Chapter three: the Bond

The campfire crackled softly in the middle of the clearing, its golden glow illuminating the tense group surrounding it. Kai sat as far away from the flames as possible, his back pressed against a tree. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his wolf bristling beneath his skin.

The three Alphas were seated closer to the fire, their gazes occasionally flicking toward him. None of them had tried to approach him yet, which was a small relief. But the air between them was thick with unspoken tension, the bond weaving between the four of them like an invisible thread.

Kai hated it.

“Are you going to keep glaring at us all night?” Rhett finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with amusement. The wild Alpha leaned back on his hands, his green eyes flashing mischievously in the firelight. “Or are you going to say something?”

Kai narrowed his eyes. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

Rhett smirked. “Suit yourself, sweetheart. But you’re not exactly making this easier.”

“Easier for who?” Kai snapped, his voice rising. “You? I didn’t ask to be dragged into this. I didn't ask for this! I don’t want any part of your bond or… or whatever this is!”

Lucian, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. His deep voice cut through the tension like a blade. “This isn’t just about you, Kai.”

Kai turned his glare on the black-haired Alpha. “Oh, really? Then what is it about? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like three Alphas decided to claim an Omega they don’t even know. Can't you all just reject me or something.”

Lucian’s blue eyes burned with intensity. “The bond chose us. We didn’t ask for it either. But it’s here, and we have to deal with it—together. The mating bond is a gift from the Moon Goddess and should be appreciated.”

“Together?” Kai let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve known me for all of five minutes, and you’re acting like this is some kind of destiny. Newsflash: I don’t believe in fate, and I definitely don’t trust any of you.”

Kieran, the quietest of the three, spoke then. His golden eyes softened as he regarded Kai. “No one’s asking you to trust us right away. But fighting the mating bond will only make things harder for all of us.”

Kai’s jaw tightened, his wolf pacing restlessly inside him. The rational part of him knew Kieran was right. The mating bond was real. His mother had told him all about the bind before she died. He could feel it in the way his body responded to their presence, in the way his wolf yearned to be closer to them despite his fear.

But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“And what happens if I don’t play along?” Kai challenged, his voice laced with defiance. “Are you going to force me to submit?”

Rhett’s smirk vanished, his expression darkening. “We’re not like that,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t compare us to the Alphas who’ve hunted you. We’re nothing like them.”

Kai opened his mouth to argue, but the words caught in his throat. Something in Rhett’s tone—raw, almost vulnerable—made him hesitate.

Lucian leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto Kai’s. “You don’t have to decide anything tonight. But you can’t keep running, Kai. Not from us. Not from yourself.”

Kai looked away, his throat tightening. He hated how much their words affected him, how the bond seemed to twist his emotions in ways he couldn’t control.

“I need space,” he muttered, rising to his feet.

“You’re not leaving,” Lucian said firmly.

Kai shot him a sharp look. “I’m not running. I just… I need to breathe.”

Lucian studied him for a moment, then gave a curt nod. “Don’t go far.”

Kai didn’t bother responding. He turned and slipped into the shadows, his heart pounding as he put some distance between himself and the Alphas.

The forest was quieter here, the moonlight filtering through the trees in soft silver streaks. Kai leaned against a tree, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

‘What am I going to do?’

He had spent his entire life avoiding Alphas, and now he was bound to three of them. No matter how far he ran, the bond would pull him back. And the worst part? A small, traitorous part of him didn’t want to run anymore.

The sound of footsteps broke his thoughts. He tensed, his wolf stirring, and turned to see Kieran approaching him.

“I said I needed space,” Kai said, his voice sharp.

Kieran stopped a few feet away, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. “I know. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Kai narrowed his eyes. “Why do you care?”

Kieran tilted his head, his golden eyes thoughtful. “Because I know what it feels like to be alone. To think no one cares about you. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

Kai’s chest tightened at the sincerity in Kieran’s voice. He wanted to lash out, to push the Alpha away, but the words wouldn’t come.

“You don’t know anything about me,” he muttered instead, looking away.

“I know enough,” Kieran said quietly. “You’re strong, Kai. Stronger than most Omegas meaning there is something special about you. But that doesn't mean you can survive out here forever, even the strongest wolves need a pack.”

Kai let out a bitter laugh. “Is that what this is? You three playing house, trying to force me into your pack?”

“No one’s forcing you,” Kieran said. “But whether you admit it or not, you feel it too. The mating bond. It’s real, Kai. And it’s not going away.”

Kai’s hands clenched into fists. “I don’t want this.”

Kieran stepped closer, his voice gentle. “Maybe not right now. But when you’re ready, we’ll be here. All of us.”

Kai’s throat tightened, and he looked away, his emotions a tangled mess. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing.

Kieran didn’t push him. He simply stood there, a steady presence in the quiet night.

And for the first time in years, Kai didn’t feel entirely alone.