The White Wolf's residence was unfamiliar to Aisha—too bright, almost sterile, its white lights overwhelming. It felt less like a home and more like a cage. The shadows of chandeliers danced on the walls, casting figures that whispered secrets in every corner.
She halted behind Sanathiel, her mind still spinning from the whirlwind of emotions stirred by the ball and their public appearance. Sliding open the door that connected the garden to the back entrance, she stepped inside.
Sanathiel lit the fireplace. The flickering flame cast soft light across his chiseled features as he relaxed on the white couch, pulling off the cover draped over it. Seeing him so composed—as if nothing touched him—was strange. But Aisha knew better. Beneath that calm exterior raged a storm of intentions.
"I imagine your little friend Rasen—the shadow-born vampire—is probably going mad trying to track you," Sanathiel muttered, breaking the silence. His tone was casual, but the sharpness in his gaze left no room for misinterpretation.
Aisha pressed her lips into a tight line and looked away.
"He has no affinity with you. So why the familiarity? What am I missing here?" he continued, his voice dropping into a whisper that invaded her thoughts.
"He's no longer human. And certainly no longer your friend."
"That's none of your business, Sanathiel," she replied coldly, though her voice trembled ever so slightly. "I need a phone."
Without breaking eye contact, Sanathiel pulled a phone from his pocket and offered it to her.
"Here. But tell me, will you be calling Skiller Snova? Or did you think I didn't know who you've been in touch with?"
Aisha snatched the phone and stepped away, tension wrapping around her like a noose. She exited and closed the door behind her, dialing Skiller's number. He answered on the first ring.
"Aisha. I did what I thought was right to protect you. I don't regret it."
His voice was steady, as always—but it wasn't enough for her.
"Protect me?" she hissed, frustration lacing every word. "You left me alone with this bastard."
She sighed.
"This is more complicated than you can imagine."
"You decide whether to trust him or not," Skiller replied, then hung up before she could answer. He left her with more questions than she'd started with.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Sanathiel stood in the doorway, eyes burning with silent command.
"You won't leave without my permission," he said, his voice low and laced with warning.
"I'm not your pawn. I'm not your toy," Aisha snapped, trying to wrench free of his grip—but he didn't let go.
"You are my destined companion, Aisha," he declared, voice unyielding. "No matter how much you deny it, our bond won't let you run far from me. Try it."
The Valley of the Olive Tree
Without warning, Sanathiel led her outside. Under the moonlight, the garden shimmered like a dream. Twisted olive trees reflected silver under the stars. Aisha instantly recognized the path—they were heading toward the Valley of the Olive Tree, a place she'd only seen in her father's memories.
"You remember this place, don't you?" Sanathiel said, stopping before her. "Right here, your father offered me his aid in hunting the exile in exchange for the leadership of the Thirteen. He used me, Aisha. And you… you were part of his game."
His words struck her like a dagger. The truth of what had occurred between her father and the white wolf began to unravel, and a deep ache in her chest gave way to a fury she struggled to contain.
"You planned it all, Sanathiel. From the beginning. You knew what you wanted, and you manipulated us to get it."
"Maybe I did," he admitted. "But I wasn't the only one."
He pulled a small purple vial from his pocket and held it up.
"What is that?" Aisha asked, her throat tight.
"The only offering your father demanded—my blood," he answered, eyes burning into hers. "With it, he could gain power and eternal youth. But you… you hold something even more valuable—the key to control me and my brothers."
Sanathiel tossed the vial into the nearby lake. It shattered beneath the surface, the sound lost in the whispering waters.
"What are you doing?!" Aisha gasped, but he grabbed her hand, leading her toward the water's edge.
"That's why I brought you here—to sever what ties you to Sariel's blood inside Rasen. This is your only chance."
His voice echoed in her mind like a low vibration.
"Our bond could offer you a new destiny—if you choose to accept it."
Every fiber of her being told her to run. That she should reject this. But then… why did her heart beat in sync with his? Why did she feel like she'd lose more than just her freedom if she pulled away?
Was this love, fate, or a trap disguised as longing? She didn't know. But for the first time, something inside her broke—and something else was born.
Sanathiel pulled her toward the water. She hesitated halfway, trying to resist, but he held firm—dragging her in.
"Let me go, White Wolf!" she screamed.
But he didn't. Instead, he plunged them both into the depths, so fast she didn't even close her mouth before water rushed in.
Fire and Water
Surrounded by the cold current, Aisha felt his arms around her—holding her between fear and something dangerously close to desire. His body burned like embers where it touched her skin.
"You feel it too, Aisha. This bond… it cannot be denied."
The words echoed in her head through their telepathic link.
They sank deeper. Her fists pounded against his chest until he touched the glowing mark on her skin. The contact unleashed a flood of emotion. Her claws dug into his arms.
Is this what I truly want? she thought, her energy rising to meet his touch.
It was as if he could hear her thoughts. He drew her closer.
And then, just as she felt herself fade into the water's depth, he cupped her neck and kissed her—sealing their bond in a gesture filled with hunger and fate.
Aisha stopped resisting. Not because she couldn't—but because a part of her, the one that had never been heard, whispered this moment belonged to her too.
The water's darkness became their sanctuary. A place where time and reality dissolved. For a fleeting instant, they were whole—souls aligned in a single heartbeat.
The white wolf, overcome by primal instinct, pulled her close. His body changed as he devoured her with a fire that made her tremble. He tore through her clothing, touched her with aching need, and claimed her as his. Together, they spiraled into a storm of emotion, pulled by desire into an unknown abyss.
When they finally emerged, Sanathiel carried her to shore and laid her gently on the damp grass. The night breeze cooled their burning skin.
"You are mine, Aisha, as I am yours. From now… and forever," he whispered, a blend of possession and vulnerability in his voice.
Aisha stared up at him, breathless, a storm of emotions crashing inside her. She knew she couldn't escape the bond—but she also knew she wouldn't surrender her will completely.
The connection was unbreakable.
But her spirit was untamed.
As Sanathiel stepped back, he placed a towel over her body. Watching from a respectful distance, his gaze held both desire and restraint.
In that moment, Aisha made a choice: she would find a way to balance fate and freedom. Though they were bound, she would not let that bond define her.
She stood, grabbed a knife from her bag, and began cutting her hair. Each lock that fell to the ground was an act of rebellion, a symbol of independence. Then she burned what remained—setting fire to the part of her she no longer needed.
"I'm not going to run."Sanathiel had claimed her. But she still had to claim herself.And if she walked beside the wolf now… the fire in her soul would always belong to her alone.