"Alpha Shadows: Forbidden Shackles"

Arkon tossed a rabbit to each of the three wolves, knowing it wouldn't be enough to satisfy their hunger. But it was all he could offer. His gaze shifted when he noticed Lucy stirring awake. A wave of relief washed over him, but instead of rushing to her, he stepped back, slipping behind the trees to shift back and put on his pants.

His heart clenched at the sight of her. Seeing her like this… it ignited something dark within him. Every time the thought of touching her crossed his mind, rage surged through him.

He approached carefully, reaching out to pat her head. But she flinched, turning away, her eyes clouded with fear and uncertainty. His jaw tightened. The sight only fueled his anger further, but he suppressed it, stepping closer to offer her food.

She refused.

"You know who I am, don't you?" His voice was soft, almost pleading.

Lucy gave a slight nod before breaking into fresh sobs.

Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms. His grip tightened as he murmured darkly, "I don't want you to cry. I will make them pay for what they did to you."

But Lucy pulled away, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can we… reject each other now? After what happened?"

Arkon stilled. Her words struck him like a physical blow. His expression became unreadable, his mind frozen. He didn't respond—he couldn't. And Lucy, mistaking his silence for rejection, turned and fled into the forest, her vision blurred by tears.

Her wolf howled inside her, aching. How could she walk away from her mate? It was a cruel choice at such a fragile moment, but the pain… the pain was unbearable.

By the time Arkon snapped out of his shock, frustration and fury twisted inside him. He sprinted after her, tracking her scent until he found her standing by a tree, lost in thought. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist, spinning her to face him.

Her silver eyes gleamed. Her wolf was in control now.

"Why are you doing this to me?" His voice was low, filled with hurt. "After I finally found you… you say this?"

"I'm not like her," Lucy murmured, her wolf's voice layered over her own. "I don't want to leave you. But she… she's broken. She'd rather reject you first than suffer more pain. She won't listen to me. She's too wounded. And what hurt her the most…" She swallowed hard. "Was seeing you like that."

Arkon inhaled sharply. "You gave her control?" His grip tightened. "I need to talk to her."

Lucy's eyes darkened to a shimmering silver as her wolf fully took over. She lowered her gaze, uneasy.

Arkon didn't hesitate. He cupped her face, tilting her head up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.

"I accept every part of you." His voice was firm, unwavering. "What happened wasn't your fault. Don't carry this burden alone. And no matter what…" His jaw clenched, his golden eyes blazing. "I will make them suffer for what they did. You don't have to worry about that."

Arkon wiped away her tears with gentle fingers, a small smile playing on his lips. "These pearls falling from your eyes… I don't want to see them again. From now on, we turn over a new leaf—together."

Lucy gave a weak nod. Arkon took her hand, guiding her to sit beside him once more. He offered her food, but she hesitated, refusing at first. Only after his persistent gaze did she take small, reluctant bites.

Arkon watched her in disbelief before taking the food from her hands. "Let me." His voice was soft yet firm.

She hesitated again but finally complied when he leaned in closer, his warmth surrounding her.

Closing her eyes, she shivered slightly.

"Open your eyes when I look at you," he whispered. "Don't turn away."

A deep blush crept up her cheeks, but she obeyed, her gaze locking onto his. Arkon leaned in slightly, their faces mere inches apart. The moment stretched between them, heavy with something unspoken.

Embarrassed, Lucy averted her gaze, her cheeks burning.

Arkon sighed. "Eat. You need to regain your strength. We don't know what awaits us."

She nodded and allowed him to feed her, though she could barely focus under his intense stare. Her heart pounded. His golden eyes didn't waver, scanning every expression on her face.

Just then, a voice entered Arkon's mind through telepathy.

"I see you're adjusting well," Adrian's voice carried amusement.

Arkon's expression darkened. "What do you want now?"

Lucy noticed the sudden shift in his demeanor, the way his eyes lost focus. He was speaking to someone—telepathically.

"Stop this behavior and hurry up," Adrian's voice was more serious now. "We need to move."

Arkon exhaled sharply. "Fine."

As soon as the connection broke, he found Lucy staring at him with curiosity, her bright eyes studying him closely. The second she realized he had caught her, her face turned crimson, and she quickly looked away.

Without a word, she stood and rushed toward the wolves, sitting beside them as if seeking refuge. Her heart was still racing. One of the female wolves nuzzled her gently, licking her cheek in comfort. Lucy smiled, stroking the wolf's soft fur.

Adrian approached Arkon, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh, you fell fast. Weren't you the one who said, 'I don't want a mate'?"

Arkon stiffened, his face heating. "I thought I didn't have a mate. You know… I'm just a homeless, lonely wolf. Why would she accept me?"

Adrian's expression hardened. "You're not homeless or lonely anymore. Don't ever say that again."

Arkon swallowed, nodding. "But the sun hasn't even risen yet. Why are we moving now?"

Adrian's gaze turned sharp, scanning the darkened horizon. "Because I can feel it… danger is closing in on us."

Adrian's voice carried a sense of urgency. "Okay, I'll tell them to get ready to leave."

Arkon nodded and turned to the others, his tone firm. "Get ready. We're moving out."

Then, he approached Lucy, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "Don't push yourself—you're still weak. If necessary, I will carry you."

Her face turned crimson, and she stuttered, "No... It's okay, I... I can transform and run with you."

She tried to turn away, but before she could take a step, Arkon caught her wrist, his grip firm yet gentle. His voice dropped into a commanding tone.

"I'm not asking, Lucy. I'm telling you what's going to happen. Don't make me carry you in front of everyone."

A wicked smirk curved his lips. "Besides, I already carried you a long distance before—and I didn't complain."

Her eyes widened in shock. "You… carried me?"

Arkon nodded, his smirk softening into something more sincere. "Yes. And I will… for the rest of my life if I have to."

Lucy's breath caught in her throat. His words held a weight she wasn't ready to process.

Before she could respond, the others signaled that they were ready. Arkon threw Lucy a playful wink before darting behind a tree, shifting seamlessly into his wolf form—Lux.

Lux returned to her side, pressing his forehead gently against hers. Instinctively, her fingers buried themselves into his thick fur. Lux let out a pleased rumble, his tail wagging as he licked her cheek.

Lucy giggled, trying to push him away, but her laughter only made him happier. It was the first time he had ever heard that sound from her. His heart skipped a beat.

His golden gaze locked onto her, and the moment stretched between them. Sensing his intense stare, Lucy fell silent, looking away awkwardly.

Lux lowered himself, bowing in invitation. She hesitated only for a second before climbing onto his back.

With that, the group set off.

At the rear, Sivak—Adrian— kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, his senses heightened beyond their normal limits. The moment he had activated his newfound power, his sense of smell had intensified drastically, allowing him to distinguish between danger and tranquility from miles away.

He inhaled deeply, scanning the air. Every movement, every shift in the wind—he sensed it all.

Something was out there. Watching. Waiting.

And it was getting closer.

Questions:

1. How will Lucy's decision to try rejecting Arkon affect their relationship's development in the upcoming chapters?

2. What is the danger Adrian sensed ؟