Rosalie’s days seemed to slip by in a blur of emotions. Her connection with Alec grew stronger with each passing moment they spent together. He had a way of making her laugh, even when her worries weighed heavily on her. Alec was charming, confident, and, most surprisingly, vulnerable when he let his guard down. He wasn’t just the polished, young Alpha everyone saw at first glance—there were cracks beneath the surface that made him real.
But no matter how much Rosalie enjoyed Alec’s company, Kael was always close by, his overprotective nature turning into a near-constant interference.
“Dad, don’t you have, like, a pack to run?” Rosalie huffed one afternoon as Kael appeared yet again during her walk with Alec.
Kael crossed his arms, his expression unreadable but firm. “The pack is fine, thank you. My daughter, however, seems to be making… questionable choices.”
Rosalie rolled her eyes. “Talking to Alec is a questionable choice now? You’re being ridiculous!”
Alec stood silently beside her, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He clearly enjoyed watching Rosalie stand up to her father, though he was wise enough not to say anything to provoke Kael further.
Kael’s gaze flicked to Alec, narrowing slightly. “I just think certain Alphas should know better than to hang around my daughter so much.”
“Kael,” Bella’s voice interrupted as she approached, her tone firm but understanding. “Give her some space. She’s not a little girl anymore.”
Kael turned to Bella, his frustration evident. “I’m not trying to smother her. I’m trying to protect her.”
“And you’ve done a great job of that,” Bella said, placing a hand on his arm. “But you can’t protect her from everything. She’s figuring out who she is. Let her breathe, Kael.”
Reluctantly, Kael backed off, though his watchful eyes lingered on Alec longer than necessary.
Later that evening, as Rosalie and Alec sat near the edge of the forest, Alec broke the silence. “Your dad really doesn’t like me, huh?”
Rosalie snorted, picking at a blade of grass. “He doesn’t like anyone who gets too close to me. Don’t take it personally.”
Alec chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “I’ll try. But for the record, I think you’re worth the trouble.”
Rosalie felt her cheeks heat up, and she quickly looked away, hoping Alec wouldn’t notice. “So,” she said, trying to change the subject, “what’s it like being an Alpha?”
Alec’s expression shifted, the lightness in his eyes dimming slightly. “It’s… complicated,” he admitted. “Everyone expects you to be strong, to have all the answers. But sometimes, it feels like no matter what you do, it’s never enough.”
Rosalie glanced at him, surprised by his honesty. “I didn’t think you ever doubted yourself,” she said softly.
“I doubt myself all the time,” Alec said with a small smile. “But I can’t let anyone see that. Being an Alpha means carrying the weight of your pack on your shoulders, no matter how heavy it gets. That’s why I envy you.”
“Envy me?” Rosalie asked, frowning. “Why?”
“Because you’re not tied down by expectations,” Alec said. “You’re strong, smart, and… free in a way I’ll never be. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone.”
Rosalie hesitated, his words sinking in. “I’m not sure about that,” she murmured. “I feel like I’m always trying to prove something—to my dad, to the pack, to myself.”
Alec looked at her, his gaze steady. “You don’t have to prove anything to me, Rosalie. I see you for who you are. And who you are is incredible.”
Her heart fluttered at his words, and for a moment, she felt a warmth she couldn’t explain. But that warmth was fleeting, replaced by the cold shadow that had been haunting her dreams.
That night, as Rosalie lay in bed, the uneasy pull returned, tugging at her consciousness like a thread unraveling a tapestry. She closed her eyes, hoping for peace, but instead, the dream came again.
She stood in a vast, empty space, the ground beneath her feet cold and unyielding. The air was heavy with an oppressive darkness, and yet, there was a strange familiarity to it. She wasn’t alone.
“Who’s there?” she called, her voice echoing into the void.
From the shadows, a figure emerged, its form obscured as if it were part of the darkness itself. The figure moved slowly, deliberately, its presence both menacing and magnetic.
“Who are you?” Rosalie demanded, taking a step back.
The figure didn’t answer immediately. Instead, it stopped a few paces away, its face hidden in the shadows. When it spoke, its voice was deep and chilling, sending a shiver down her spine.
“You are mine, Rosalie,” it said, the words reverberating through her like a physical force.
Rosalie’s heart pounded, her instincts screaming at her to run, but her feet wouldn’t move. She felt trapped, held in place by the figure’s gaze, even though she couldn’t see its eyes.
“I don’t belong to anyone,” she managed to say, though her voice wavered.
The figure chuckled, the sound low and unsettling. “Oh, but you do,” it said. “You’ve always belonged to me. You just don’t know it yet.”
Before Rosalie could respond, the darkness surged forward, enveloping her completely. She woke with a gasp, her chest heaving as she sat upright in bed. The room was quiet, but the echo of the figure’s words lingered in her mind.
“You are mine.”