Chapter 6

"It's you," Kaden said again, his voice low but full of certainty.

"No," Althea whispered, shaking her head, her voice barely audible.

She could feel it,the bond, the invisible pull between them, tugging at her, whispering to her, making her wolf stir weakly in the back of her mind. It terrified her.

"You're mistaken," she said quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I'm not—I can't be—"

"You are," Kaden interrupted, taking a slow step closer. His voice was calm, measured, but there was a fire in his eyes, a quiet intensity that made her chest tighten. "I knew it the moment I saw you."

Althea's fingers gripped the edge of the counter behind her, her knuckles white. "You're wrong," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm no one. I'm nothing."

Kaden's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't say that."

"It's true," she said, her voice rising as panic clawed at her chest. "I'm not—I can't—" She shook her head again, tears stinging her eyes. "This is a mistake. It has to be."

"It's not."

The certainty in his voice made her stomach twist. She wanted to run, to disappear,but she was frozen in place, pinned by the weight of his gaze.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kaden expression softened, just slightly, but his silver eyes never wavered. "Because you're mine," he said simply.

Althea's breath hitched, her chest heaving as her heart threatened to beat out of her ribcage.

"No," she said again, her voice firmer this time. She pushed away from the counter, trying to move past him, but he stepped into her path, blocking her escape.

"Don't run," Kaden said, his voice low and rough.

"I'm not running," she said quickly, even though she knew it wasn't true. "I just—I need to go. I don't belong here. I don't belong anywhere near you."

"Stop," Kaden said, his voice quiet but commanding.

Althea froze, her hand still gripping the edge of the counter as though it were the only thing keeping her upright.

"You feel it, don't you?" Kaden asked, his tone softer now. "The bond."

"No," Althea lied, her voice shaking.

Kaden stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey.

"You're lying," he said, his voice quiet but firm.

"I'm not," Althea said quickly, taking a step back, her breath catching as her back hit the wall.

Kaden stopped just a foot away, his towering frame filling her vision. His silver eyes burned into hers, and she could feel the heat radiating from his body, the sheer presence of him making it hard to think, hard to breathe.

"I don't know what you think this is," Althea said, her voice trembling, "but it's not me. You've made a mistake. I'm not your mate."

"You are," Kaden said simply.

Althea shook her head, tears spilling over her cheeks. "I can't be," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm nothing. I'm weak. I don't even have a wolf."

"That's not true," Kaden said, his voice steady.

"It is," Althea said, her chest heaving. "I'm broken. I don't shift. I don't belong anywhere. You think I'm your mate? I'm not even worthy of being in the same room as you!"

Kaden's expression hardened, his eyes flashing with something dangerous.

"Who told you that?" he asked, his voice low and sharp.

Althea blinked, startled by the sudden change in his tone.

"What?"

"Who told you you were broken?" Kaden demanded, his voice a quiet growl. "Who made you believe you're not worthy?"

Althea's lips parted, but no sound came out. She shook her head, trying to find the words, but the lump in her throat made it impossible to speak.

Kaden stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers.

"They lied to you," he said, his voice softer now but no less intense. "Whoever told you those things,they were wrong."

Althea's chest ached, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as his words washed over her.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "You don't know me. You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough," Kaden said, his voice firm. "I know you're my mate. I know you're stronger than you think you are. And I know I'm not going to let you run from this."

Althea heart clenched, her emotions swirling in a chaotic storm of fear, confusion, and something she couldn't name.

"I can't," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"You can," Kaden said, his tone gentle but unyielding. "And you will."

Althea shook her head again, tears streaming down her face. "You don't understand. I'm not—I can't—"

"I do understand," Kaden said, cutting her off. His voice was low, steady, and filled with something that made her chest tighten. "You're scared. I get it. But you're not alone anymore."

The words hit her like a physical blow, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe.

Not alone.

The idea was almost too much to bear.

But the fear was stronger.

"I don't want this," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't want you."

It was a lie, and they both knew it.

