Page 41 of Fated (The Bonded Legacy #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

LENA

L ena sat quietly, hands folded in her lap.

Her father stood behind his desk with a thoughtful expression that softened his typically sharp features.

Cian had claimed Kai’s recently vacated seat, posture relaxed as he toyed absently with the armrest. The tension of their meeting lingered, though the atmosphere shifted with Kai’s departure.

“Lena.” Raelen’s warm tone broke the silence. “I’m proud of your presence at the summit.”

Lena blinked, startled by the shift to praise. “Proud?”

“Very.” Raelen moved closer to her chair, the familiar scent of cedar and leather that always clung to him seeming warmer somehow.

“Several alphas reached out to me personally to speak about you. Alpha Renford was particularly impressed. He mentioned how astutely you identified patterns in the rogue attacks, specifically the vulnerabilities of the smaller northern packs. He said your insights were sharp, well-informed, and invaluable.”

Raelen paused, expression growing wistful.

“You remind me so much of your mother in moments like this.” His voice dropped to a reverent hush.

“She had the same gift for seeing patterns where others only saw chaos, for finding the threads that held everything together. She could walk into a room full of wolves at odds with one another and leave them united. It wasn’t just her instincts—it was her heart.

” He reached across, fingers hovering over Lena’s hand before settling there with gentle weight. “I see the same in you, Lena.”

Tears threatened, demanding release. The ache of her mother’s absence—that ever-present hollow—expanded with her father’s words. She swallowed hard, feeling the gentle press of her mother’s gold pendant against her chest. The responsibility of shouldering that mantle felt both precious and heavy.

“Thank you, Dad.” The words barely escaped her lips as her fingers found the pendant.

Raelen perched on the edge of his desk, hands braced against the lip. “She would have been so proud of you, not just for what you’ve accomplished, but for the courage and clarity you will bring to your role. You’re stepping into your own light, Lena, and it’s a brilliant thing to witness.”

Cian grinned from the seat next to her, pride evident in his voice.

“Renford and Darius weren’t the only ones impressed, either.

A few heirs mentioned how brilliant you were.

Some even said they wish they had someone as sharp as you to guide their own packs.

You’re making waves, Lena, and not because of Dad.

You’re being recognized as a leader in your own right. A true luna.”

Warmth spread across Lena’s cheeks. Her shoulders squared while her fingers fidgeted in her lap, caught between pride and the instinct to deflect. “I was just trying to contribute,” she murmured.

“You did more than that,” Raelen said firmly. “You showed them what Moonshadow is made of. More importantly, you demonstrated that you have what it takes to step into a leadership role, whether that’s in Bloodstone, here, or elsewhere.”

Lena’s gaze fell to her hands. A simple nod was all she could offer as the clock on the wall marked three beats of silence.

Cian shifted in his seat, tone growing more serious.

“The summit wasn’t just about strategy, though.

It was a wake-up call, Dad.” His eyebrows knitted together.

“Seven packs have been wiped out by rogues. Their hierarchies gone, lands abandoned. And like Lena pointed out, the northern packs—the smaller ones—are the primary targets. If Lena were to join Kai at Bloodstone, they’ll be right on the border of where most of the attacks are happening.

It won’t be long until they’re pulled into this conflict. ”

Raelen’s brow furrowed. “And the land disputes? What’s the situation there?”

Cian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“It’s a mess. Packs are scrambling to claim the abandoned lands, but it’s turning into a free-for-all.

Ironclaw and Redridge were fighting over the Denali territory.

This type of in-fighting amongst the alphas is escalating, and unless something changes, it could turn into an outright war.

The last thing we want is to be dealing with territorial battles while we are facing the rogue threat. ”

Raelen frowned, expression darkening. “Ironclaw has been especially aggressive, hasn’t it?”

Cian nodded. “They’ve taken over the lands of two smaller packs in the past year, either through negotiation or force.

Thorne’s not just opportunistic—he’s strategic.

If Ironclaw gets their claws into Denali, they’ll have a significant foothold in the region.

