Aurelia's heart hammered in her chest as she stood by the window, her back to the door. The cold night air brushed her skin, but it wasn't the chill that made her shiver. It was the looming presence that had appeared in the doorway.
Kaelen.
"I know you've been sneaking around," he said, his voice low but commanding.
Aurelia's muscles tensed. She didn't turn to face him. She couldn't. If she did, she might break. "I haven't been sneaking," she said evenly, trying to keep the panic from creeping into her voice. "I'm just trying to keep my distance."
He stepped closer, his boots clicking softly on the stone floor, each step purposeful. She could hear him approaching, but she didn't move. If she let herself feel his presence, she might lose herself entirely.
"You're lying," Kaelen said, his tone colder than ever. "Who are you meeting when you think I'm not looking? Don't make me force it out of you."
Aurelia finally turned, locking eyes with him. "You think I'd tell you?" she shot back, her voice sharp. "You think you can just demand answers from me like I'm some obedient pup?"
Kaelen's gaze darkened, his eyes flashing with something dangerous. "I've let you get away with a lot, Aurelia," he said, stepping closer. "But don't mistake my patience for weakness."
Aurelia's pulse quickened as she took a step back. "I'm not your pet, Kaelen," she spat. "You can lock me in chains, but you can't control me."
For a moment, the room felt suffocating. Their eyes locked in a silent battle, neither willing to back down. But then, Kaelen took another step forward, his voice suddenly softer, colder, "You'll learn. The hard way, if necessary."
Aurelia's breath hitched. "I don't fear you," she said, her words coming out more defiant than she intended.
"Oh, you should," Kaelen murmured, his voice low. He reached out, his fingers brushing the side of her neck where the collar lay. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her.
The collar.
Aurelia's hand instinctively went to her throat, but Kaelen grabbed her wrist, holding it there. "This collar isn't just to suppress your wolf," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "It's a bond. A connection. And I can feel every inch of it. You can't escape it, no matter how much you try."
Her breath came in quick gasps, her chest tightening as the collar pulsed beneath his touch. She could feel the wolf inside her, straining against the confines, clawing at her from within. The collar was more than just a tool to keep her wolf at bay—it was a leash, and Kaelen held it like a master.
"No," she said, her voice trembling with rage. "You don't get to control me. Not anymore."
Kaelen's grip tightened, forcing her to face him. His eyes burned with an intensity that took her breath away. "You think you can fight this, Aurelia?" His voice was low, a growl in the back of his throat. "You think you can resist me forever?"
"I've resisted worse," she hissed, her eyes narrowing.
The air between them grew heavier, charged with tension. She could feel the wild energy within her, the wolf just beneath the surface, desperate for release. And then, without warning, Kaelen closed the space between them, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Then prove it."
Her pulse raced as she jerked away from him, her heart pounding. "Let go of me."
But Kaelen didn't release her. Instead, he pushed her back against the wall, his body pressing close. The pressure of his body against hers sent a shock through her, the power in him overwhelming. Her breath caught, and she could feel the collar vibrating beneath her skin.
"Let go," she growled, this time the words coming out deeper, more feral. The wolf within her was rising, and she couldn't hold it back any longer.
He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her neck. "You want to fight?" His lips brushed against her skin, sending another wave of heat through her. "I'll let you."
Kaelen's grip on her wrist loosened, but before she could pull away, he slammed his other hand against the wall beside her head, trapping her. She couldn't move. Her body trembled with the need to shift, to break free.
"Do you feel that?" Kaelen's voice was a low rasp, his breath quickening. "Your wolf. It wants out. You can't hide it from me."
Her chest tightened as the collar pulsed again, the runes beneath the metal glowing brighter. She could feel the bond between them snapping, fraying. "You're nothing but a cage," she said through clenched teeth. "This collar is nothing."
"It's not nothing," Kaelen said, his lips brushing her ear again. "It's everything. And you're mine, Aurelia. Whether you like it or not."
The words were like fire, burning her from the inside. She wanted to scream, to break free from the chains that held her both physically and mentally. But something inside her cracked, and her vision blurred as the wolf inside her howled in pain.
The collar pulsed once more, stronger than before, a crack forming along one of the runes. Aurelia gasped as the power surged through her, her fingers twitching as the wolf strained to break free.
"Stop!" she cried out, her voice shaking. But the words felt hollow, useless.
Kaelen's eyes flicked to the collar, his expression unreadable. He could feel it, too. He could feel the bond slipping, the collar cracking, the wolf stirring.
He leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek. "I told you, you can't escape me. Not now, not ever."
Aurelia's heart thundered in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The crack in the collar grew wider, the pulse of energy growing stronger. Her wolf was no longer just a whisper—it was a roar inside her mind, demanding freedom.
And then, just as the tension between them reached its peak, a deep, guttural growl escaped her throat. It was the wolf. It was hers.
"Kaelen," she whispered, her voice barely audible, but full of fury.
He froze for a second, eyes narrowing as he finally realized what was happening. The crack in the collar widened, and the air between them grew thick with power.
The collar cracked wide open, and Aurelia's wolf snarled. She wasn't his prisoner anymore.