Kaden's jaw tightened, his silver eyes blazing as he took another step closer, closing the last bit of space between them.

"Too bad," he said quietly. "Because you're mine, whether you want to be or not."

Althea's breath hitched, her chest heaving as the tension between them crackled like a live wire.

"No," she whispered, but the word was weak, hollow.

Kaden hand moved toward her, slow and deliberate, and for a moment, she thought he might touch her. But he stopped just short, his fingers hovering inches from her face.

"Look at me," he said softly.

Althea hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest as she forced herself to meet his gaze.

The bond roared to life between them, stronger than ever, and for a moment, everything else disappeared.

She felt it,the connection, the pull, the undeniable truth of what they were.

"No," she said again, her voice barely a whisper, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I can't."

Kaden's expression softened, but his voice remained firm. "You can."

"I'm not strong enough," she whispered.

"You are," Kaden said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "You just don't know it yet."

His words broke something inside her, and for the first time, she let out a soft, choked sob.

Kaden didn't move, didn't push her further. He simply stood there, his presence steady and unyielding, like a rock in the middle of a storm.

And somehow, in that moment, Althea felt both terrified and safe.

The kitchen door creaked open, and the sound startled her back into reality.

She stepped back quickly, her hands shaking as she put more distance between them.

"I need to go," she said, her voice trembling. "I can't—I can't do this."

"Althea—" Kaden started, but she shook her head, cutting him off.

"Please," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Just let me go."

For a moment, Kaden didn't move, his silver eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her chest ache.

But then, slowly, he stepped aside, giving her the space she needed to flee.

Althea didn't waste a second. She turned and bolted for the door, her heart pounding as tears streamed down her face.

Kaden watched her go, his jaw clenched and his fists tight at his sides.

His wolf growled in frustration, pacing restlessly in the back of his mind.

"Go after her. Don't let her run!"

"She's scared," Kaden muttered under his breath, his silver eyes still fixed on the door she had fled through. "If I push her now, I'll lose her completely."

The bond between them pulsed in his chest, an almost physical ache that made it hard to think. Every instinct screamed at him to follow her, to stop her, to make her stay. But he forced himself to remain still.

His wolf wasn't pleased.

"She's ours," the wolf snarled. "We can't let her go. She's running because she doesn't understand. She needs us."

Kaden exhaled sharply, his hands flexing at his sides. "I know."

But deep down, he also knew this wasn't something he could force. She was his mate,of that, he was absolutely certain,but she had spent years hiding, building walls around herself to protect whatever fragile pieces of her were left. If he wanted her to accept the bond, he had to break through those walls carefully.

Even if it killed him to wait.

Althea didn't stop running until she was halfway down the corridor that led to the servants' quarters. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, and her chest burned with the effort. She stumbled to a halt, leaning against the cold stone wall as her trembling hands clutched at her dress.

Her tears blurred her vision, and her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.

Why is this happening?

The memory of Kaden's voice,low and steady, full of quiet certainty,echoed in her mind.

"You're mine."

No.

It couldn't be true. It wasn't true.

The idea that someone like Kaden,someone so powerful, so commanding,could ever want her was impossible.

She squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. "It's a mistake," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "It has to be."

Her wolf stirred weakly in the back of her mind, and for a moment, she thought it might protest. But it remained silent, just as it always did.

"See?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Even my wolf knows I'm not enough."

The tears came harder then, and she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the cold stone floor, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

Back in the kitchen, Kaden still hadn't moved.

The staff who had been bustling around the room earlier had gone silent, their eyes flicking nervously toward the Alpha as they pretended to busy themselves with their tasks. His presence was overwhelming, filling the space with an almost suffocating energy.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he turned and strode toward the door.

"Alpha Kaden?"

He paused, glancing over his shoulder to see Vera standing in the doorway, her expression carefully composed.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, her tone sweet but laced with thinly veiled curiosity.

"Everything's fine," Kaden said sharply.

Ver a hesitated, her smile faltering slightly. "If there's anything you need—"

"I've already found what I need," Kaden said, his voice cold.