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Chapter 84
~Tempest’s POV~
Koda’s voice was cold, filled with a mix of disgust and disbelief, and I could feel the venom behind his words, the judgnt in his tone.
He hadn’t even bothered to hide it.
I had frozen mid-step, my jaw tightening as his words cut deep, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how much they affected .
Instead, I turned slowly, facing him with all the defiance I could muster, my gaze locking onto his. His wolf growled beneath the surface, and I could sense Autumn struggling to keep control, but Koda didn’t move.
"And what of it?" I had shot back coldly. "Who told you I was hoping for your acceptance? Or did you forget that hours ago, you were professing your love to my sister, even after learning about our bond?"
The bitterness in my tone was unmistakable, but I didn’t care. I had nothing to lose—not anymore.
Koda’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer, allowing his presence to loom over like a storm cloud. "You reek of him," he said, his lip curling slightly in disgust. "It’s pathetic, really."
Sothing inside snapped.
"Pathetic?" I laughed, but there was no humour in the sound. It was bitter, sharp, like broken glass. "You’re one to talk, Koda. You’re still hung up on Aira, pining for a love that was never yours to begin with. And now you expect to wait around for you to accept this bond? To settle for scraps?"
His wolf stirred at my words, and for a mont, I thought he might lash out, but he didn’t. Instead, he stared at , anger and sothing else—sothing that looked a hell of a lot like regret, swirling in his eyes.
"I didn’t ask for this either, Tempest," he said quietly, his voice strained. "But running off to fuck another wolf isn’t going to make this go away. You think you can just throw yourself into soone else’s arms and forget?"
The truth behind his words stung, but I couldn’t let him see it. Instead, I lifted my chin, eting his gaze.
"I don’t need your approval, Koda. I’ll live my life how I see fit. And if that ans finding comfort in soone else’s arms, then so be it. I’ll fuck as many willing wolves as I want to keep Autumn satisfied."
Autumn gowled in disgust but that wasn’t my main problem. Imdiately Koda stepped closer, impossibly close as though he was willingly to enter my body.
I could feel him, pereceive his scent, muddling my thoughts as Autumn roared to life, loving our closeness.
The tension between us had escalated much quicker than I had thought, leaving m ebreathless and completely in awe.
I saw Koda struggle, holding back the words that wanted to co out.
Good, he couldn’t. I wasn’t his.
Tossing any thoughts away, I attempted to turn and walk away when Koda’s hands landed on my arm, keeping in place.
He leaned in, his eyes flashing a different hue montarily. "Don’t dare do that to her. Don’t you dare go fucking around."
My laughter had been so rich it made him snap from whatever haze he was in.
Koda blinked for a few seconds, his mind finally coming back as whatever smoke screen that had blocked his reasoning slowly dissipated.
"You... dare control ?" I scoffed, shaking my head as I broke free and stepped away from him. "Take your fucking advice and leave my life alone."
I knew I’d never do such shit but all I wanted to do was to speak to him that way and nothing more.
My intimacy with handso already left feeling urgh... with myself. I couldn’t handle of
His eyes darkened, his wolf growling low in his chest, but he didn’t say anything. Our wolves purred and whined beneath the surface, but neither of us acknowledged it. Neither of us wanted to admit what was happening.
Because this bond—his mate pull, it was nothing but a curse.
"You’re not the only one suffering here," Koda finally said, his voice softer, but the pain was evident. "But I can’t be what you want. Not yet."
"Then don’t," I had spat, turning on my heel, my heart hamring in my chest. "I never asked you to."
And with that, I walked away, my pulse racing and my wolf’s quiet whimpers echoing in my mind.
Now, sitting in the bathtub, my skin rubbed raw from scrubbing, I realized just how deeply those words had affected . Because no matter how hard I tried to deny it, no matter how much I wanted to push him away, Koda was right.
I couldn’t forget.
I slipped out of the tub, letting the water drain away, though it did nothing to wash off the heavy residue of Koda’s words.
Every ti I scrubbed harder, every ti I tried to remove the imprint of his judgnt, it only seed to cling tighter.
Wrapping a towel around myself, I padded over to the mirror, staring at my reflection. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, my hair plastered wet and tangled against my skin. I looked as worn as I felt.
"Enough," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. No way would I let Koda, or this cursed bond, see crumble.
Quickly, I dressed, slipping into a sleek black swimsuit and throwing on a cover-up. I needed air—freedom from these walls and from him.
Maybe the water would clear my head, if only for a little while. And if that didn’t work, I’d head to the forest, let Autumn take over and run until we couldn’t feel anything else.
Leaving my room, I wound my way through the pack house halls, my bare feet padding softly over the tiled floors until I reached the pool.
But upon my arrival, I froze at the entrance.
There, by the edge of the pool, stood Zara and Aira, laughing quietly as they dipped their toes in the water.
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