Betrayed By One. Bound To Three-Chapter 92: Defiance.

Selena.

The cave was quiet later that evening, though the firelight flickered against the stone walls, casting uneven shadows along the rough surfaces. Kael, Edris, and Ronan were sitting close together, their heads inclined toward each other as if they had never left one another.

They spoke in low murmurs, plotting or teasing, but I could not tell. It did not matter. I had grown used to being on the outside.

I stayed on the edge of the cavern, letting them have their closeness, their easy camaraderie, pretending it did not sting.

Pretending that the hollow ache in my chest was something I could ignore. My hands pressed against my knees as I crouched slightly, my wolf Lyra shifting beneath my skin. I could feel her restlessness, the tension that mirrored my own.

I had tried to be strong all day. I had told myself it did not matter that they left me behind. That the bond had stretched and frayed. That this distance, no matter how deliberate it felt, was temporary.

But it was not.

I wanted to test them. To see if their coldness was real, if they would finally break, even a little, if I pushed.

"I think... I want to leave," I said, my voice carrying across the cavern more steadily than I felt.

They looked at me, a slow, measured glance. Kael raised a brow, Edris shifted slightly, and Ronan’s expression remained neutral, unreadable.

"Leave?" Kael said, the word casual, almost amused.

"Yes," I said. "I... I need to go back home."

They exchanged glances, quiet, deliberate. Then Edris leaned back and said, "If you’re tired, go back inside the cave and sleep."

I pressed my lips together, forcing my face to remain neutral, though my heart hammered in my chest. "I am going back inside," I said softly, "but I’m going home."

Kael’s mouth twitched as if he wanted to say something. "Home? That’s... far," he said slowly. "You sure about this?"

"Yes," I repeated, feeling my throat tighten. "I need to. I... I can’t stay where I feel unwanted."

The air shifted. I caught the subtle glance between the three of them, a brief tightening of shoulders, a flicker of something unspoken.

Edris’s voice broke the silence. "Go, then. If that’s what you want."

Surprise struck me in the chest, sharp and unexpected, but I did not let it show. I straightened my back, squared my shoulders, and walked toward the mouth of the cave.

My throat tightened. I could feel the weight of their eyes, though they said nothing. Was this indifference... or relief

I wanted them to chase me, to grab my hand, to tell me I belonged. But the silence answered with nothing.

My steps were steady, deliberate, a mix of defiance and relief. My wolf Lyra stirred beneath my skin, anxious, whispering for me to turn back.

"I cannot stay," I said quietly, answering her unspoken question. "Not where I feel unwanted."

The forest greeted me with the scent of damp leaves and moss, the soft rustle of branches under a gentle breeze.

I had barely gone a few steps when movement caught my eye, shadows twisting at the edge of the clearing. Low, mocking laughter drifted to me, carried by the wind.

Rogues.

They were a small group, rough-looking, their faces twisted in smirks. One stepped forward, advancing slowly, circling me as if assessing whether I was prey or amusement.

My hands shook slightly as they circled me, their words tasting like iron on my tongue. Lyra stirred, restless, impatient, but I held back. I had to see if I could stand alone.

"Lost your pack, little wolf?" one sneered.

"I can handle myself," I said, voice firm, though my pulse quickened.

Another rogue laughed, a low, cruel sound. "Can you, really?" he asked, reaching out with a rough hand. "Or are you just running away from your little friends?"

"Back off," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.

"Oh, we’re just playing," another said. "Don’t tell me you’re scared already."

My stomach twisted. I could feel Lyra stir beneath my skin, her growl low and steady. I shifted instinctively, dodging the rogue’s hand, striking back with claws that I didn’t know could cut this sharp. The rogue yelped as I struck, surprised by the force.

"Not bad for a little wolf," one hissed, wiping at a scratch across his arm. "Might be fun after all."

The fight was quick, brutal, exhilarating. Each strike, each dodge, made me realize the depth of Lyra’s strength, our bond. A scratch here, a cut there, but I was alive, and I was thriving in a way I never had before.

Every strike sent a jolt through me, every dodge made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t since... before. Lyra’s power thrummed under my skin, alive, fierce.

I felt a surge of power, and yet... why did it feel like something was missing? Why didn’t anyone cheer me on?

By the time the last rogue scrambled back into the shadows, I was panting, exhilarated. Blood ran in thin lines along my arms and shoulders, but my chest swelled with pride. I could survive. I could fight.

I did not need them—not Kael, not Edris, not Ronan.

But the thought barely had time to settle before I froze.

Movement in the trees. Shadows darker, heavier. The laughter was gone. This was different. Larger. More organized.

Rogues again. A bigger group, their eyes hard and vicious, their posture predatory.

I could hear them circling, leaves crunching underfoot, the shadows twisting like claws. My wolf’s growl rumbled deep in my chest, but my stomach knotted tighter."

My pulse jumped. Fear slithered through me, curling in my stomach. I had just fought once, and now there were more. Bigger, stronger, organized.

"Lyra..." I whispered, voice shaking. "I... I don’t know if I can do this."

Her growl vibrated through me, urging, insistent, reminding me of the power I had. I closed my eyes briefly, drawing strength from her presence.

The first rogue in this new group stepped forward, grin cruel, claws flashing.

"Little wolf thinks she’s strong... let’s see how far she can go," said one of the rogues.

I could see the others shifting, ready to attack, surrounding me like shadows coming alive.

My hands trembled, my legs tensed. I swallowed hard. "I... I can’t back down," I said, though my voice wavered. "I... I won’t."

Lyra pressed against me, strong and insistent.

I flexed my claws, heart pounding. Every instinct screamed to fight... and yet, doubt clawed at me. Was I ready for this? Could I survive what was coming?"

I had faced fear before. But never like this. Never with so many, and never knowing if I could win.

If only they were here... if only they cared. But this was my battle. Alone.

Just then, the group lunged towards me.