Rowan's POV
She said yes.
Kira Thorne the female who rejected me, destroyed me, left me bleeding in the forest seven years ago just accepted my proposition.
I should feel victorious. Powerful. Like the king I'd become.
Instead, I felt nothing.
No. That was a lie.
I felt everything.
Rage. Pain. Satisfaction. Longing. All of it crashing through me at once as I stared at the female who haunted every single one of my days.
She stood in my throne room, chin lifted, trying to look brave. But I could see her hands shaking. Could smell her fear mixed with something else.
Something that made my wolf surge forward, desperate and hungry.
Mate, he growled. Our mate. Finally.
I shoved him down. Hard.
She wasn't our mate anymore. She gave up that right when she chose a human university over me. When she spoke words that tore our bond apart. When she walked away without looking back.
You accept, I repeated, my voice carrying through the silent throne room. Just like that?
Kira's throat moved as she swallowed. You didn't give me much choice.
No. I took a step closer. She held her ground, but barely. I didn't. Because seven years ago, you didn't give me one either.
Her eyes those golden-brown eyes I used to dream about flinched.
Good. Let her hurt. Let her feel a fraction of what she did to me.
Your Majesty, one of my councillors spoke up. Sebastian Thorne, ironically Kira's distant uncle. Perhaps we should discuss this arrangement in private before
No. I didn't take my eyes off Kira. This is pack business. Everyone stays.
I wanted witnesses. Wanted the entire pack to see Kira Thorne accept what she once rejected. Wanted them to know that the halfblood who thought she was too good for me had come crawling back.
Petty? Absolutely.
Did I care? Not even a little.
Strip, I said.
Kira's eyes went wide. What?
Your jacket. Take it off. I gestured impatiently. If you're going to be my mate, I need to see what I'm getting.
Gasps echoed through the throne room. Even Sebastian looked shocked.
But I didn't care about propriety. Didn't care about doing this the gentle way.
Gentle died seven years ago in a forest clearing.
Kira's face flushed red. With embarrassment. With anger. You want me to in front of everyone
I want you to show me you mean it. I crossed my arms. You said you accept. Prove it. Show me you're willing to submit to your Alpha King.
Her jaw clenched. I could see the war playing out across her face. Pride versus desperation. The need to fight back versus the need to save her sanctuary.
Finally, slowly, she reached for her jacket zipper.
Rowan, don't. A new voice cut through the tension. My beta, Rhys, stepped forward from the shadows. This isn't you.
You don't know what I am anymore, I said without looking at him.
I know you're not cruel. Rhys moved closer. I know the male who wants to humiliate her isn't the real you.
The real me died when she rejected the bond. I finally looked at Rhys. This is all that's left.
Rhys's expression filled with pity. I hated it.
I turned back to Kira. She'd stopped with the zipper halfway down. Waiting.
Part of me the part that remembered loving her wanted to take it back. To tell her to stop. That this was wrong.
But the larger part the part that spent seven years in pain wanted to see her squirm.
Continue, I ordered.
Kira's hands trembled as she pulled the zipper down. The jacket fell open, revealing a simple shirt underneath. Nothing scandalous. Nothing worth the shame burning in her eyes.
But it was the principle. She'd obeyed. Submitted. Done what I told her.
There, she said, voice shaking with barely controlled fury. Happy?
No. The truth escaped before I could stop it. I haven't been happy in seven years.
Something flickered across her face. Understanding? Guilt?
Too little, too late.
Take the jacket off completely, I continued. Then turn in a circle. Slowly.
Rowan, please Kira's voice cracked.
Please what? I moved closer, invading her space. Please be kind? Please be gentle? Please act like you didn't rip my heart out and stomp on it?
I said I was sorry!
Sorry doesn't fix this! The words exploded out of me. Seven years of holding it in, and it all came pouring out. Sorry doesn't heal a rejected bond. Sorry doesn't give me back the nights I spent wishing I was dead because the pain was too much. Sorry is just a word, Kira. A meaningless, empty word.
Tears filled her eyes. Then what do you want from me? You already have my submission. My agreement. My sanctuary. What more
I want you to suffer. The honesty felt like poison and relief all at once. I want you to stand in this throne room and feel humiliated and small and powerless. I want you to know what it's like to be broken.
The throne room was dead silent. Even the guards by the door looked uncomfortable.
Kira stared at me. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
I already know what it's like to be broken, she whispered. I've been broken since the day I rejected you.
The words hit me like a physical blow.
No. I wouldn't let her twist this. Wouldn't let her play victim.
Then you should've thought of that before you walked away. I gestured sharply. Take off the jacket. Last warning.
For a long moment, I thought she'd refuse. Thought she'd finally show the pride that made her reject me in the first place.
Instead, she slipped the jacket off her shoulders. Let it fall to the floor. Then turned in a slow circle, giving the entire throne room a full view.
My wolf howled in my head. Mate. Beautiful. Ours.
She was thinner than I remembered. Too thin. Like she hadn't been taking care of herself. Her shirt hung loose on her frame. Dark circles shadowed her eyes.
