bChapter /b154

I called out his nam

In brit.

Slendy, conciousness returned. The kaleidoscope of butterflies disappeared one by fading like morning mist. The dungeon budding Nadia diraihe nothingness, revealing the stone walls of the underground maje once more.

As awareness flooded bback/bb, /bI realized with a jolt that I was cruilled in Eenn’s arms, my head resting against his chest, I could hear his steady heartbeat, the warmth radiating from his body.

My well, still agitated from the heilving viim, witled slightly at the familiar scent of our kemer pack mate

Without thinking. I drove my elbow hand into his chest.

“Ow!” He yelped in pain, immediately releasing his hold on me. “What the bell was that for?

thest testing to see if you’re another hallucination,” I muttered, scrambling to put distapor between us.

Leon red at me, rubbing his chest where I’d struck him. “Then why y didn’t you p yourself instead?”

“Well,” I said, getting unsteadily to

beadily /bto my feet, “now I’m certain you’re not an illusion. The real Leon would definitelyin like that.”

strued to my feet, creating as much space between bus /bbas /bthe narrow passageway allowed.

“How bdid /byou end up here?” I basked/b, brushing dust from my clothes

Leon straightened, his expression shifting to something more businesslike. “I got separated from my team. I was supposed to be on the upper level, but I triggered some kind of mechanism and fell through.” He looked around the maze with grudging admiration. Thisbyrinth is impressively desigurd–I didn 1 expect it to be bso /bbthree/b–dimensional.”

His eyes studied me with ufortable intensity. What happened to you just now?”

I didn’t want to tell him about bNadia/bb, /babout the bguilt /bthat had nearly killed me even in illusion.

Instead, I deflected. “Didn’t you see any hallucinations? Surely you experienced something.”

“I did. His expression turned thoughtful, distant, as if recalling something he’d rather forget

Then how did byou /bbbreak /bfree? bYou /bwere alone.”

Leon’s face settled into his usual arrogant expression, tinged with contempt.

This trial is about testing willpower. Ever since my mother died eleven years ago, I’ve been preparing for the Alpha King election. Im not as weak–willed bas /byou, giving up at the first sign of difficulty”

‘I may have a weak will,” I shot back, “but at least I’m not arogant blike /byou.”

This isn 1 the time for arguments,” Leon said, his tone shifting bto /bsomething almost… friendly? “We need to get out of here. Come on. III lead you beur /b

His expected kindness bcaught /bme guard.

“Unless I’m mistaken, werepetitors bnow /bWhy would you help to

Leon sighed, running a hand through his dark hair

“I just don’t want

you to lose your mind andconie some crazy person. n would be devastated, and to would your parents. Ita “Do you have any idea what happened after

“you’re will my male. If you go insane, it affec

yesta apa? Your parents hear the crap out of one. Besides, he added, his voice dropping Tasek,

“You deserved (02: 1 snapped, anger. ring at his crust mention of nur bend

Suddenly, Lren teached for my aim. I jerked away, sidestepping in maintain distance between on. Eid chosen Adrian. I couldn’t do anything tha misunderstand, anything that might hurt him.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Leon askeil, genuinely puzzled. “I’m just worried we might trigger another trap and get separated again.”

“Tine,” I conceded reluctantly

“Let’s focus on getting through this tunnel and back to

ack to the surface,‘ he said, all

Il business again. The axit has to be up there somewhere.”

I nodded, thinking of Adrian. Once bwe /breached the surface, I’d be able to mind link him again. The thought gave me strength.

Swallowing my pride, I grabbed the hem of Leon’s shirt and followed behind him. The fabric was soft between my fingers, and i natural this felt.

and I tried not to think about how

Despite everything–despite choosing Adrian, despite the rejection, despite bfour /byears of distance the remnants of our mate bond still hummed faintly

between bus/bb. /b

Looking at Leon’s broad back as he navigated the maze, I felt an unwanted sense of security. My wolf, usually so wary around him now, settled into calmness

The scene was hauntingly familiar. My mind drifted back to the Hunt Festival four byears /bago, when I’d been chased by that grizzly bear. Leon had saved me then too, appearing like some fairy tale prince to rescue the helpless wolfless girl..

But this time felt different somehow. This time, I wasn’t helpless. This time, I had my own strength, my own wolf, my own choices.

We walked in silence for several minutes, Leon choosing paths with the bconfidence /bof someone who understood mazes. His movements were sure, decisive qualities that would serve him well as Alpha King, I supposed.

“Stop staring at my back,” Leon said suddenly, not turning around.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

can feel it.

tter yourself. I wasn’t bstaring /bat you.” I turned my face away, grateful he couldn’t see my embarrassment.

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b2/2 /b

“I just don’t want you to lose your mind and became some crazy person, Ethan would be devastated, and so would your parents: Ith bexpresion /bderu “Do you have any idea what happened after you ran away four years ago? Your parents beat the crap out me. Besides,” he addedb, /bb /bvolta dropp “you’re still my mate. If you go insane, it affects me too.”

“You deserved it!“* 1 snapped, anger a

at his casual mention of our bond,

Suddenly, Leon reached for my arm. 1 jerked away, sidestepping to maintain distance between us. I’d chosen Adrian. I couldn’t do anything that might be misunderstood, anything that might hurt him.

are you avoiding me?” Leon asked, genuinely puzzled. “I’m just world we might trigger another trap and get separated again.”

“Fine.” I conceded reluctantly.

“Let’s focus on getting through this tunnel and back to the surface,” he said, all business again. The exit has

be up there somewhere.”

I nodded, thinking of Adrian. Once we reached the bsurface/b, I’d be able to mind–link him again. The thought gave me strength.

Swallowing my bpride/b, I grabbed the hem of Leon’s shirt and followed behind him. The bfabric /bwas soft between my fingersb, /band I tried not to think babout /bnatural this felt.

Despite everything–despite choosing Adrian, despite the rejection, despite four years bof /bdistance the remnants of our mate bond still hummed faintly between us.

Looking at Leon’s broad bback /bbas /bhe navigated the maze, I felt an unwanted sense of security. My wolfb, /busually bso /bwary around him now, settled into calmness.

The scene was hauntingly familiar. My mind drifted back to the Hunt Festival four years ago, when I’d been chased by that grizzly bear. bLean /bbhad /bsaved me then too, appearing like some fairy tale prince to brescue /bthe belpless wolfless girl

But this time felt different somehow. This time, I wasn’t helpless. This time, I had my own strength, my own wolf, my own choices.

We bwalked /bin silence for several minutes, Leon choosing paths with the confidence of someone who understood mazes. His movements were sure, decisive qualities that would serve him well as Alpha King. I supposed,

“bStop /bstaring at my bhack/b, Leon bsaid /bsuddenly, not turning around. “I can feel it.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

“Don’t tter yourself. I

I wasn’t staring at you.” I tamed my face away, grateful he couldn’t see my embarrassment.

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