THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN FLAME.

Talia's POV

Morning came quietly.

No alarms. No rush. Just soft light creeping through the tall windows and the distant sound of movement outside, footsteps, voices, life continuing without me.

For a long moment, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, wondering how this life had become my reality.

I wasn't supposed to be here.

I was supposed to be back home, waking up early, grinding herbs, checking on the old woman down the hill with the bad lungs, brewing tonics for feverish children.

That was my life. It was simple. I made an honest living.

Instead, I was in the den of wolves.

A knock came at the door, gentle and polite.

"Miss Talia?" Ingrid's voice followed. "Are you awake?"

I sat up. "Yes."

She entered with a soft smile, carrying folded clothes in her arms. Her presence was calming in a way I couldn't explain. Maybe because she didn't look at me like I was strange or dangerous or precious.

She just looked... kind.

"We'll go outside today," she said casually, setting the clothes on the bed. "It will help."

I frowned. "Help with what?"

She met my eyes. "With understanding who we are and how we live."

I didn't respond immediately.

The truth was, Ingrid and I had talked long into the night. I had ranted, complained, accused, and nearly cried. She had listened to everything without interrupting me once.

She told me stories about the pack. About Ramon.

"Ramon is the kindest and best wolf I've ever known," she had said softly. "Being an Alpha never made him proud. It only made him careful."

That sentence still rang in my head.

Careful.

I laughed bitterly when she said it.

"I have a life," I told her then. "I take care of sick people back home. People depend on me. So how does he expect me to throw all that away just because of what? Fate, a stupid bond?"

She didn't argue.

"I don't even know him," I continued. "You say he's not proud, but I've never met a more arrogant person in my life."

Ingrid had only smiled.

"Walk with me tomorrow," she said. "Then decide."

And now tomorrow is here.

I dressed quietly, my hands shaking just a little. The clothes Ingrid brought were simple,soft trousers and a loose top.

Nothing royal. Nothing ceremonial. That alone eased my nerves a bit.

When we stepped outside, the air was cool and fresh. The scent of pine and earth filled my lungs, grounding me.

Then I saw them.

The pack.

They were everywhere.

Men and women moving through the open grounds, some carrying baskets, some training, others talking in small groups. At first glance, they looked... ordinary. Like humans going about their day.

But then I felt it.

Their eyes on me.

They looked at me.

Like I wasn't supposed to be here.

Every step I took beside Ingrid felt heavier than the last. Whispers didn't follow me, but awareness did. A shift in wolf's posture. A pause in conversation. A glance held a second too long.

I swallowed.

"They know," I murmured.

Ingrid nodded calmly. "Of course they do."

"That I'm... his?"

"Yes."

My stomach tightened.

I hugged my arms around myself as we walked deeper into the pack grounds. Buildings surrounded us, stone and wood, strong and old. This place had history.

And I didn't belong.

A woman passed us, her gaze sharp and curious. A man bowed his head slightly when Ingrid greeted him. Another stared openly until Ingrid shot him a warning look.

"They're watching," I whispered.

"They always do," Ingrid replied. "It's not cruelty. It's instinct."

Instinct.

I hated that word.

A group of children ran past us, laughing loudly. One of them, a small girl with wild curls, stopped abruptly when she saw me.

She tilted her head. "You smell different."

I froze.

Ingrid crouched beside her. "That's not polite."

The child shrugged. "She smells warm."

I didn't know whether to laugh or panic.

The girl stepped closer and reached for my hand before I could react. Her grip was small and confident.

"Are you Alpha Ramon's mate?" she asked bluntly.

My heart nearly stopped.

"I..." I glanced at Ingrid, helpless.

Ingrid smiled gently. "That's not for you to worry about."

The girl nodded as if that satisfied her completely. "Okay." Then she grinned at me. "You're pretty."

And just like that, she ran off.

I stood there, stunned.

The children weren't afraid of me.

That... unsettled me more than hostility would have.

As we continued walking, I began to notice things.

No one shouted orders. No one bowed deeply or groveled. People greeted each other with respect. Warriors trained hard, but elders watched and corrected patiently.

Food was shared freely.

And then I saw him.

Not Ramon.

But his influence.

A young man stumbled during training, dropping his weapon. Instead of being mocked, another warrior helped him up and corrected his stance.

"Alpha says strength without discipline is useless," someone muttered nearby.

I stopped walking.

"What did he say?" I asked quietly.

Ingrid looked at me carefully. "Ramon."

I looked away.

I didn't want to see him differently. I didn't want my anger softened by small observations.

He stole my life, my feelings weren't going to change.

We passed a woman sitting on a bench, her leg wrapped in cloth. Ramon knelt beside her, speaking softly, his expression soft, not commanding.

I watched from afar.

He laughed quietly at something she said. Then he helped her stand.

My chest tightened painfully.

This wasn't the arrogant man I know .

This wasn't the man who told me I was bound to him.

And that scared me more than anything else.

As we moved on, someone stepped into our path.

She was beautiful. Tall. Dark-haired. Her smile was warm and welcoming.

"You must be Talia," she said.

I stiffened.

"Yes."

"I'm Selene," she replied. "I've been hoping to meet you."

Her voice was gentle.

"I know this must be difficult," she continued softly. "Being dragged into our world without choice."

Dragged.

That word wrapped itself around my heart.

"I'm sorry," I said, surprised by how honest my voice sounded.

She shook her head. "You don't need to apologize. I would've run too."

I blinked. "You would?"

She smiled sadly. "Ramon forgets that not everyone is born into strength."

Something about her felt... comforting.

Like an anchor.

As Ingrid excused herself briefly, Selene walked beside me.

"If you ever need someone to talk to," she said quietly, "someone who understands how heavy this place can feel, I'm here."

I nodded slowly.

For the first time since I arrived, I felt less alone.

But as she walked away, I noticed something strange.

She didn't bow to Ramon when she passed him.

And Ramon watched her leave with a look I couldn't read.

A chill ran down my spine.

As Ingrid returned, I exhaled shakily.

"They don't hate me," I said.

"No," Ingrid replied. "They fear change."

"And you?" I asked softly. "Do you fear me?"

She stopped walking and looked at me fully.

"No," she said. "I fear what will happen if you don't survive long enough to choose. Everyone is waiting"

That night, as I lay in bed again, one truth settled heavily in my chest.

This pack wasn't waiting to see if I belonged.

They were waiting to see if I would break.

And somewhere among them...

Not all eyes watching me wished me well.