She looked exhausted. Worn down. Fragile.
She looked like she'd been suffering too.
I hated that it made me want to protect her.
Satisfied? Kira asked when she completed the circle.
Not even close. I picked up her jacket. Held it out. But you can have this back. For now.
She snatched it from my hand. Put it on with jerky, angry movements.
What happens now? she asked.
Good question.
I'd planned this moment for months. Ever since I discovered her sanctuary sat on Blackwood land. Ever since I realized I could force her back into my life. Back where she belonged.
But now that she was here actually here, standing in front of me, smelling like wolves and forest and home I didn't know what to do with her.
My wolf wanted to claim her immediately. Mark her. Take her to my chambers and finish what we started seven years ago.
My mind wanted revenge. Wanted to make her hurt more.
My heart the piece of it that survived the rejection just wanted answers.
Now, I said slowly, we discuss terms.
Terms? Kira's eyes narrowed. You said if I accepted, the sanctuary was safe.
It is. But there are conditions for our arrangement.
Our arrangement. She laughed bitterly. You mean my surrender.
Call it whatever you want. I walked back to my throne. Sat. Let her stand while I looked down at her. Power play, but effective. You'll live here. In the palace.
Her face went pale. For how long?
Six months.
Six She stopped. Swallowed. And then?
Then we reassess. If you've proven yourself worthy, maybe the arrangement continues. If not... I shrugged. The bond can be quietly dissolved and you can return to your sanctuary.
Dissolved? Hope flickered in her eyes. You can do that?
I'm the Alpha King. I can do anything. A lie, but she didn't need to know that. Rejected bonds didn't just dissolve. They scarred forever. But only if you fulfil your end of the bargain.
Which is what, exactly?
I leaned forward. Let her see the coldness in my eyes. The hatred I'd nursed for seven years.
You'll appear at my side for all official functions. You'll play the role of my mate in public. You'll accept my mark
Your mark? Kira interrupted. But that's permanent. That's
The whole point. I smiled without humor. You rejected me once, Dr. Thorne. I won't risk you doing it again. When I mark you, the bond reactivates. Becomes real. Unbreakable.
But you said it could be dissolved
After six months. If I allow it. I stood again. Couldn't sit still with her this close. The mark stays either way. Even if we separate, you'll carry my claim for the rest of your life.
Her hand went to her neck. To the spot where a mate's mark traditionally went.
That's not fair, she whispered.
Fair? I laughed. Actually laughed. You want to talk about fair? Fine. Was it fair when you ripped our bond apart without warning? Was it fair when you chose a degree over me? Was it fair when I spent three years so broken I could barely function?
I didn't know
You didn't care! The words echoed off the stone walls. You didn't care what happened to me. You just wanted your perfect little life. Your sanctuary. Your dream.
I moved toward her again. Couldn't help it. Seven years of distance and I still gravitated to her like a moon to its planet.
So no, Kira. This isn't fair. But life isn't fair. You taught me that. I stopped inches from her. Close enough to smell her. Close enough to touch. Now you get to learn it too.
She was crying openly now. Tears streaming down her face.
I can't do this, she choked out. I can't be your mate knowing you hate me. Knowing this is just revenge.
You don't have a choice.
I always have a choice! She stepped back. I can refuse. I can let the sanctuary go. I can
Can you? I tilted my head. Can you really let forty-three wolves die because you're too proud to accept the consequences of your actions?
She went silent.
I had her. We both knew it.
The ceremony will be in three days, I continued. That gives you time to prepare. To say goodbye to your human friend. To make peace with your decision.
Three days? Her voice was barely audible.
Three days, I confirmed. Then you'll stand before the pack and accept the mate bond you rejected. You'll let me mark you. Claim you. Make you mine in front of everyone.
And if I run? If I just leave and never come back?
I smiled. It wasn't kind.
Then I hunt you down personally. And trust me, Dr. Thorne you don't want that.
The threat hung in the air between us.
Kira looked at me with something like heartbreak in her eyes.
What happened to you? she whispered. The Rowan I knew would never
The Rowan you knew died in a forest seven years ago. I cut her off. You killed him when you rejected the bond. What's left is exactly what you made me.
I turned away. Couldn't look at her anymore. Couldn't see the tears and the pain and still hold on to my anger.
Rhys will show you to your quarters, I said to the room at large. You're dismissed.
Wait. Kira's voice stopped me. I need to know something.
I didn't turn around. What?
Do you still love me?
The question hit like an arrow to the chest.
Did I still love her? After everything? After seven years of pain and rage and emptiness?
The truth was complicated. Messy. Impossible to put into words.
So I lied.
No, I said. I stopped loving you the day you walked away. What I feel now is much simpler.
What's that?
I looked over my shoulder. Met those golden eyes one last time.
Ownership. You're mine, Kira. You've always been mine. And in three days, I'm going to make sure you can never forget it again.
I walked out of the throne room before she could respond.
Before I could take back everything I just said.
Before I could admit the truth that would destroy me:
I never stopped loving her.
And that's exactly why this was going to hurt us both.