Boundaries of the heart

Dan's POV

I step through the foliage, my eyes locking onto Elena and her friends. They all wear expressions of shock, but I ignore their surprise and head straight for Elena who can barely keep her gaze above my waist. "I need to talk to you, alone," I say, my voice calm and steady.

Elena glances at her friends, curiosity and nervousness evident in her eyes. After a moment, she nods and tells them to wait for her. I watch as she follows me deeper into the woods, and my heart quickens with each step she takes beside me.

We reach a secluded spot, and I turn to face her. "I've been watching you for a while," I admit, wanting to be honest with her. "Do you know we've passed your territory?" I ask, testing the boundaries of her adventurous spirit.

She looks thoughtful for a moment before replying, "Why do territories matter so much?"

I chuckle softly. "Maintaining boundaries can prevent wars," I explain. "You remember what almost happened the last time I saw you with my pack, right?"

Elena nods, her gaze unwavering. "I'm not scared of you anymore," she says firmly.

I take a step closer, the tension between us palpable. Her scent, her presence, it all draws me in. I can tell that she finds me attractive, and I can't help but be drawn to her as well.

Just as I reach out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, a sudden impact knocks me to the ground. Talon!

I shake off the shock and launch myself at him, snarling. He dodges my bite and claws at my face, but I duck and swipe at his belly. He yelps and backs away, but I don’t give him a chance to recover. I pounce on him, pinning him to the ground. He struggles and snaps his jaws at me, but I hold him down with my weight and strength. I growl in triumph, feeling his heartbeat under my paws.

Elena growls, her voice filled with frustration. "Stop fighting!" she orders, and surprisingly, we both do as she says.

I have a few scratches, but Talon has more wounds on his face.

He spins around and glares at Elena. “Why were you fucking flirting with him? You are my fucking bride.” He jabs a finger at her then slams his fist on his chest, making a loud thud. I tense up, ready to intervene, but she stands her ground. She argues back, her defiance shining through.

"I would never be yours!" she spits at him, her words laced with determination.

Just then, Elena's friends rush towards us, pulling her away from the tense situation. Talon continues to shout profanities at her, and I can't help but taunt him. "She clearly doesn't want you," I say with a smirk.

He glares at me, warning me to stay away from Elena before turning to leave. Unable to resist, I shout back, "For someone I just beat, you sure have a lot of mouth on you!"

As Talon disappears into the woods, Elena's friends console her, and I can't help but feel a mix of emotions. I know that this is just the beginning of something complicated, but I can't deny the connection I feel with Elena, and I'm willing to face whatever comes our way.