The rogue's claws flashed in the dim light, a blur of teeth and fury.
Mia's body locked. She couldn't move or breathe. All she saw was death racing toward her.
Then—
"NO!"
Leon's roar ripped through the clearing like thunder. He moved faster than her eyes could track, his body slamming between her and the rogue. For one terrifying second, all she saw was his back, broad and trembling with fury, before the sound of impact cracked through the air.
The rogue collided with him, snarling, claws scraping across his arm. Leon didn't flinch. His body twisted, his hand shooting out and claws now fully unsheathed, gleaming wicked in the half-light. He slashed across the rogue's chest, sending it flying backward with a strangled cry.
The scent of blood filled the clearing—thick, coppery, and sharp.
Mia staggered back against a tree, clutching at the bark with trembling hands. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt, her vision swimming. She had never seen anything like this. Leon wasn't just a boy as he seems —he was something else entirely. Something terrifying yet amazing .
Rachel's voice cut through the night, shrill and panicked. "Leon, stop! You don't understand—"
But Leon wasn't listening. His eyes blazed gold, his fangs bared, his chest heaving with the rhythm of his Xavier fighting for dominance. He turned on the second rogue, who had been circling like a predator waiting for its chance.
That chance was gone.
Leon launched forward with a speed that blurred his outline. The rogue barely had time to raise its arms before Leon slammed into it, ripping claws across flesh, a growl deep and guttural vibrating the air. The rogue screamed, the sound torn and animalistic, but Leon was relentless, driving it back across the clearing.
Rachel flinched, her confidence faltering. This wasn't what she had expected. She had wanted Mia broken, humiliated—not standing behind Leon, the Lycan Prince while he tore rogues apart to protect her.
Mia pressed a hand over her mouth to stop the cry that wanted to escape. Her mind screamed at her to run, but her body stayed rooted to the ground. She couldn't leave him. Not like this.
The rogue Leon had first struck staggered back to its feet, blood dripping from its chest. Its eyes glowed with savage hunger, foam dripping from its mouth. With a snarl, it lunged again—not at Leon this time, but at Mia.
She barely had time to scream.
Leon turned. The bond pulled him before thought did. He spun, his arm snapping out to grab the rogue mid-air. His claws sank deep into its throat, cutting the scream short. Blood sprayed, hot against his skin, but his golden eyes never left Mia's. For a moment, she thought she saw pain in them—pain and need tangled together.
Then he shoved the rogue to the ground, finishing it with a brutal twist of his claws.
The clearing went quiet, save for the sound of Leon's heavy breathing.
Rachel's voice trembled. "Leon… you don't understand, she's—"
"Shut up."
The words were guttural and animal. His voice wasn't entirely his anymore. He turned his head toward Rachel, his fangs bared. For the first time, Rachel stumbled back, fear flashing across her perfect face.
Leon's shoulders heaved as he struggled for control. His claws were still extended, his body trembling with the force of his half-shift. The wolf inside him howled for dominance, for blood, for her—always for her.
Mia.
His gaze snapped back to her.
She froze, every muscle locking. His golden eyes glowed brighter in the darkness, locking on her like a predator finding its prey. But beneath the fury and the power, she felt it again—the pull, the word he had once spoken that haunted her even now.
Mine.
Her chest tightened painfully. "Leon…"
The sound of his name on her lips sent a shudder through him. He staggered, his hand pressing to his chest as though to cage the beast inside. "Stay… away…" His voice cracked, sounding more like plea than command.
But Mia couldn't move. She should have run. She knew she should have. Yet her legs refused to obey. Her heart ached too much to let her turn her back on him.
Rachel finally found her voice again, though it shook. "Leon, she's nothing! Look at her—she's weak, she's human. This bond is wrong. You know it is!"
Leon's head snapped toward her, his growl low and warning. Rachel faltered, her words drying up.
Mia heard it all. Weak. Human. Wrong.
Her throat tightened. Rachel was right. She is a curse tied around Leon's neck, dragging him down into madness?
Leon's knees buckled suddenly. He dropped to the ground, his claws digging into the dirt. His breath came harsh. He was ragged, and his wolf was clawing inside him. He had pushed too far—fought too hard. The rogues' blood was on his hands, but the greater battle was inside his chest.
Mia's eyes widened. "Leon!"
She darted forward before she could think, kneeling beside him. His skin was hot, burning like fire, his body trembling with the force of his wolf trying to break free.
"Don't—" His hand shot out, gripping her wrist. His claws grazed her skin, not cutting but holding. His golden eyes bore into hers, filled with torment. "Don't… touch me."
But she didn't pull away.
"I can't just watch you tear yourself apart," she whispered, tears burning her eyes.
His grip tightened, his chest heaving. For a heartbeat, the entire world seemed to still.
Rachel screamed, her voice raw. "Get away from him!"
But Mia didn't move.
The bond pulsed between them, a living thing, hot and undeniable. Leon's wolf surged toward her, drawn and desperate. His lips parted, a growl rumbling low in his throat as he leaned closer—so close she could feel his breath against her cheek and smell the wild heat of him.
Her pulse raced. Her heart screamed at her to move, but her body betrayed her, leaning closer instead.
"Mia…" His voice was ragged, broken. "You don't… understand…"
She shook her head, whispering, "Then make me understand."
For a split second, his control shattered. His lips brushed hers. It was as light as a spark, dangerous as fire. The bond exploded inside them, white-hot and consuming. Mia gasped, her whole body trembling.
And then—
Leon jerked back violently, as though burned. His claws ripped into the dirt, his body convulsing with the force of his rejection. "No! I can't—"
He collapsed onto his side, his chest heaving, his skin pale beneath the sweat. His eyes flickered between gold and human, trapped between two worlds.
Mia reached for him, panic flooding her chest. "Leon!"
But before she could touch him again, Rachel's hand seized her arm, yanking her back.
"You stupid, pathetic girl," Rachel hissed, her face twisted with rage. "Don't you see? You're killing him!"
Mia struggled, trying to break free, but Rachel's grip was iron. "Let me go!"
Rachel's eyes burned with fury and something darker—fear. "If you care about him at all, you'll disappear. Do you hear me? Walk away and never come back. Because if you stay—" She leaned close, her whisper like a knife. "You'll be the death of him."
Mia's heart pounded, torn between Rachel's words and the sight of Leon writhing in the dirt, fighting demons she couldn't see.
As Mia hesitates, a low growl echoes from the trees. More shadows emerge from the woods—three more rogues, drawn by the scent of blood. Leon lies half-conscious, Rachel grips her like a vise, and Mia realizes she may have to choose: save herself… or risk everything to save him.