Page 29 of My Fated Mate

My brow furrows in surprise. "Someone new?"

"Maybe," he murmurs, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "His name is Viktar. He's part of Thorne's team." He pauses,his eyes meeting mine with an unexpected intensity. "We… we connected, Elowen. In a way, I haven't with anyone else."

Finn, connected with someone so quickly? "Connected?" I echo, curiosity piqued. "Like, how?"

A bittersweet smile spreads across his face. "He's… different. Caring, even though he tries to hide it behind a gruff exterior. He listens, Elowen. Really listens." He recounts stories, his voice filled with a newfound warmth, stories of shared meals, whispered jokes, and stolen glances under the cloak of night.

As I listen, a wave of emotions wash over me. Surprise at the unexpected turn of events. But also a flicker of something akin to… understanding.

Finding someone to connect with, someone who offered a listening ear and a touch of comfort, was exactly what he needed.

The thought of Finn, my closest friend, finding happiness with someone new should fill me with joy.

And on the surface, it does. But a deeper part of me can't help but feel a pang of… something.

Loneliness, perhaps?

A longing glance towards the window betrays my thoughts.

Thorne.

Where is he? Is he safe? And when he returns, will I finally have the courage to bridge the gap between us?

Suddenly, a memory surfaces from earlier that day, a memory I hadn't allowed myself to dwell on.

The way Thorne had looked at me, the intensity in his gaze, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air—even with the threat of the rogue attack looming, there had been a shift between us.

My heart clenches with a bittersweet pang.

Despite the current situation, a part of me longs for his return, for the chance to explore the potent emotions simmering beneath the surface.

A new resolve washes over me. When Thorne returns, safe and sound, I won't let him push me away any longer. The spark between us is too undeniable to ignore.

Tonight, when he holds me in his arms, I'll bridge the gap and let him know the depth of my feelings.

Until then, the wait stretches on, punctuated only by the occasional creak of the floorboards and the frantic drumming of my heart.

Every rustle of wind against the windowpane sends me scrambling to my feet, only to be disappointed.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the heavy oak doors to the great hall creak open.

A wave of relief washes over me, so powerful it takes my breath away.

Men trickle in, weary but triumphant.

They share stories of the battle, their voices filled with a newfound respect for the Ember Pack's fighting prowess. The rogue pack had been driven away, not without casualties, but with their dominance over the territory decisively broken.

A sense of pride swells within me as I mingle with the returning warriors. These men, once strangers, now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with my pack, their alliance forged in the crucible of battle.

Snippets of conversation reach me as I move, the soldiers recounting the battle in excited bursts.

"Thorne was a force to be reckoned with!" one exclaims. "Took down three rogues single-handedly!"

"Yeah …saved Alpha Eamon from a sneak attack. Took a nasty blow to the shoulders, though. Poor bloke was out cold when they brought him back."

My heart lurches in my chest.

Thorne.

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