Chapter 8

Aeris couldn’t move.

Her entire body felt frozen, her fingers curled into fists so tightly her nails bit into her palms. The words on the page blurred before her eyes, but she didn’t need to read them again. They were already carved into her mind like a brand.

A breeding contract. A ritual. A plan set in motion long before she had even known who—what—she really was.

Loyd wanted her. Not for her, not for anything that had to do with her choices, her feelings, or her life. He wanted her bloodline. He wanted her future. And if he got what he wanted, she would never be free again.

Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps. She clenched her jaw, willing herself to stay upright, but her knees felt weak beneath her. The weight of Rheon’s stare burned into her skin, but she refused to look up.

She couldn't.

Because if she did, she might break.

And breaking wasn’t an option.

"Say something."

His voice was low, controlled, but there was something underneath it—something sharp and dark, coiled tight like a predator about to strike.

Aeris swallowed hard, forcing her body to obey, forcing her voice to push past the storm raging inside her.

"What do you want me to say?" Her words came out hollow, distant, like she wasn’t the one speaking them. "That I’m terrified? That I don’t know what the hell to do with any of this?"

She let out a bitter laugh, her fingers tightening around the crumpled edges of the contract. "Or do you want me to admit that I was stupid for thinking I could outrun this forever?"

Rheon’s jaw clenched, his entire frame vibrating with barely restrained fury. "You’re not stupid, Aeris."

She let out a sharp breath, shaking her head. "Then why does it feel like I am?"

Rheon didn’t answer immediately. He stepped closer instead, closing the space between them until she could feel the heat of his body, the sheer force of his presence pressing against her like a tangible thing.

"You’re not alone in this."

Aeris laughed again, but there was no humor in it. "Aren’t I?" She lifted her gaze, finally meeting his eyes. "Because last I checked, I’ve been alone my entire life. No one wanted me then, and no one wants me now—except for a psychopath who thinks he can use me like some kind of breeding mare."

Rheon’s expression darkened.

"That’s not true," he said, voice rough. "You’re my mate."

The words sent a sharp pang through her chest. She wanted to believe them. She wanted to cling to them.

But she couldn’t.

Because reality didn’t work that way.

"You don’t get to say that," she whispered. "Not when you still have a pack to answer to. Not when they want you to mate with someone else."

His eyes flashed. "They don’t get to decide who my mate is."

Aeris exhaled, shaking her head. "Maybe not. But that doesn’t change the fact that you have responsibilities. You have people depending on you. And no matter how much you want to pretend otherwise, I will never be someone your pack accepts."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Then, quietly, Rheon said, "Do you think I care about that?"

Aeris blinked. "What?"

"Do you think I care what they want?" His voice was steel, firm and unwavering. "Do you think their opinions are worth more than your life?"

She stared at him, heart pounding.

"You think I don’t know what they expect of me?" Rheon continued, his eyes burning into hers. "You think I don’t feel the pressure every damn day? That I don’t know exactly what will happen if I don’t fall in line?"

His hands curled into fists at his sides. "But none of that matters."

Aeris’s breath caught. "Rheon—"

He stepped even closer, so close she had to tilt her head to keep looking at him. His scent, warm and undeniable, wrapped around her like a protective shield, grounding and overwhelming all at once.

"I don’t care what the elders say. I don’t care about the deals they’ve made behind my back. And I sure as hell don’t care about some pathetic excuse for a pack law that tells me I have to choose between them and you."

Aeris’s pulse raced.

His voice dropped lower, rough and unshakable.

"You’re mine."

The words struck something deep inside her, something raw and unprotected.

Rheon’s gaze never wavered. "And I’ll tear this whole damn world apart before I let them take you from me."

Aeris couldn’t breathe.

She wanted to fight him, to push him away, to argue that it wasn’t that simple. That it couldn’t be.

But when she opened her mouth, no words came out.

Because he meant it.

Every syllable. Every promise. Every inch of fire burning behind his eyes.

He wasn’t saying it just to comfort her.

He wasn’t saying it just to say it.

He was claiming her.

Not just as his mate. Not just as someone he was bound to by fate.

He was choosing her.

Despite everything. Despite everyone.

Despite the war it would bring.

Aeris’s throat tightened.

Because for the first time in her life, someone had chosen her.

And it terrified her.

She turned away, wrapping her arms around herself. "You’re making a mistake."

Rheon exhaled. "Then let me make it."

Aeris shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "You don’t understand. Loyd isn’t just dangerous. He’s—he’s obsessed. He won’t stop. Not until he gets what he wants."

"And what he wants is you."

Aeris nodded, her hands trembling.

Rheon was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, he said, "Then I’ll give him what he wants."

Aeris’s head snapped up. "What?"

Rheon’s expression was unreadable. "He wants a fight? I’ll give him one."

Aeris swallowed hard. "Rheon, if you go after him—"

"It won’t be him coming after you anymore."

His voice was dark, dangerous. Unshakable.

Aeris opened her mouth, but Rheon didn’t give her a chance to argue.

He turned, heading for the door.

Panic flared in her chest. "Rheon—"

He paused, glancing back at her.

She hated the way her heart clenched at the sight of him. The sheer certainty in his expression. The quiet promise of violence curling around him like a second skin.

He wasn’t afraid.

He wasn’t backing down.

He was claiming war.

And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Stay here," he murmured, his voice softer now. "Don’t open the door for anyone but me."

Aeris’s throat tightened. "And if you don’t come back?"

Rheon’s lips curled into something dark and sharp.

"I will."

Then, before she could stop him—before she could beg him to stop—he was gone.

And for the first time in her life, Aeris wasn’t sure if she wanted to run away.

Or stay.