Bound by Love

Kayden's -POV

It had been a week since the war with the Ravens ended, but the aftermath still lingered. My soldiers were tirelessly combing through every lead, rounding up any Raven who might have malicious intentions. Each interrogation was aimed at uncovering the whereabouts of their elders—whether they were hiding or truly gone for good. Yet my thoughts weren’t just on the war. Heather weighed heavily on my mind. Her health had become my constant concern, as she’d been falling ill more often, fevers striking with alarming frequency.

“Alpha, I’m tired,” Harris groaned beside me.

I rubbed my tired eyes, feeling just as drained. “We have no Omega to help out. You’ll need to push through like the rest of us. No excuses.”

“Alpha, we need a break. The soldiers need it too. If we keep working like this, people are going to collapse,” Harris argued, desperation clear in his voice.

I sighed deeply, conceding. “Fine. Call a day off.”

Harris’s face lit up as he nodded eagerly and left to spread the news. Glancing at my watch, I realized it was late. My heart tugged as

I thought of Heather. She’d been waiting for me all day. I had to see her.

When I walked into the living room, her voice greeted me. “So, you finally came back from your office. For a minute there, I thought you’d hole yourself up all night.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, reaching out to take her hand in mine.

“Kayden, we need to talk.”

Her words immediately set me on edge. I sat down across from her on the couch, bracing myself. “You’re not… breaking up with me, are you? Rejecting the mate bond?” I asked, my voice laced with quiet panic.

“What? No!” Heather exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. “That’s not it. I realize now I shouldn’t have started with ‘we need to talk.’ It probably sounded worse than it is.”

She took a deep breath, and I instinctively reached out, checking her forehead. To my relief, there was no fever this time. Thank God.

“I’m okay,” she reassured me, as if reading my mind. “The doctor told you—it’s just my body adjusting to the new powers. Nothing to worry about.”

I nodded, trying to relax, but her next words caught me off guard. “Kayden, I want to meet Janice and Rosaline.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“They’re Ravens, yes, but I believe they can help me understand my powers. And…” She hesitated, choosing her words carefully.

“They might know something about the Raven elders. If they’re still out there, Janice and Rosaline would know.”

I thought it over and nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll reach out to them. Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

Heather shook her head, her gaze soft but hesitant. “There’s more.”

“What is it?” I asked, leaning forward slightly.

She hesitated again, then finally whispered, “Kayden, I… I’m pregnant with your child. I am Raven, an Enemy and this child will have Raven's powers, too. I..”

But before I could speak, she continued, her voice trembling, “That’s not the only reason I wanted to talk. I just… If you want to break our contract of wedding and leave me”

“I love you, Heather,” I blurted out, cutting her off. Her eyes widened, filling with tears. “I’ve loved you for a while now—long before I even knew you were my mate. I was drawn to you from the start. At first, I thought I was obsessed, but then I realized…” I swallowed hard, my voice softening. “I was scared. Scared of what might happen to you. I can’t lose you, Heather.”

Her tears spilled over as I gently cupped her face in my hands. She leaned into my touch, her warmth grounding me.

“I care for you, Heather,” I murmured before leaning in to kiss her. Her lips were soft and warm, just as I’d imagined so many times before. She let out a soft, breathy moan as I brushed my lips against the mate mark on her neck. I forced myself to pull away, my heart pounding as I took in her flushed face. She was blushing, and damn, she looked adorable.

“I thought I was the only one with feelings,” she admitted, her voice shy. “I thought… I thought you’d reject me. You seemed so close to Stella…”

“Stella?” I repeated, shaking my head. “Heather, I’m head over heels for you. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s the truth. You’re the

only one for me. You always have been. My Luna. My wife.”

Her cheeks turned even redder at my words, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

“I… I love you too, Kay,” she whispered, using the nickname shyly.

I chuckled, brushing my fingers over her lower lip. “I like the new nickname.”

Her green eyes sparkled with warmth as she said, “I’ve been restless ever since I met you. I guess… my wolf was right about one thing.”

“What’s that?” I asked softly.

“You’re the right man for me. My Alpha, my mate,” she whispered.

I kissed her forehead gently. “And you’re my Luna. My heart. I was missing something before, Heather. Now I know it was you.”

Her gaze softened, though there was a flicker of doubt. “I was worried you wouldn’t accept me. Because I’m a Raven…”

“Stop torturing yourself,” I interrupted. “I should’ve told you how I felt sooner.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” she said, cupping my face tenderly. Her touch made my heart race. “You’ve had so much to deal with. The war, the pack… I understand.”

Her smile was so warm, so radiant, that I would’ve done anything for her in that moment.

“Now,” she said, standing, “let’s eat. I made something for you.”

I followed her to the table, my heart swelling when I saw the meal. “Salmon burgers?” I asked with a grin.

“Your favorite,” she said, smiling. “Weird, right? I just… had a feeling.”

“Actually, they’re my favorite too,” she added, taking a bite.

We ate together, laughing and talking, and for the first time in weeks, I felt at peace. I was next to the woman I loved, the woman who made everything feel right.

Later that night, as I drifted off to sleep with Heather by my side, a sudden buzz from my phone jolted me awake.

It was Damon. His message was brief: “Meet me at the pack territory gate. Now.”

I groaned, running a hand over my face. What could he possibly want at this hour?