Page 49 of Sun's Roar

Helena’s heart stuttered suddenly. The memory of Sol’s touch, Sol’s scent, and Sol’s voice washed over her unexpectedly.

“I’m going to use you—your beautiful, devastating fire—to burn him to the ground,” Victor continued, oblivious to her reaction. “I’ll march you right into that castle, and you’ll unleash your flames on their precious alpha.”

His followers murmured their approval, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

“And after Sol’s charred corpse lies at my feet, those wolves will have a choice,” Victor leaned in close, his breath hot on her cheek. “Accept me as their new alpha or join their former leader in death.”

The image Victor painted sickened her—Sol’s strong body lifeless, his green eyes forever closed, and his warm touch forever lost. Something fierce and primal rose in her chest, different from the fire. This wasn’t her power, this was something ancient. Something that roared at the very thought of Sol being harmed.

I love him.

The realization hit her with stunning clarity, washing over her like a tidal wave. It wasn’t just physical attraction or the brief intimacy they had shared. It was deeper and more fundamental—as though recognizing Sol inside her blood and awakening something that had been dormant inside her all along.

This is the mate bond.

“You’re very quiet,” Victor observed, eyeing her with suspicion.

Helena looked up at him, seeing him clearly now for what he was—not just a kidnapper or an arrogant businessman, but an existential threat to the man she loved. To the pack, she hadn’t realized she already considered hers.

“I’m just processing,” she replied carefully. “This is a lot.”

“You’ll have a little more time to adjust to the idea,” Victor waved dismissively.

Helena nodded slowly, fighting to keep her expression neutral while her thoughts raced. In the deepest part of her being, something shifted—a sensation like puzzle pieces clicking into place. The initial spark she’d felt with Sol had kindled into something unbreakable. Every fiber of her being now vibrated with the certainty that he was hers, and she was his.

I walked away from him,she thought with a pang of regret.I denied what he knew from the beginning.

Sol had recognized it instantly—the certainty of their bond, the inevitability of their connection. His wolf had known. And now, finally, her human heart had caught up.

Helena’s stomach knotted as Victor paced around the barn, his shoes clicking rhythmically against the wooden floorboards. She had been quietly trying to formulate an escape plan, mentally mapping the exits and tracking the men, when Victor suddenly slammed his fist against a wooden post.

“I’m tired of this waiting game,” he announced, his voice echoing through the barn. “Sol should have found us by now.”

Helena kept her expression neutral, but her heart leaped. Sol was looking for her. The knowledge warmed her from within,separate from her fire powers. The connection thrummed between them, invisible but undeniable.

Victor raked a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair, mussing it slightly. “The beloved Alpha Prince isn’t as clever as his reputation suggests.” His mouth twisted into a sneer. “Too self-absorbed to even track his own Luna properly.”

His followers laughed, a discordant chorus that sent chills through Helena’s body.

“Change of plans,” Victor declared, gesturing dramatically. “We’re not waiting for him to stumble upon us anymore. We’re taking the fight to him tonight.”

Helena’s breath hitched. The timeline was accelerating too quickly. She needed more time.

“But, Victor,” one of the men spoke up, “the castle’s defenses?—“

“Are nothing compared to the power we now possess,” Victor cut him off, pointing at Helena with an unsettling gleam in his eye.

Helena forced herself to remain still, though every instinct screamed at her to run. The fire inside her chest stirred, responding to her fear and anger.

Victor crouched before her chair, bringing his face uncomfortably close to hers. His cologne—expensive but applied too liberally—made her nostrils flare.

“You see, my dear Luna,” he said, the endearment dripping with mockery, “I’ve always preferred the direct approach. Why wait for Sol to come to us when we can surprise him in his own territory?”

His fingers reached out to trace along her jawline. Helena jerked back, her fire surging dangerously close to the surface.

“Don’t touch me,” she warned, her voice low.

Victor’s eyes widened momentarily before his lips curved into a delighted smile. “Oh, there’s that fire. Save it for Sol, won’t you?”

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