Page 79 of My Fated Mate

But beneath the lightheartedness, a deeper yearning stirs within me. I nuzzle Elowen's she-wolf and she leans into me, a silent admission of the connection that binds us.

Then, as abruptly as it began, I feel Elowen’s anguish—her pain from being rejected.

Her pain makes me dizzy, and I stagger.

A heavy silence descends upon us.

Slowly, we shift back.

"Elowen," I begin, the words catching in my throat. "I… I owe you an apology."

She only stares at me.

I nod and continue. “About what happened…"

"You rejected me, not knowing I was who you were looking for. You rejected me for the chosen mate,” she finishes, her voice flat.

I take a step closer, my hand reaching out to touch hers. She flinches away.

"I had to," I rasp, the words scraping against my throat. "I had seen the prophecy: if I wanted you to live, if I needed the world to survive, I had to choosehereven if it killed me. I couldn't let anyone get hurt."

It's a flimsy excuse, I know, but it's all I have. Elowen deserves the truth, but the truth is a tangled mess of fear, duty, and a love so fierce it terrifies me.

To my surprise, a tear rolls down Elowen's cheek, glinting like a tiny diamond in the moonlight.

"But you hurt me, Thorne," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "You broke my heart in the worst way. How do I know you want me formeright now?”

Her pain is a physical blow. My heart clenches, a silent apology echoing within me.

"I know with all my heart. I'm so sorry I have made you feel this way. I love you, Elowen. I have from the moment I first laid eyes on you."

The confession hangs in the air, an unspoken truth finally finding its voice. Elowen stares at me, her eyes searching mine.

Then, she steps forward, closing the distance between us. Our lips meet in a kiss—a desperate collision. It's a kiss filled with sorrow and longing and a promise of a future that might never be.

When we finally break apart, Elowen leans her forehead against mine, her breathing shallow. "I need time to think, Thorne."

Disappointment threatens to shatter me, but I force it down. This isn't about me. It's about Elowen, about the pain I've caused her.

"Take all the time you need," I reply. "Just… please, don't shut me out."

She attempts a smile. "I won't."

And with that, she turns and walks away, disappearing into the moonlit forest. I watch her go, a bittersweet ache settling in my chest.

The future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—I won't give up on Elowen. Not without a fight.

Chapter 22

ELOWEN

A playful smirk dances on my lips as I dodge Thorne's lunging attack.

His claws rake harmlessly through the air where my head used to be. "Come on, Alpha," I taunt, "Is that the best you can do? Even a wounded sparrow could outrun you."

Thorne throws his head back and lets out a booming laugh.

Despite the playful animosity in our training sessions, a comfortable rhythm has settled between us.

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