The Elusive Bond

The Scent of Return

The familiar stone walls of the Little Palace came into view as Amira made her way through the grounds, the cool Ravkan air brushing softly against her skin. She breathed deeply, taking in the surroundings she had left behind just days ago. But there was something different in the air now—something that made her pulse quicken.

Aleksander's scent.

It was faint at first, barely noticeable over the earthy scents of the palace grounds and the distant woods. But as she drew closer, it became unmistakable, wrapping around her like an invisible tether. Her wolf stirred within her, pacing restlessly in the back of her mind, its senses heightened by the Alpha's presence.

"He knows we're back," her wolf murmured, a low growl rumbling in her thoughts.

Amira's heart raced as she made her way inside the palace, slipping through the halls with a practiced ease. Despite everything, despite the game they had played for so long, the scent of Aleksander still had a way of unsettling her, making her feel like a cornered prey—even though she had never truly been caught.

Not yet.

Her wolf paced again, urging her forward, but Amira pushed it aside. She had more pressing matters to attend to. She was a Second Army soldier, a Tidemaker by reputation, though the truth of her powers was known only to a select few. The dual summoning abilities she had kept hidden for so long were part of the secret she carried, one she couldn't afford to reveal. Not yet.

She headed for her room, her mind racing with the events of the past few days. The ceremony, the celebration with her family, and the moment she had watched her twin sister, Sierra, find her mate in Nicolas. The joy of seeing her sister happy was undeniable, but it had left Amira feeling strangely... adrift. As if something was missing.

Her wolf growled softly again, pacing in her mind, but Amira shook her head, pushing open the door to her room.

Meanwhile, Aleksander's Senses Stir

Aleksander had been making his rounds through the palace, his mind focused on the responsibilities of his position. But just as he passed by one of the open courtyards, something caught his attention—something familiar.

Her scent.

It was faint at first, but it hit him like a wave, flooding his senses and causing his wolf to stir immediately. He paused, his eyes narrowing as the realization settled over him.

Amira was back.

His wolf growled softly in the back of his mind, eager, restless, as it had been since the moment she had left. But now, her scent lingered in the air, pulling at something deep within him.

"She's ours," the wolf murmured again, low and possessive.

Aleksander clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain calm, even as his instincts screamed at him to find her, to end the chase that had gone on for so long. But he knew better than to rush this. Amira had been playing this game for years, always keeping just out of reach. And though he was ready to claim what was his, he also knew the time had to be right.

He inhaled deeply, letting her scent fill his lungs. She was close. Somewhere within the palace, she had returned to her room, back from her time with her pack.

The thought of her being among them, with the wolves she had never fully left, made his wolf bristle. She had never pledged loyalty to him, never truly given herself to the Little Palace. But now, with the growing knowledge of her powers, of her significance, Aleksander knew that the time was approaching when she would no longer be able to hide.