MEET ME AT THE BORDER

ALINA.

"You need to slow down, Alpha! She's still in her quarters!"

Miles's voice echoed down the corridor, as he shoved open the door to my room so hard the door. slammed against the wall.

I stood beside my wooden chest, holding a dark woolen cloak.

Declan filled the doorway. His black hair was wild, and his grey-blue eyes were burning with anger.

"Call off tonight's caravan," Declan ordered, "You move your departure back to Friday morning. Right now."

I did not bend. I reached into my dress pocket, pulled out the official annulment scroll, and laid it flat on the table between us.

"You are no longer my husband," I said, looking right into his eyes. "Nor the Alpha who gets to decide where I go."

Declan froze and stared at the paper, then looked up at my face, a sudden flash of panic crossing his features.

"Alina..." he breathed, taking a step toward me. "Miles just told me you were leaving at midnight. Why are you doing this? Why change the plan behind my back?"

"I am not doing anything behind your back," I said, my voice simple and calm. "My bags are packed"

"Why tonight?" he demanded, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "Is this because of Sabine? You see her in the hall for two days and you decide to throw away three years of our life?"

"Why wouldn't it be about Sabine?" I asked, my voice rising. "If you are set on taking a new Luna from Wycliff, why stand in my way? Why care if I leave three days early?"

"I never intended to marry Sabine!" Declan blurted out.

The words echoed in the room while my heart slammed against my ribs.

I waited for him to explain, to fix the tear between us, but he just stood there, his mouth pressed into a tight, hard line.

"Then why did you never tell me?" I pressed immediately, taking a step closer to him. "Why did you sit at dinner while Victor toasted to her? Why did you let the whole pack believe she was taking my place?"

Declan pulled his shoulders back. His jaw tightened, his arrogance rising right back up to shield his pride.

"Because I thought you would know," he said, looking at me as if I were being unreasonable.

A cold, dry laugh escaped my lips.

"You thought I would know?" I repeated, shaking my head. "I lived with you for three years, Declan. I shared your bed. I held you through full moons when your wolf was screaming in pain. I knew how you took your tea, how you ran your guards, and how you carried this pack."

"Then how could you think I would give you up for Sabine?" he snapped.

"Because you never said a single word to me!" I shouted, the pain finally bursting out of my chest. "I know you care for me in your own way. I know you will protect me. What I do not know... what I have never known... is whether you actually choose me!"

Declan went completely still.

"Answer me one question, Declan," I whispered, stepping right up to his chest. I could feel the heat radiating off him. "Are you asking me to stay because you want me, or merely because you hate losing control?"

So he said nothing. He stared down at me in silence.

"That is what I thought," I whispered, turning away.

"Alina, no," he growled.

He reached out and grabbed my wrist, his warm hand clamping around my skin. He pulled me hard against his chest, his mouth coming down onto mine before I could draw another breath.

It was not a gentle kiss. It was wild, desperate, and full of raw, chaotic heat. He kissed me like a man trying to claim what was slipping through his fingers, his hands tangling in my hair, pulling me tight against his solid frame.

My wolf cried out inside me.

For three years, his touch had been my comfort.

My hands betrayed my mind, reaching up to clutch his broad shoulders, pulling him closer as I kissed him back with equal, fierce devotion.

It felt like he was resurrecting me just after dying by his hands.

It was devastatingly beautiful as he stole my breath away. Over and over.

He lifted me easily, taking three steps to the bed and laid me down on the mattress, his heavy body coming down over mine.

"You are mine, Alina," he growled against my neck, his lips tracing a burning trail down my skin. "You have always been mine."

"Declan..." I gasped, my fingers digging into the material of his coat.

I let him touch me, hold me, consume me, promising to pick up the pieces afterwards.

We lost ourselves in the dark, caught in a storm of emotion overwhelming our senses.

I closed my eyes, a tear slipping down my eyes as he went deeper. Went back out and found a rhythm that overode my senses.

“Fuck baby” he groaned.

I could feel it then, the bitter sweet taste and the pleasure filling my whole body.

It was over as soon as it started. 30 minutes of blissful happiness.

I heaved a sigh, my mind a blank space as Declan lay beside me, his long arm wrapped tightly around my waist.

He pulled me close against his warm chest, breathing a soft sigh into my hair. He genuinely believed the touch of our bodies had fixed everything, that the fight was over.

I lay there in the dark, looking at the far wall. My skin was warm, but my heart felt like stone.

Slowly, I lifted his heavy arm off my waist and set it down on the bed.

I sat up but did not look back at him.

I stood up, walked over to my chair, and began putting my clothes back on—my shirt, my trousers, and my boots.

Declan stirred behind me, sitting up on his elbows. Confusion filled his grey-blue eyes as he watched me pull my hair into a tight braid.

"Alina?" he asked, his voice rough. "What are you doing?"

"I am dressing," I said softly, pulling my boots tight. "I told you I was leaving."

"Alina, after what we just—" He started to get out of bed, shock washing over his face.

Before his feet hit the floor, a sharp horn blast cut through the night air.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

The border alarm.

Declan froze and the Alpha inside him took over instantly. He stood up, grabbing his pants and armor from the chair in one fast motion.

"The southern border," Declan said, strapping his knife into his waist. He looked across the room at me, his eyes torn between his duty and me.

He marched to the doorway, stopping right beside me. He reached out, his thumb brushing my cheek, his gaze fierce and desperate.

"Wait for me," Declan pleaded softly. "Wait in this room. I will be back before dawn, and we will finish this."

I looked into his eyes, but I gave him no promise.

I gave no nod and said nothing at all.

"Wait for me, Alina!" he repeated, harder this time, before turning and sprinting down the corridor.

I stood alone in the room for a long moment.

Then I picked up my traveling bag.

I walked to the table beside the bed and picked up the box containing our ceremonial vows. Beside it, I laid a small piece of paper with a final note written:

One final condition remains unfulfilled. Meet me at the border.

I did not look back. I turned on my heel, slipped out the side doors of the pack house, and walked into the cold night air.

Down near the rear gate, the medical caravan was waiting. Meave was standing near the lead wagon, looking pale and stressed under the dim lantern light.

"Lady Alina," she said quietly, stepping forward. "Are you sure about this? The Alpha—"

"The Alpha is at the southern border," I said, my voice steady. "And my driver is ready."

She looked at my face, then at the small bag in my hand and let out a long, heavy sigh, stepping aside, and opening the gate. "May the Goddess keep you safe, Alina."

"Thank you, Meave," I whispered.

I climbed into the back of the covered wagon, pulling my cloak around myself. The driver cracked the reins, and the l wooden wheels began to roll, taking me out toward the Northern Wastes.

***

At the southern border, Declan fought like a wild beast as his blade cut through three Rogue wolves in seconds, his wolf aura flaring with violent power.

"Alpha!" Miles rode up beside him as the last attackers fled into the trees. "It was just a small raid party! They are pulling back!"

Declan didn't wait to check the perimeter. A terrible, suffocating dread was squeezing his chest. He turned his horse around and kicked it into a full gallop, racing back toward the castle through the pouring rain.

He slammed open the doors of the room just as the first gray light of dawn broke over the mountains.

"Alina!" he shouted, rushing into the bedroom.

The room was completely empty and the bed was cold.

Declan walked slowly to the side table. His eyes caught the box, and the small note resting beside it.

He picked up the paper, his hand trembling as he read her words:

One final condition remains unfulfilled. Meet me at the border.

Declan froze. His grey-blue eyes went wide with pure horror. The note fell from his fingers, fluttering to the floor.

"Alina!" he roared, a sound of agony that echoed through the entire house.