Chapter-50

ALEX

My mind was racing as I paced the floor of my suite. I could feel Elysia's anger and fear through the bond, like a noose tightening around my throat. The ache of her absence was unbearable, a gaping wound that refused to heal. I'd hoped that I could somehow get her to bond with me, but now it seemed like an insurmountable hope.

The whispers of my ancestors grew louder, their voices a deluge of disappointment and warning. I had never felt such a desperate need for a woman. The bond was not just about power or procreation, it was about connection, about finding that one person who completed me in every way. And Elysia was that one person for me.

With a roar of frustration, I punched the wall, my fist sinking into the plaster. The pain was a welcome distraction, grounding me in the present. I knew I had to explain, to somehow make her understand.

Pulling myself together, I stormed out of the suite. The mansion was quiet, almost eerily so, as if it too was holding its breath, waiting for the outcome of this tumultuous dance of desire and rejection. As I moved outside, my nose picked up a faint scent, her scent, and I followed it like a bloodhound on the trail of its prey.

Minutes later, I stood outside her apartment. Though I hadn't known where she was living, my wolf had brought me to her door. A door that was solidly closed. She wasn't home, but I could still feel her, however my senses were tainted with doubt and anger, askewing my ability to now locate where she had gone. 

Taking a deep breath, I stepped back, my eyes searching the shadows. I'd resources, allies who owed me favors. I would find a way to show her that I was more than just a monster, that I was her partner, her protector.

And if she didn't want that, if she truly didn't want me, then I would have to accept it. But not without a fight. I was a Lycan, and I didn't back down easily. But first, I needed to talk with my brother.

I dialed his number, my hand shaking slightly. "Marcus," I said, my voice low and measured. "We need to talk."

There was a pause before he spoke. "I know," he said, his tone grave. "I've heard you've found your mate, but the bond is strained," he remarked, a sarcastic lilt to his voice.

I snorted. "It's more than that," I said, my voice tight. "It's breaking."

"Is that surprising?" he demanded.

"I suppose not, under the circumstances," I hissed. 

"And what of your lovely fiance?" Marcus asked sneeringly, "Your plan to have both of them?"

"It's not what it seems," I bit back, anger seeping into my voice. "We need to fix this. We need to find a way to make Elysia understand."

Marcus sighed heavily. "Look, Alex, I know you're hurting, but you can't force this. A bond is a sacred thing, and if she doesn't want it..."

"But what if she does?" I interrupted desperately. "What if she just needs to know that it's not all about power and control?"

"Then you need to prove it," he said simply. "But you can't do it alone. You need to be honest with her, about everything."

With that, he hung up, leaving me to stare at the phone. Honesty. It was a concept that had become foreign to me. Yet, with Elysia, it was the only path forward.

Tucking the phone into my pocket, I took off into the night, my wolf prowling beneath my skin, eager to find her. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the scent of rain. It was a scent that reminded me of her, fresh and clean. 

As I approached the city limits, I picked up the scent of the pack. They knew something was wrong. The bond between an alpha and his pack was strong, and though I wasn't acting alpha at the moment, they still sensed my pain.

I approached the clearing where they had gathered, their eyes on me, expectant and concerned. I took a deep breath, my heart heavy with the weight of their gaze. "We hunt," I announced, "For Elysia."