Chapter 14

Resistance Rises

POV: Alice

I didn’t need Kael to tell me we were leaving. The tension in the air, the way he kept pacing around the cabin, his sharp eyes scanning every corner—his entire body screamed that we were on the move.

But he still found the time to sit me down, his voice low, controlled, as if trying to convince me of something I already knew.

We’re heading back,” he said, his voice deeper than usual, like a growl that I should’ve been used to by now. “But I don’t want you to get any ideas, Alice. You belong to me. No one else.”

I blinked at him, biting back a sarcastic laugh. “Nice to know where I stand.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but it stung. The way he spoke, the way he made it sound like I had no choice. Like I was a possession, something to be guarded and claimed. But I wasn’t his.

I belonged to no one.

Well, what about Darius?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer. “Darius?” He sneered, voice dripping with disdain. “Don’t even think about him. He’s not a part of this. I won’t allow it.”

I stood, the urge to step away from him itching at my skin. “You can’t control me, Kael. I’m not some dog you can just—”

His eyes flashed dangerously. “Don’t push me, Alice.”

I crossed my arms, the cold bite of the wind sending a shiver through me, but it wasn’t just the temperature.

There was a heat between us, crackling, something raw and untamed that I didn’t know how to handle. The pull between us, the way his presence seemed to control the space around us.“I’m not afraid of you,” I said, though my voice faltered for a second.

I know you’re not.”

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and for a moment, I thought we might fight. Not physically—Kael wasn’t the type to hit a woman.

But there was something in the way he looked at me, something darker, more possessive. It was like I was supposed to fall into place, like I had no other choice but to accept what he said.

I wasn’t sure if I hated him for it or wanted him more.

Before I could process it, a rustling sound broke through the tension, followed by a growl that sent the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. Kael’s body shifted instantly, his muscles tightening as he turned toward the sound. His hand went to the blade at his side.

“Alice, stay behind me,” Kael ordered, his voice low, protective.

But I didn’t listen.

I couldn’t.

Something inside me snapped. Something primal. Something that knew the danger before I even saw the rogue.I moved forward, my body acting before my mind could catch up. The rogue came into view, a massive creature—half-wolf, half-man, its yellow eyes glowing in the dark. It charged at us, but I didn’t wait.

The energy surged inside me. I felt it in my bones, a power I couldn’t control, but I didn’t care. Not now. I needed to protect myself. Us.

I raised my hand, a wave of force rippling from my fingertips, knocking the rogue back. It hit the ground with a thud, momentarily stunned.

Kael’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he just stared at me. Then he was in motion, his blade flashing as he lunged at the rogue, finishing the job with a swift strike.

I stood there, panting, my heart racing. What the hell had I just done?

Kael’s gaze shifted to me, his eyes softening for a brief moment before hardening again. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“I didn’t need to?” I snapped, my pulse still racing. “I’m not your damn property, Kael. I’ll protect myself if I have to.”

I wasn’t sure where the words came from. Maybe from the fear that had been building inside me for days. Maybe from the power I had felt when I used it. Maybe from the anger of being controlled.Kael stepped closer, his voice low, almost a whisper. “You don’t know what you’re doing, Alice.”

His words struck something deep in me.

I didn’t know what I was doing.

I didn’t know who I was anymore.

The power felt… too easy. Too natural. Too dangerous.

“Then what the hell am I, Kael?” I asked, my voice shaking despite myself. “Just a werewolf? Or something else? Because, frankly, I’m starting to wonder if I’m even the person you say I am.”He didn’t answer right away. His gaze softened, but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm inside me.

“Is that what you’re worried about?” he finally asked, his voice barely audible. “You’re more than a werewolf, Alice. I swear to you. I’ve never lied about this.”

I couldn’t stop myself from scoffing. “But you haven’t told me the truth, either, Kael. You’ve been holding something back. You won’t tell me what I really am, what she really was. You just want me to believe everything you say without question. And I’m done with it.”

He reached for me, but I stepped back, my feet stumbling slightly in the uneven terrain.

“Alice—”

“Don’t!” I snapped. “Don’t you dare try to touch me right now.”

He froze, his hand hanging in the air. “I’m trying to help you.”“You’re trying to control me,” I said, taking another step back.

The distance between us seemed to grow, and I didn’t know if it was because of the anger or something else. Something more—something that thrummed between us. Something I didn’t know how to fight.“Maybe you’re right,” Kael said quietly, his eyes flicking to the rogue’s body before he looked at me again. “Maybe I am trying to control you. But only because I don’t want to lose you, Alice.

I stared at him, the anger in my chest slowly bleeding out, replaced by something unfamiliar. Something that twisted my stomach.

“I don’t even know who I am anymore,” I said, my voice softer now. “I don’t remember her. I don’t remember any of it. But you… you keep telling me I’m someone else. That I’m this goddess. That I’m… Selene.”

Kael’s face darkened at the mention of her name. “You’re not just a werewolf, Alice. You’re more than that.”

“Then why don’t I feel it?” I asked, the frustration rising again. “Why don’t I know who I am if I’m supposed to be something greater? Why can’t I remember?”

Kael’s eyes were filled with something—sadness? Guilt? I couldn’t tell. “You will. When the time comes. I just need you to trust me, Alice.”

I shook my head, stepping back again. “I don’t know if I can.”

“Then I guess I will have to do what I've to do.”“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked as he dragged the rogue away. But he didn't bother to look at me.

And for some reason, I felt like I just made things a bit worse.