"Not enough."
His answer came without hesitation.
"This bond isn't like an ordinary mate bond."
"I've gathered that," I said knowingly
"It grows stronger with time."
I frowned."What do you mean?"
"The longer the three of us remain connected, the deeper the bond becomes."
Zane nodded."It's emotional."
Cain continued."Physical and spiritual."
I swallowed."So if I reject it?"
"You can."His answer was calm."But the bond won't disappear."
"It will only become painful."
I looked from one brother to the other."So there isn't a way out."
"There are always choices," Cain said.
"But none of them are easy."
Silence settled over the room.
I laughed softly."You know, this isn't exactly how I imagined finding my mate."
Zane smiled faintly."I doubt any of us imagined this."
Cain remained expressionless."I certainly didn't."
I turned toward him."What was your plan?"
"My plan?"
"To spend the rest of your life alone?"
He looked at me for a long moment."If that's what it took."
Something about the certainty in his voice caught me off guard. Before I could respond, he spoke again.
"You should stay here."
I blinked."In your house?"
"It's the safest place."
"Safe from what?"
Neither brother answered immediately. That silence was answer enough. Finally, Zane spoke.
"There are packs that would kill to possess a bond like this."
My stomach tightened."You mean..."
"They'll come for you."
The room suddenly felt much smaller.
"So becoming your mate also comes with enemies?"
Cain's expression didn't change."It comes with responsibilities."
"I didn't ask for either."
"I know."
The sincerity in his voice surprised me. For the first time, he didn't sound cold. He sounded... tired.
I looked away."I still think I should leave."
"No."
His answer came instantly.
"I wasn't asking."I laughed once.
"That's unfortunate."His eyes narrowed.
"I don't take orders well."
"I've noticed."
"I've also noticed you're incredibly arrogant."
"And I've noticed you're stubborn."
The bond surged again. This time, it was almost unbearable. Heat raced through my body. My heartbeat quickened.
Without realizing it, I'd taken a step closer. Cain noticed. So did I.Neither of us moved back.
"What is this?" I whispered.
"The bond."
His voice came out lower than before."It's reacting."
"It needs to stop."
"It can't."
Zane shifted uneasily."Cain..."
Cain didn't answer. His eyes remained locked on mine. The room faded around us.
I barely noticed anything except him. The bond pulled harder.
His hand lifted slowly. For one impossible moment, it hovered beside my cheek.
He looked just as conflicted as I felt.
"I hate this," he admitted quietly.
I let out a shaky breath."So do I."
Something broke. His control. My mind was in turmoil. I need this more than I can ever admit.
In one swift movement, he caught my wrist and pulled me toward him.
I collided with his chest. Before I could speak—
His lips crashed against mine.
The kiss was nothing like the one I'd shared with Zane. There was no tenderness.
No hesitation. Only anger.Frustration. Desperation.
It felt less like a kiss and more like two people fighting a battle neither of them knew how to win.
For one terrifying second, I kissed him back.
The bond blazed between us. Then reality returned.
I shoved him away with all my strength.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
My voice echoed through the study. Cain stared at me, breathing as hard as I was. Shock flashed across his face.
"I..."
For the first time since meeting him, the confident Alpha had no words.
Zane stepped between us.
"Enough."
Neither of us argued. Neither of us could.
Cain dragged a hand through his hair before turning away.
"I didn't mean for that to happen."
His voice was rough. I touched my lips, my heart still racing.
"Then why did it?"
He closed his eyes briefly. When he looked back at me, there was something dangerously vulnerable in his eyes.
"Because the bond is stronger than either of us realized."
The room fell silent. And for the first time since arriving at the Weston estate...I wasn't sure which frightened me more.
The man I'd spent five years hating—or the fact that part of me wanted him to kiss me again.
- Writer