It’s something we need to watch closely.

” Cian leaned back in his seat. “The good news is that Kai bought us some time on that front. He managed to build consensus around keeping the Denali lands neutral, for now, which was no small feat.”

Raelen tapped his fingers on the desk, mind clearly working through the implications. “And Crescent Fang? I know they attended this year. Did you have a chance to connect with them? What are your insights? Do they have a position in all of this?”

“Crescent Fang was...unexpected.” Cian said, fascination evident. “Most alphas didn’t know what to make of them at first.” He leaned forward. “But Caleb commands respect without demanding it. Not just because of his lineage—though being Caelum’s descendant definitely turned heads.”

Raelen’s brow lifted. “Caelum’s bloodline?”

Cian nodded. “And more than that—his wolf is believed to be the reincarnation of Fenrir, the first alpha wolf…Caelum’s wolf.

Caleb’s connection to divination gives him insights that most of us can’t even begin to understand.

He spoke about the need for unity and strategy, and his ideas gained traction throughout the summit.

Darius, Renford, even Garrick—leaders who don’t impress easily—took a keen interest. He’s not just a strong alpha, Dad.

He projects the kind of aura that makes you wonder if he’s destined for something greater—something we can’t yet see. ”

Lena, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“Caleb is...compelling. He’s strong, but he listens.

He cares about his pack, but he’s also thinking about the bigger picture.

He’s someone worth watching—someone that might be able to pull more packs together.

If we want to expand our alliances beyond Blackwater, especially into the Washington territories, Crescent Fang would be a good fit. ”

Raelen leaned back, clearly intrigued. “And what about Caleb’s beta?”

“Asher,” Cian supplied. “He’s sharp, charismatic, and fiercely loyal.

Together, they’re a formidable pair. Crescent Fang has been out of the Collective for a long time, but I think they’re ready to reengage.

I invited Caleb and Asher to my alpha ceremony.

I thought it would be a good opportunity for you to meet them and for us to solidify our ties. ”

Raelen nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. “That was a wise decision. I look forward to meeting them.” His gaze shifted to Lena, holding her eyes with the gentle intensity she’d known since childhood. “And how are you feeling about all of this? About Kai? What’s ahead?”

The question caught her off guard. “I feel...conflicted,” she admitted after a pause. “The bond is strong, but so is his struggle. I’ve seen his anguish.” She looked down. “I’ve been praying to Selene for guidance—strength to persevere or strength to let go. My answer changes with each heartbeat.”

The room fell quiet, her vulnerability hanging in the air.

Cian reached out, resting a reassuring hand on her arm. “Whatever happens, Lena, we’re here for you. You’re not alone.”

Raelen nodded, his expression solemn. “Your path isn’t set in stone, Lena. You have time to figure this out. Whatever decision you make, you’ll have my support.”

A knot formed in Lena’s throat. She managed only a nod, the pressure in her chest making words impossible.

Raelen exhaled deeply, leaning back. “For now, let’s focus on what’s next. Cian, your alpha ceremony is fast approaching. I want you to spend more time at the ritual grounds—meditating, communing with your wolf, and praying to Selene. This is a pivotal moment, and I want you to be fully prepared.”

Cian nodded, his rare grin replaced with his usual seriousness. “Understood.”

“And Lena,” Raelen continued, turning to her. “I’d like you to assist Ryker’s mother with planning the ceremony. It’ll be a tremendous learning experience for you, whether or not you step into the luna role at Bloodstone. I think you’re ready for this kind of responsibility.”

Lena blinked, then nodded enthusiastically. “I’d be honored, Dad.”

Raelen beamed, rubbing his hands together with the excitement of an alpha father ready to set his children’s future in motion. “Good. Then let’s get to work.”

Lena rose, mind already spinning with the importance of the task ahead.

She nodded to her father and brother before stepping toward the door.

The study door closed behind her with a soft creak.

Pine scent and kitchen voices drifted through the dimly lit corridor as Lena moved toward the staircase.

