chapter nineteen

Caspian's POV

I watched Nikolas, his cheeks still flushed from Ronan's teasing, his jaw tight with frustration. But beneath all of that beneath the anger and the resistance I saw the truth.

He was unraveling.

Slowly.

Beautifully.

I descended the stairs with measured steps, each one making Nikolas shift uneasily where he stood. He was tense, like a cornered animal, but I could smell the confusion rolling off him in waves.

Good.

"Had a fun little outing, did you?" I murmured, stopping just a step above him. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body.

He swallowed hard, his blue eyes darting away. "Not that it's any of your business."

I smirked. "Oh, but everything about you is my business."

His hands clenched at his sides. "You can't just—"

I tilted my head, watching him struggle with his own words. Watching him fight himself. I knew exactly what was warring inside him the push and pull, the fire and fear. The undeniable need and the desperate denial.

"You know," I mused, stepping down to his level, "Ronan had a point."

Nikolas's eyes snapped up to mine, burning with defiance. "What the hell are you talking about?"

I reached out, slow enough that he had time to stop me. He didn't. My fingers grazed his jaw, tilting his face up just slightly. His breath hitched, but he didn't move away.

"I'm talking about how much you want this," I murmured, running my thumb over the pulse hammering at his throat. "How much you want me."

His breath came out shaky, but then his stubbornness reared its head. He jerked back, eyes flashing. "You're insane."

I chuckled. "You keep saying that."

"Because it's true!" he snapped, taking a step back, his hands trembling slightly. "I—I can't be whatever you want me to be, Caspian. I'm not—I'm not even—"

"Gay?" I finished for him, arching a brow.

His lips pressed into a thin line. His breathing was uneven, his whole body taut like a bowstring ready to snap.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Nikolas," I said, softer this time. "This isn't about labels. It's about us. It's about what's already inside you."

He shook his head, stepping back again, as if putting more distance between us would somehow make the truth disappear.

I let him go.

For now.

"Go on, then," I said, gesturing toward his room. "Run from it. Pretend all you want." I leaned in just slightly, my voice dropping to a low rumble. "But in the end, you'll still end up right where you belong."

His chest heaved, his blue eyes stormy with a thousand emotions he didn't want to face. Then, without another word, he turned and stormed back toward his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

I exhaled slowly, running a hand over my jaw.

He was falling.

He just didn't know it yet.

I stood there for a moment, letting the tension in the air settle around me. Nikolas's defiance, his frustration, it all just made him more intoxicating. He was fighting a battle he wasn't ready for, but I could see it in his eyes. He'd be mine he didn't have a choice in that.

But that could wait.

I needed to focus. The pack was on high alert after the meeting with the council, and something didn't sit right with me. The hunters were planning something—something I couldn't let slide under the radar.

Training.

I needed to keep my mind sharp. The pack needed to stay strong.

I left Nikolas's door behind me, the familiar ache of wanting more gnawing at my chest. I'd deal with him later. For now, I had a pack to lead.

I made my way down the hall and out into the open courtyard, where the warriors were gathering. My Beta, Ronan, was already there, his sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. He gave me a small nod as I approached, but I could see the tension in his posture.

"There's trouble," Ronan said lowly, his gaze flicking to the horizon. "Rouge wolves at the border. They're moving fast."

I straightened, the change in my demeanor instantaneous. "How many?"

"Not sure. They've been in and out for a while, but now it looks like they're making their move. It's a full-fledged attack."

I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar surge of adrenaline. No one attacked my pack without consequences.

"Get the warriors ready," I ordered, my voice low and commanding. "We're not waiting for them to strike first."

Ronan's lips curled into a grin. "Now you're speaking my language."

I gave him a sharp look, and he straightened, immediately barking orders to the warriors. Within seconds, they were lining up, armored and ready. I felt the weight of my position as the Alpha, the responsibility pressing down on my shoulders. But this was why I led. This was why I fought.

We moved fast. The rogues didn't stand a chance.

By the time we reached the border, I could see them small groups of rogues huddled together, whispering plans. They hadn't expected us to arrive so quickly. Their eyes widened when they saw us emerge from the trees.

Without a word, the battle began.

The air was thick with the growls and snarls of the wolves. Ronan was at the front, taking down the first rogue with a swift strike. My warriors moved like a well-oiled machine, their coordinated strikes taking down rogue after rogue. Blood soaked the ground beneath us, but I didn't stop. I moved through the chaos, feeling the heat of battle surge through me.

Nikolas's image flickered in my mind for a second, but I pushed it away. There would be time for him later. Right now, there was a pack to protect.

I shifted into my wolf, muscles rippling under the fur, and moved with an even greater speed. The world blurred as I tore through the rogue wolves, tearing into them with deadly precision. They were nothing compared to us. Nothing compared to my pack.

Ronan, ever the skilled warrior, was by my side, slashing and tearing through their ranks. He moved with brutal efficiency, a true warrior of the pack.

The last rogue attempted to flee, but I was faster. I tackled him to the ground, my teeth sinking into his throat, ending the fight in one swift movement.

When it was over, I stood in the clearing, my chest heaving, the taste of blood lingering in my mouth. The rogue wolves lay scattered around us, their bodies lifeless.

I shifted back into my human form, wiping blood from my hands. Ronan approached, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Clean kill," Ronan said, nodding at the fallen rogues. "But they were just the beginning. Something feels off, Caspian."

"I know," I muttered, my eyes scanning the horizon. "The hunters are behind this. They've been moving in the shadows for too long. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next."

I turned toward the warriors, who were already cleaning up the area, collecting the bodies and ensuring no one else was lurking nearby.

"Get back to the camp," I commanded. "We'll prepare for another attack."

As I walked back toward the camp, I couldn't help but think of Nikolas. He was a part of all of this now, whether he liked it or not. I didn't care about his resistance I'd break him eventually. It was only a matter of time.