The bonfire's flames danced high, lighting up shocked faces all around. Maya couldn't breathe. Her worst nightmare had just come true.
"No," she whispered, backing away from Liam. "This is impossible."
Liam's blue eyes glowed with triumph. "You can't deny what you feel, Maya."
The whole pack watched in silence. Some looked surprised, others excited. A few girls glared at Maya with jealousy.
"I deny you," Maya said loudly, her voice shaking. "I reject this bond."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Rejecting a mate bond was almost unheard of.
Alpha Marcus stepped forward, his face dark with anger. "Maya, you will accept my son as your mate. This is not a request."
"I will not," Maya replied, standing tall despite her racing heart. She turned and pushed through the crowd, ignoring the whispers that followed her.
"Maya, wait!" Caleb called, running after her.
She didn't stop until she reached the edge of the pack grounds. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"He can't be my mate," she told Caleb when he caught up. "Not him. Anyone but him."
Caleb put his arm around her. "Maybe there's a mistake. Maybe—"
"There's no mistake," said a soft voice behind them.
Luna Evelyn approached, her face solemn in the moonlight. "I felt it the moment Liam returned. That's why I warned you."
"How do I break it?" Maya demanded. "There must be a way."
Luna shook her head. "Mate bonds aren't meant to be broken, Maya. Fighting it will only bring you pain."
"I don't care," Maya insisted. "I won't be tied to a bully for life."
That night, Maya barely slept. Strange new feelings swirled inside her chest like a storm. She could sense Liam's presence even from across the pack grounds—like an invisible thread pulling at her heart.
When morning came, Maya headed straight to the training area. Physical work was the only thing that might clear her head.
She punched the training bag with all her strength, imagining Liam's smug face.
"That bag must have really offended you," said a deep voice that made her jump.
Liam stood watching her, arms crossed over his chest. Without warning, Maya's heart skipped a beat. Heat rushed to her face.
"Go away," she growled, hating how her body betrayed her.
"Training alone?" Liam asked, ignoring her command. "I thought you'd be with your shadow."
"Caleb is not my shadow," Maya snapped. "He's a true friend, something you wouldn't understand."
Liam stepped closer. "I understand more than you think. Including what you're feeling right now."
Maya backed away. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know your heart is racing," he said softly. "I know you couldn't sleep last night because you felt me across the grounds. I know because I felt you too."
"Stop it," Maya whispered.
Liam moved even closer. "The mate bond doesn't lie, Maya. Fight it all you want, but your wolf has already chosen."
"My wolf made a mistake," Maya replied. "I would never choose someone who hurts others."
Something flashed in Liam's eyes—hurt? But his expression quickly hardened.
"You think you know me? You've seen what I want you to see." He took another step toward her.
Maya's back hit the wall. She was trapped between the hard surface and Liam's tall frame. That strange electricity pulsed between them again, making her dizzy.
"Stay away from me," she warned, her voice embarrassingly weak.
"Make me," Liam challenged, his face inches from hers.
For one wild moment, Maya thought he might kiss her—and worse, she wasn't sure she would stop him. Her eyes dropped to his lips. The pull was magnetic.
Then suddenly, a voice shattered the moment.
"Maya? Are you here?" Serena called.
Liam stepped back immediately. Maya's younger sister appeared around the corner, then stopped short when she saw them.
"Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt..." Serena's eyes widened.
"You're not interrupting anything," Maya said quickly, pushing past Liam. "What's wrong?"
"Dad wants to see you," Serena replied, glancing curiously between them. "He said it's important."
"I'll be right there," Maya said, grateful for the escape.
As she walked away, Liam called after her. "This isn't over, Maya. You can run, but you can't hide from what's between us."
She ignored him, but his words followed her like a shadow.
At home, Maya found her father looking troubled.
"Alpha Marcus came to see me," he said without preamble. "About you and Liam."
Maya's stomach dropped. "Dad, I can't—"
"He says rejecting the bond publicly was disrespectful to his son and to him," her father continued. "He's demanding you accept the bond formally at tonight's pack meeting."
"And if I don't?" Maya challenged.
Her father's face grew grave. "Then our family may lose our standing in the pack. My position as lead warrior could be at risk."
Horror washed over Maya. "He can't do that!"
"He's the Alpha," her father said simply. "He can."
Maya felt trapped. The mate bond tugged at her heart while her mind rebelled against accepting Liam. Now her family's position was threatened too.
That afternoon, Maya escaped to the forest. She needed space to think.
She didn't notice Caleb following until he sat beside her on a fallen log.
"Your sister told me what happened," he said. "With your dad."
Maya nodded miserably. "I don't know what to do, Caleb. I hate Liam for what he is, but..."
"But?" Caleb prompted.
"But something inside me is drawn to him," she admitted, ashamed. "When he's near, I can barely think straight. I can feel him, even now."
Caleb's face darkened. "Maya, you can't give in. If you accept this bond, you'll be tied to him forever."
"You think I don't know that?" Maya snapped, then immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry. I'm just confused."
Before Caleb could respond, they heard a twig snap. Both whirled around.
A woman they'd never seen before stood watching them. She had long black hair streaked with silver and eyes that seemed to see right through Maya.
"Who are you?" Caleb demanded, stepping protectively in front of Maya.
The woman smiled mysteriously. "Someone who understands mate bonds better than most. And someone who knows the truth about Liam that might change everything for you, Maya."
"What truth?" Maya asked, her curiosity piqued despite her caution.
The woman glanced around as if checking they were alone. "Not all is as it seems with the Alpha's son. His bullying hides deeper scars."
"What are you talking about?" Maya stepped forward.
The stranger's eyes glowed amber in the fading light. "My name is Elara. I was once part of this pack, long ago."
"The rogue?" Caleb whispered. Everyone knew the story of a she-wolf who had been banished years ago.
Elara nodded. "I've returned because the future of this pack depends on you, Maya. And on the choice you make tonight."
"What choice?" Maya asked, her heart pounding.
"Whether to follow your head," Elara gestured to Caleb, "or your heart." She pointed to the invisible bond pulling Maya toward the pack grounds—toward Liam.
"Why should I trust you?" Maya asked.
Elara smiled sadly. "Because I'm your mother's sister. Your aunt. And I know something about Liam that will change everything."
Maya gasped. "My aunt? But my mother said her sister died!"
"Another lie told by this pack," Elara replied bitterly. She reached out and touched Maya's cheek. "You have her eyes."
"Tell me about Liam," Maya insisted. "What should I know?"
Elara opened her mouth to answer when suddenly a howl pierced the air—the Alpha's call for a pack gathering.
"It's time," Elara said urgently. "You must decide now, Maya. But before you do—" She leaned close and whispered something in Maya's ear that made her blood run cold.
"No," Maya whispered in shock. "That can't be true."
But deep down, she knew it was. And suddenly, everything she thought she knew about Liam, about her pack, and about herself was thrown into question.