KanePOV:
I knew cuffing her to was extre, borderline insane, but what else was I supposed to do? Given Elena’s track record of impulsive escapes, I wasn’t about to take any chances, I wasn’t about to take any chances. She tried to jump out of a window the mont she caught Ashley’s scent on earlier when I was in the shower. And let’s not forget how she went full Alpha-mode on Lizzy a few hours ago. If she had known the full story behind Lizzy, her reaction might’ve been even worse. There was no doubt in my mind—my stubborn mate would have found so ridiculous, reckless way to bolt especially now that she was angry about Lizzy.
And I wasn’t going to risk it.
I exhaled, the weight of the day pressing down on . Between the shopping spree, the lingerie store fiasco, and the surprise run-in with Lizzy, it had been one hell of a day. My wolf was agitated, pacing within , its focus entirely on Elena. She slled like lavender and defiance, her scent calming and frustrating in equal asure
So here we were.
I glanced down at her as she lay beside , her face turned away, her body stiff as a board. She was trying to pretend I didn’t exist, her lips pressed into a tight line, but I could feel her frustration rolling off her in waves. Even her wolf was probably glaring at through her subconscious.
I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought of her reaction when I pulled out the cuffs. The way her eyes had widened in disbelief, her cheeks flushing as she demanded to know what they were for—it was almost too good. Of course, the cuffs weren’t originally ant for her. I wasn’t naïve enough to think I’d find my mate anyti soon back then, so they were... from another ti.
The sight of the cuffs on her delicate wrist made feel equal parts amused and guilty. Okay, yes, maybe this was a little excessive. But considering her track record for sneaking away—or doing sothing crazy—I figured it was better to be safe than sorry. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to suffocate with a pillow in the middle of the night.
Better that than waking up to an empty bed.
She tugged at the cuffs again, her movents sharp and angry, but I wasn’t about to let her go. Not yet.
"You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep pulling like that," I said, keeping my tone calm.
"Good," she snapped, her voice dripping with venom. "Maybe then you’ll have to let go."
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her fiery spirit. "Nice try, Elena. But I’m not letting you out of my sight."
She turned her head just enough to glare at , her eyes blazing with anger. "You’re insufferable, you know that?"
"Only for you, sweetheart," I replied with a smirk.
Her growl made my wolf rumble with amusent, and I couldn’t help but admire her fire. Even cuffed to , she refused to back down. She was so fierce, so stubborn—and so undeniably mine.
But underneath her anger, I could sense the hurt. She was still angry about Lizzy, and Ashley before her. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a twinge of guilt for my past. I hadn’t exactly been a saint in my years without her, and I knew my actions were coming back to haunt now.
Still, none of that mattered anymore. She was here. She was mine. And I wasn’t going to let her slip through my fingers.
"You can glare at all you want," I said softly, my smirk fading as I looked into her eyes. "But you’re not running away, Elena. Not now, not ever."
Her glare faltered for a mont, a flicker of sothing else passing through her expression, but she quickly masked it with anger. "You don’t get to decide that," she muttered, turning away from again.
I sighed, my fingers brushing against the leather cuff on her wrist. "I’m not trying to control you," I said quietly. "I just... I can’t lose you, Elena."
She stiffened at my words, her silence stretching between us like a chasm.
"I know I’ve made mistakes," I continued, my voice low. "I know you don’t trust yet, and I don’t bla you. But I’ll spend the rest of my life proving myself to you if I have to. Just... don’t run from , okay?"
She didn’t respond, but I could see the tension in her shoulders slowly easing.
For now, that was enough.
As the night wore on, her breathing evened out, and I realized she’d finally drifted off to sleep. Her face, so peaceful in the soft light of the room, made my chest ache. I tightened my arm around her gently, careful not to wake her, and let out a long breath.
Tomorrow would be another battle, no doubt. But for now, I was content to just hold her, to feel her warmth beside and know that she was safe. I’d fight for her, every day if I had to.
My wolf growled softly at the thought.
She’s ours.
Yeah, well, try telling her that.
I couldn’t bla her for hating . I’d handled things... poorly, to put it lightly. Between the forced stay at my pack, the territorial behavior, and the ghosts of my past flings showing up like bad ons, I’d given her every reason to push away.
But she wasn’t going anywhere. Not if I had anything to say about it.
I shifted slightly, careful not to disturb her. The cuff between us clinked softly, a sound that made smile despite myself.
She’s going to kill when she wakes up.
But better that than waking up and finding her gone.
My wolf had waited years for her, and now that I had her, there was no way I was letting her go.
Of course, that didn’t an she wouldn’t make it difficult.
I could already imagine her waking up in the middle of the night, glaring at with those fiery eyes of hers, plotting a hundred ways to escape—or, more likely, a hundred ways to strangle .
I wasn’t going to screw this up—not again.
She could fight , hate , and curse my na all she wanted. But at the end of the day, she was mine. And I’d do whatever it took to make her see that, even if it ant chaining her to —literally—until she finally accepted it.
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