### Chapter 11: Caught in the Wild đșđ„đ
**Lia's POV**
I stand behind this stranger, my heart slamming against my ribs, my hands shaking as I watch him and Eric stare at each other like they're ready to rip throats.
Eric steps forward, his blue eyes burning with rage, his voice a low growl. "Hand her over, Dean. She's ours."
I'm terrified, my breath hitching, and I press closer to Dean's back, his warmth the only thing keeping me from bolting. "Don't," I whisper, my voice trembling.
Dean glances at me, his dark eyes steady, calm, then back at Eric. He chuckles, the sound low and mocking. "She doesn't want to go with you, Eric. You think you can just drag her back?"
Eric growls, his fists clenching. "She's our mate," he snaps. "You don't get to decide."
Dean's smirk widens, his voice cool. "Mate? Looks like she's running from you. Maybe she's tired of your games."
Eric lunges, his punch fast and brutal, aiming for Dean's face. "You're dead, Dean!" he snarls.
Dean dodges, swift as a shadow, and slams his fist into Eric's stomach, making him double over with a growl. "Still slow, huh?" Dean taunts.
Eric roars, tackling Dean, shoving him to the ground, dirt flying as they grapple. "You'll regret this!" he spits, his voice raw.
I watch, frozen, my heart racing, my hands clenched as they fight, growls echoing through the trees.
Dean rolls, pinning Eric for a moment, his smirk sharp. "Missed that strength of yours," he says, his voice teasing but edged with danger. "Thought you'd gotten better by now."
Eric breaks free, shoving Dean against a tree, the bark cracking. "You think you can take her from us?" he growls. "She's ours, Dean. Always will be."
Dean laughs, grabbing Eric's arm and twisting, sending him crashing into a stone wall with a thud. "Yours?" he says, his voice low, mocking. "She was running from you. Doesn't sound like she's yours."
Dean stalks over, lifting Eric by the collar, his voice deadly. "All these years, and you still can't beat me, Eric. Give it up."
Eric's face twists with fury, his eyes flashing yellow. "You don't know what you're messing with," he snarls. "She's not worth it."
Dean drops him, Eric crumpling to the ground, his breath ragged. "That's for her to decide," Dean says, his voice firm.
He turns to me, his eyes softening, and steps closer, his presence like a storm I can't escape. "You okay?" he asks, his voice gentle.
I nod, my throat tight, my voice barely a whisper. "Yeah⊠I think so."
"Come with me," he says, taking my hand, his grip warm, steady. "I'll take you somewhere safe."
I glance back at Eric, kneeling in the dirt, his eyes burning with rage. "You'll regret this, Dean!" he shouts. "She's ours!"
Dean doesn't flinch, his hand tightening on mine. "Keep dreaming, Eric," he calls back, his voice cool. "She's done with you."
I follow him, my legs shaky, the mate bond screaming in my chest, pulling me back to Eric even as I run. I hate this, hate them, hate the way my heart betrays me.
We trek through the woods, the trees swallowing us, the air thick with pine and the echo of Eric's growls.
Dean leads me to a small house, hidden deep in the forest, its wooden walls rough but solid.
He sits me on a bed, the mattress creaking, and kneels in front of me, his dark eyes searching mine. "You holding up?" he asks, his voice soft.
I force a smile, my heart still racing. "Thanks for saving me," I say, my voice shaky. "But⊠why do you live out here? Are you a lone wolf?"
He laughs, a warm sound that feels wrong in this nightmare. "No, I've got a pack," he says. "I just like the quiet sometimes. Keeps me grounded."
I nod, my hands twisting in my lap. "You and Eric⊠you know each other," I say, my voice low. "What's the deal?"
Dean's eyes darken, his jaw tightening. "Old history," he says. "Not worth digging up. Let's just say we don't play nice."
I swallow, the mate bond humming, stronger now, and it's not just Eric, Dorian, and Rickâit's him, too, and it scares me. "Why'd you help me?" I ask, my voice trembling. "You don't even know me."
He tilts his head, his eyes locking on mine, intense, like he sees right through me. "I know enough," he says. "I saw you running. I know what it's like to need to escape."
I look away, my heart pounding, the bond flaring hot, pulling me to him. "You don't know what they've done," I whisper. "They⊠they killed my parents."
His face softens, his voice low. "I'm sorry," he says. "But you're not alone anymore. You don't need to be scared."
He lifts his hand, his fingers brushing my cheek, warm and rough, and my breath catches, the bond burning so hot I can't think.
"I'll always protect you, mate," he says, his voice soft but firm, his eyes locked on mine like a vow.
My world stops, the word *mate* hitting like a blade, slicing through me, tearing everything apart. đ„âš