04

The door creaked under the weight of a force I knew all too well. My eyes locked on the handle, which was slowly turning, as if Kael was savoring the moment before entering. My heart pounded in my chest, and my instincts screamed for me to run, but there was nowhere to go.

"Ayla," his voice came again, this time closer, low and lethal. "Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Open the door."

My eyes darted around the small room, desperately searching for anything that might help. The kitchen was a few steps away, with drawers hiding knives and utensils. But what could a knife do against Kael and his wolves?

"Please," I whispered to myself, my hand protectively cradling my belly. "Please stay away."

The silence on the other side of the door was even more terrifying. It was as if he could hear me. As if he knew exactly what I was feeling.

And then, with a loud crash, the door gave way.

Kael stepped inside, his presence dominating the small space. He was even bigger than I remembered, his body a perfect blend of strength and grace that seemed to suck the air out of the room. His golden eyes met mine instantly, and I saw something there—not just anger, but a cold determination, as if he already knew I had nowhere to run.

"You’re harder to find than I expected," he said, closing the door behind him with a slow, almost casual motion.

"Kael..." My voice trembled, but I refused to back away.

He raised a hand, silencing me. "I’m going to speak, and you’re going to listen."

My mind screamed at me to fight, to flee, but my body wouldn’t move. He had that effect. Even after everything, the connection between us was still a live wire, something I couldn’t ignore.

"You ran," he began, his voice low but with a cutting edge. "I understand. I made it clear I didn’t want a fated mate."

My fists clenched, my nails digging into my palms. "And now you’re here, why? To finish what you started?"

Kael chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Ayla, don’t underestimate my intelligence. Do you think I came all this way for you?" He stepped closer, and I instinctively moved back. "I came for them."

My breath caught, and my hand instinctively moved to my belly.

"Yes," he continued, his eyes fixed on the movement. "I know. I suspected something was off when I felt the absence of your scent. Now it all makes sense."

"You have no right..." I started, but he growled, a deep sound that made my skin prickle.

"I’m the Alpha," he interrupted, his voice sharp as a blade. "They are mine. You may have run, Ayla, but you can’t hide them from me."

"You rejected them before you even knew they existed!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "You rejected me, Kael. And now what? You want to claim something you threw away?"

He hesitated, and for a moment, I saw something in his face—guilt, maybe? But it was fleeting, replaced by his mask of absolute control.

"That doesn’t matter now," he said, crossing his arms. "You have no idea what’s at stake."

"Then tell me," I challenged, my voice trembling with emotion. "Explain why you think you have the right to show up here and destroy my life."

Kael narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. But then, he stepped even closer, so close I could feel the heat radiating from him.

"Because they’re in danger," he said, his voice low. "And so are you."

I froze, the weight of his words sinking in. He was serious. This wasn’t just a power play.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying not to show my rising panic.

Kael stepped back, crossing his arms again. "There are others looking for you, Ayla. For them. And they won’t stop until they get what they want."

"Who?" My voice was barely a whisper.

"The Northern Clans," he replied. "They’ve heard about you. About them. And they’re interested."

My knees nearly buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright. The Northern Clans were known for their cruelty, their obsession with pure bloodlines and power. If they knew about my children...

"Why do you care?" I asked, my voice bitter.

Kael stared at me, his expression grim. "Because, whether you like it or not, they’re mine. And I won’t let them fall into the wrong hands."

The silence between us was thick and suffocating. My emotions were in chaos—anger, fear, confusion. Kael was here, and he knew. Everything I had tried to protect was now exposed.

Before I could respond, he turned to the door and barked a single command.

"Take her."

The door burst open, and three wolves entered, their movements precise and calculated. They shifted into their human forms, towering and muscular, their eyes glowing with the same golden hue as Kael’s.

"Don’t touch me!" I yelled, backing away.

But the wolves didn’t hesitate. One grabbed my arm while another reached for my bag. I struggled, kicking and clawing, but they were too strong.

"Kael!" I screamed, glaring at him. "You don’t have to do this!"

He crossed his arms, his expression cold. "You brought this on yourself, Ayla. If you’d come willingly, this wouldn’t be necessary."

I fought harder, but the wolves held me firmly, dragging me toward the door.

"You’ll regret this," I snarled, my voice breaking with emotion.

Kael stepped closer, his gaze softening just for a moment. "Maybe. But at least you’ll be alive."

And with that, the wolves pulled me out into the cold night, Kael following closely behind. As the shadows of the forest swallowed us, I realized there was no escape this time. Kael had won.