Chase POV:
The things I do for love.
I hadn’t even had a proper conversation with her, let alone a normal relationship. No dates, no stolen monts of laughter, no tender exchanges. Yet here I was, driven by the unyielding pull of the bond. My cold, dead heart beat for her—for *Leila*, my beloved. She was the reason I had endured centuries in this obnoxious, chaotic world, searching, hoping. And when I finally found her, she had fled, slipping through my fingers like sand.
Now, three more years had been added to the centuries I’d spent searching. I couldn’t go back to that hollow existence. She had beco my purpose, my everything. The thought of returning to a life of aimless wandering, knowing she was out there but beyond my reach, was unbearable.
I found myself in a town bordering the witches’ territory, pacing the dark streets as I weighed my options. The witches didn’t scare —nothing did, really—but I wasn’t stupid enough to think barging into their lands uninvited would end well. Those hags could hold grudges for centuries, and I had no intention of spending eternity looking over my shoulder for their retribution.
I needed to handle this delicately. A deal, perhaps, or so kind of negotiation with the coven. Surely they would understand the pull of a bond like ours. They weren’t heartless. Dangerous, yes, but not entirely unreasonable. I just had to find a way to speak with them without causing a ripple that could lead to bloodshed—on either side.
And then there was Leila. My defiant, stubborn wolf. She was the reason I was here, yet she would likely fight every step of the way. I didn’t bla her, not entirely. I hadn’t exactly handled things well when she first discovered what we were. But this ti, there would be no running. No slipping away like she did before.
I’d underestimated her once, and I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
The bond humd faintly in my chest, a constant reminder that she was near. That she was alive. It was both a comfort and a tornt, knowing she existed just out of reach. I couldn’t help but wonder if she felt it too. Did it haunt her as it did ? Did her wolf pine for , even as she tried to deny it?
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I glanced toward the distant hills marking the edge of the witches’ domain. The glow of their wards was faint but unmistakable, a shimring barrier separating our worlds.
I’d find a way in. I always did.
For her, I would do anything. Even face the witches and risk whatever wrath they might unleash. Because the thought of another day without her was unbearable.
Leila POV:
For the first ti since I settled in this town, I felt uneasy. My wolf, Layla, was unusually restless, pacing in the corners of my mind. She rarely acted like this without reason, and when I tried to press her for answers, she gave nothing but a low, tense growl. It wasn’t like her to keep things from , but I brushed it off, telling myself it was probably just a wolf thing.
Today was special. It was Ash’s birthday, and I’d promised him we’d go to the circus. The circus only ca around once a year, setting up in the neighboring town, and he’d been excited for weeks.
"Mama! Are we going yet?" Ash’s little voice cut through my thoughts, his bright green eyes sparkling with excitent as he tugged on my arm.
"Yes, my little moonbeam," I said, ruffling his soft curls. "Go grab your jacket, and we’ll head out."
He darted off, his tiny legs carrying him faster than I thought possible for a three-year-old. I couldn’t help but smile. He was my everything, my reason for enduring the chaos that had been my life. His laughter was my anchor, keeping sane even when the weight of my past threatened to pull under.
As I gathered our things, Layla huffed in my mind, her pacing becoming more erratic.
What is it, Layla? I asked her again, a flicker of concern creeping into my voice.
Sothing’s... wrong, she finally responded, her voice low and hesitant. wI don’t know what, but sothing’s coming. I can feel it.
Her words sent a shiver down my spine, but I forced myself to remain calm. I couldn’t let her unease ruin the day for Ash. Whatever it was, I would handle it. I always did.
We boarded the bus that would take us to the neighboring town. Ash chattered excitedly about all the things he wanted to see—the acrobats, the clowns, the animals. His joy was infectious, and I found myself relaxing despite Layla’s persistent tension.
As the bus rolled into the town, the faint hum of magic prickled against my skin. It was a reminder that I was still under the witches’ protection, even if I was venturing outside their territory. I’d co to trust them over the years, but the sensation always unsettled .
Layla growled softly.
Relax, I told her, watching Ash’s face light up as he spotted the bright tents of the circus in the distance. We’re just here for a few hours. Nothing’s going to happen.
I hope you’re right, Layla muttered, though her tone suggested she doubted it.
I tightened my grip on Ash’s hand as we stepped off the bus, determined to make this a day he’d rember for all the right reasons. Whatever had my wolf on edge could wait. Today was about Ash. It had to be.
Everything was perfect. Ash’s laughter filled the air, and for a mont, all the worries and unease I’d felt earlier lted away. His joy was infectious, and I found myself genuinely smiling as he pointed at the clowns with wide-eyed wonder. The circus was everything I’d hoped it would be for him.
By midday, Ash started tugging on my hand, insisting he was hungry. We found a small, pleasant restaurant just off the main tent area. It was cozy and slled of fresh bread and spices, the kind of place that felt warm and welcoming.
Ash devoured his food with the kind of enthusiasm only a child could muster, making happy little noises that brought another smile to my face. But then, his innocent voice cut through my contentnt.
"Mama, I need to go!" he said, bouncing in his seat. I quickly took him to the washroom only to stand at the two doors, one written ladies the other gents.
I froze. The washroom.
A dilemma imdiately presented itself. He was too young to go into the n’s washroom alone, but taking him into the ladies’ with didn’t feel quite right either. For a mont, I was at a loss, my mind scrambling for a solution.
And that’s when I slled it.
That unmistakable, infuriating scent. Mate.
My heart stuttered, and I whipped around. There he was, standing just a few feet away with that cocky smile plastered on his face, as if I hadn’t hid from him for three years and he hadn’t spent years searching for .
Chase.
"Mate," Layla purred in my mind, her earlier anxiety instantly giving way to exhilaration.
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, clenching my fists.
His voice was smooth and infuriatingly calm as he spoke. "I can take Ash for you, mate," he said cheekily, his grin widening.
I couldn’t even process how he’d found —how he’d managed to get past the witches’ spell of sensing . All I could think about was the fact that he was here, in front of , and Ash was standing between us, looking up at him with wide, curious eyes.
Ash tugged on my hand again, more urgently this ti. "Mum, hurry up! I’m pressed! Let the handso man take to pee!"
Handso man? My jaw clenched, and I shot a glare at Chase, who looked entirely too pleased with himself.
I growled low enough that only Chase and Ash could hear, my wolf’s warning clear in the sound. "One hair on his head goes missing, or if I hear a single squeak of distress from him, I will have your dead heart in my hands within minutes."
Chase smirked, completely unbothered. "Don’t worry, love. You already have it."
Before I could retort, he crouched down to Ash’s level, his expression softening in a way that caught off guard. "Co on, champ," he said warmly. "Let’s go do what n do."
Ash’s eyes lit up, and he grinned from ear to ear. "Hear that, Mum? I’m a man!" he said proudly before slipping his tiny hand into Chase’s much larger one.
I stood there, frozen, watching as Chase led my son toward the washrooms. Layla practically humd in satisfaction, but I was left grappling with a storm of emotions.
How the hell had this happened? And what was I supposed to do now?
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