Hailey’s heart raced as she clenched her chest, her face down, held captive by the excruciating pain she felt. Each pull felt heavier than the last, not just because of her restraints but because of the strange, powerful sensation pulsing through her entire being. It was as if something deep within her had awakened, latching onto the presence of the person in front of her—someone powerful. The sensation was overwhelming, making her feel lightheaded and disoriented.

As she was pulled further into the awareness of what was happening , she glanced up instinctively, her breath catching in her throat. Standing before her, commanding and effortlessly exuding strength, was Varian. His dark, intense gaze was fixed ahead, but there was something about his presence that stirred something in Hailey, something primal and undeniable.

Varian’s Beta, Theo, walked beside him. Both men were striking, their appearances a sharp contrast to the dense, wild forest around them. Varian, with his tall, muscular frame and rugged features, radiated authority, while Theo, leaner but no less formidable, moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior. They were stunning, captivating even, but it wasn’t their looks that made Hailey's heart race.

It was the bond.

In that moment, Hailey realized what she was feeling—the unmistakable pull of the mate bond. She was bonded to Alpha Varian. The shock of the realization made her knees weaken, but she fought to keep her composure. This was impossible. How could she, a girl who had spent years waiting and longing to find her mate, be bonded to the most feared Alpha in the region?

Varian, for his part, was equally unsettled. He had felt the bond snap into place the moment he had seen Hailey, though he hadn’t shown it. Years of being an Alpha had taught him to mask his emotions, especially when something so personal and unexpected had occurred. The bond between mates was sacred, unbreakable, and it was undeniable that the girl standing in front of him was his fated mate.

But it didn’t make sense. He had already been mated once before. His first mate had died years ago, a tragedy that had nearly destroyed him. The thought that the Goddess would bond him to someone else, especially someone as young and innocent-looking as Hailey, was almost too much to process.

His confusion festered beneath the surface, but he forced himself to remain composed. His pack couldn't see him rattled. Not now. Not ever.

Without a word, Varian gave a sharp nod to the guards walking beside Hailey. “Take her to the mansion,” he ordered, his voice steady, though the storm inside him was far from calm. He needed time to think, to understand what was happening. How could this girl be his second mate? And why would the Goddess pair her with him—a bloody, battle-hardened Alpha?

Hailey barely had time to react before she was ushered forward, but her legs gave out beneath her. The weight of the bond, the sheer force of it, was too much. Her body trembled as she collapsed, her vision darkening as her exhaustion overtook her. The guards quickly caught her, hauling her unconscious form towards the mansion as Varian and Theo watched.

Theo noticed the brief flicker of concern in Varian’s eyes, but he said nothing. The Alpha was clearly unsettled, and for good reason. The mate bond was a powerful thing, and to feel it so suddenly, after everything Varian had been through, was bound to be a shock.

“We’re going for a hike,” Varian muttered, more to himself than to Theo, before striding into the dense forest. He needed space, needed air, and most importantly, needed to clear his head.

Theo followed silently, understanding his Alpha's need for distance. Varian was not a man who handled unexpected emotional turmoil well, especially when it came to something as significant as the mate bond. As they ventured deeper into the woods, the only sound was the rustle of leaves and the crunch of twigs beneath their boots.

Varian’s mind raced, his thoughts a chaotic swirl. How could the Goddess have bonded him to Hailey? Why would she? It was said that the bond only happened once in a lifetime, yet here he was, feeling the unmistakable pull of a second mate. His chest tightened at the memory of his first mate—the love, the loss, the devastation that followed her death. He had never fully healed from that wound. How could he be bonded again?

And why her? Hailey had looked so small, so fragile, nothing like the kind of woman he imagined could survive in his brutal world. Varian had spent years as a warrior, leading his pack through bloodshed and war. His hands were stained with the lives he had taken, his heart hardened by loss. He was an Alpha—a ruthless, bloody one at that. He didn’t deserve someone as innocent-looking as Hailey.

He stopped abruptly, his fists clenched at his sides, his breathing heavy. “Why her, Theo? Why would the Goddess pair me with someone like that? I’m not the man I was before… I’m not someone who deserves a second chance at this.”

Theo stood a few steps behind, watching his Alpha carefully. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his tone thoughtful. “But maybe the Goddess sees something in you that you don’t. Maybe she thinks you deserve to heal, to have someone who can balance you out.”

Varian’s jaw tightened, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “Balance me? You think someone like her could handle someone like me?” His voice was sharp, tinged with frustration. “I’ve killed for this pack. I’ve fought, I’ve bled. I’m not the same man I was before.”

Theo gave a small shrug, though his eyes were serious. “Maybe that’s exactly why the Goddess paired you with her. To give you a chance at redemption, to pull you out of the darkness.”

Varian fell silent, his mind torn between the pull of the bond and the weight of his past. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, Hailey was his mate. The bond was already there, tugging at his soul, no matter how hard he tried to fight it.

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