Her shoulders bowed beneath invisible weight—her father’s pride and Cian’s revelations warring against Kai’s unresolved feelings and the pressures of decisions she wasn’t ready to make.

The bond ached with each step up the stairs. At the landing, her feet veered toward the guest suite without permission as though pulled by an invisible force. Each step felt both reluctant and inevitable, her body drawn to the male behind the door despite her hesitation.

Her hand hovered over the knob, fingers trembling in the space between approach or withdrawal.

The polished brass reflected a distorted image of her face—uncertain, torn.

She drew in a slow breath, the scent of pine and cedar from the hallway mingling with something else.

Something raw and broken that seeped from beneath the door.

Then she heard it. A muffled sob crept through the cracks of the door like smoke, curling around her lungs until she couldn’t breathe. Another followed, sharper—suppressed then released. It tore through her, resonating in the hollow beneath her ribs where their bond pulsed.

A vise tightened around her lungs, making each breath a struggle. The mating bond vibrated like a plucked wire, the frequency building until her teeth ached with it.

“Mate is hurting.” Elara surged from dormancy, clawing through layers of Lena’s restraint. The wolf’s consciousness flooded her system with foreign chemicals—anxiety that tasted of copper, longing that burned her sinews, protective fury that sharpened her vision at the edge.

“He needs us. He needs the bond.” Elara’s instincts coursed through Lena’s veins, sharpening her senses until Kai’s pain became almost tangible—tremors she could feel beneath her skin.

Her windpipe closed. Her vision swam, saltwater rising unbidden, scorching trails down her cheeks before she could blink them away.

Her other hand moved to her chest, pressing against the ache that had taken root there.

The door’s cool grain imprinted itself on her palm, each whorl and line telegraphing what lay beyond as every cell in her body thrummed with conflicting impulses.

Go to him.

Run from him.

Heal or be healed.

Elara howled—not with her voice but with her essence. The wolf’s anguish reverberated through Lena’s bones, a primal call that needed no words.

“Mate’s heart breaks,” she finally managed. The wolf paced restlessly within Lena’s consciousness, bristling at her hesitation. “Our bond frays. We are stronger together. Please.”

Tear tracks cooled on her cheeks. “And what happens if I go to him? When today’s comfort becomes tomorrow’s wound?”

Her forehead met the door. Cool wood. Thin barrier. Vast divide. “Some wounds need space to heal.”

Inside, Kai’s breathing hitched. Another sob, followed by the soft thud of something—a fist against a wall, perhaps, or knees hitting the floor.

The sound fractured something in Lena. Fighting against her reluctance, she pulled her hand away from the door, each muscle protesting. The bond stretched like a tendon torn from bone. It was a physical agony that stole her breath, made her vision dim at the edges.

Lena turned. Each step demanded more will than the last, floorboards creaking in soft betrayal.

Elara’s resistance faded, the wolf’s rage dissolving into a mournful acceptance. “He needs us,” her wolf acknowledged, the words landing like stones in still water. Then, softer still: “But we need ourselves first.”

Lena paused as she reached her own suite down the hall, hand resting on the doorknob. She glanced back, the shadowed corridor stretching between her and Kai. The phantom echo of his pain followed her still.

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she opened her door. “If I try to mend his heart while mine is breaking, neither of us will make it through,” she whispered, the words meant for herself alone.

With a deep, shuddering breath, Lena stepped inside her room.

The familiar scent of lavender and moonstone incense greeted her as she leaned against the door, sliding down until she sat on the floor, knees drawn to her chest. Her body trembled with quiet aftershocks.

Elara retreated to the quiet spaces between Lena’s heartbeats—a shadow with amber eyes watching, waiting.

The wolf’s grief tasted like iron on Lena’s tongue, but beneath it ran a current of resilience as steady as a forest stream.

Lena’s arms wrapped around her torso, holding fracturing pieces together. The bond pulsed—wounded but whole. In the waning sunlight that painted patterns across the floor, Lena made a silent promise: I won’t sacrifice myself to save him.