CHAPTER 5

Ezekiel’s POV

My father’s words echoed in the room, the weight of them pressing down on my chest like an iron hand. For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him.“You heard me,” he said, his voice cold and unrelenting. His eyes bore into mine, daring me to challenge him. “Sever the bond. Now.”I looked over my shoulder at Kailey. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear, and her breathing shallow. The bond between us quivered, a fragile thread strained to its limit under the pressure of my father’s command. Her vulnerability struck me like a blow to the gut, but it only strengthened my resolve.“Father,” I said, my voice trembling as I fought to keep my anger in check, “you don’t understand what you’re asking.”“Oh, I understand perfectly,” he snapped, his words cutting through the air like a whip. “You’re the future Alpha of this pack, Ezekiel, and I won’t have you tied to an omega who will only bring us shame.”His words ignited a fire in my chest. My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to shift. “You talk about shame, but you have no idea what you’re saying. She’s my mate. This bond is sacred.”My father sneered, his lip curling in disgust. “Sacred?” he repeated mockingly. “The only thing sacred is the legacy of this pack, and I won’t let you ruin it with your foolishness.”“I’m not ruining anything,” I retorted, my voice rising. “The moon goddess herself chose her for me. Who are you to question her wisdom?”“She may have chosen her,” he said, taking a step closer, “but it doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Sometimes the goddess makes mistakes. You have a duty, Ezekiel, to rise above emotion and do what’s best for the pack.”I stepped in front of Kailey, shielding her from his oppressive presence. “And I say she is what’s best for me. For this pack. I’m the Alpha-to-be, not you. It’s my choice.”His laugh was bitter, sharp, and full of derision. “Your choice? Look at you. You’re so blinded by that bond you can’t see how weak she is. An omega, Ezekiel! Do you have any idea what that means for us? For you? She’ll be a burden. A liability. The other packs will eat you alive.”My heart pounded in my chest, my anger bubbling dangerously close to the surface. “I don’t care about their opinions,” I said through gritted teeth. “What matters is the bond, the strength of our connection. She’s worth more than you could ever understand.”Mark’s eyes narrowed, his expression twisting into something cold and menacing. “Worth more than this pack? Than the legacy your ancestors built with their blood and sacrifice? Don’t be naive, Ezekiel. She’s not worth any of it. She’s just another omega trying to claw her way to the top by dragging you down with her.”The venom in his words made my wolf stir angrily inside me, growling low in my mind. “You don’t know her,” I said, my voice thick with frustration. “You don’t know anything about her. She didn’t ask for this any more than I did.”“And yet, here she is,” he shot back, his eyes darting briefly to Kailey. “In your bed, marking you, tying herself to your future. Don’t tell me this wasn’t her plan all along.”Kailey let out a small, trembling gasp behind me, and my hands balled into fists again. “That’s enough!” I roared, my voice echoing in the room.Mark’s gaze darkened, and for a moment, the tension between us was suffocating. Then he stepped closer, his tone low and dangerous. “You think you can defy me, Ezekiel? You think this... disgrace is worth going against your father? Against everything I’ve taught you?”“She’s my mate,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “And that makes her worth everything.”For a moment, his expression wavered, as if he hadn’t expected my answer. But then his face hardened again, his eyes like stone.“You leave me no choice,” he said, his voice cold and final. “Sever the bond, or I will make her suffer for it.”His words froze the blood in my veins. My jaw tightened as I took a step forward, trying to mask the flicker of fear that had surfaced. “You wouldn’t.”“Try me,” he said, his tone deadly quiet.I could hear Kailey’s breathing quicken behind me, feel the tremor of the bond vibrating between us.“Ezekiel,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with fear. “Don’t...”I glanced back at her, my heart breaking at the sight of her wide, tear-filled eyes. “I won’t let him hurt you,” I said softly, my voice firm despite the crack in it.Mark’s laugh was sharp, bitter, and filled with disdain. “You think you have a choice? This isn’t about love, Ezekiel. It’s about duty. Sever the bond.”I turned back to him, my chest heaving with restrained fury. “What?” I said, my voice cracking under the weight of disbelief.His eyes burned with the authority of a lifetime as he repeated the words that made my stomach churn.“Sever the bond.”

*****The weight of my father’s command bore down on me like a crushing mountain. His words echoed in my head, louder than my own heartbeat. "Sever the bond."Kailey let out a choked sound behind me, and I turned to look at her, the pain and fear in her eyes cutting through me like a knife. Her trembling form, clutching the blanket around her shoulders, looked so small, so fragile. My wolf whimpered inside me, torn between rage at my father and the instinct to shield her from any harm.But my father’s voice, cold and commanding, broke through the turmoil in my mind.“You know what’s at stake, Ezekiel,” he said, his tone sharp as a blade. “The pack comes first. It always comes first. If you won’t do what’s necessary, I will.”“No!” I snarled, stepping between him and Kailey, my body tense as if ready to shift at a moment’s notice. “You will not touch her.”Mark raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. “And how do you intend to stop me? You’ve left me no other choice.”I knew he wasn’t bluffing. My father was not a man who made empty threats. He was relentless when it came to the pack, willing to destroy anyone who stood in his way. That included Kailey.“Ezekiel...” Kailey’s voice was soft and trembling, and when I looked back at her, tears streaked her cheeks. Her lips quivered as she spoke. “Don’t... please don’t.”Her plea shattered something inside me, and I had to close my eyes to hold back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I wanted to promise her that everything would be okay, that I would protect her no matter what. But deep down, I knew what my father was capable of.I could defy him, yes. I could fight him. But would that stop him from coming after Kailey when I wasn’t there? Could I keep her safe every second of every day? The thought of her in pain, hurt because of me, was unbearable.My father took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “Make your decision, Ezekiel. Right now. Either you sever the bond, or I’ll make sure she regrets ever stepping into your life.”The bond between Kailey and me vibrated with tension, the connection thrumming like a living thing inside me. It was warm, comforting, and terrifyingly fragile. My wolf howled in protest, pacing furiously in my mind, demanding I protect our mate at all costs.But logic warred with instinct.If I didn’t do this, she would suffer. My father would see to that.“Father, don’t do this,” I said, my voice breaking as I pleaded with him. “There has to be another way.”“There is no other way,” Mark snapped. “This isn’t about you, Ezekiel. It’s about the pack. If you can’t see that, then maybe you’re not ready to be Alpha after all.”His words struck a chord of fear and shame deep within me. I had spent my entire life preparing for this role, sacrificing everything to earn my place as Alpha. Now, it felt like he was dangling it over my head, threatening to take it away.I glanced at Kailey again, her tear-filled eyes pleading with me to stop, to fight for us. But I couldn’t.“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.Her eyes widened, confusion flickering across her face. “Ezekiel, no...”I turned back to my father, my jaw tightening as I squared my shoulders. “If I do this,” I said, my voice trembling with suppressed anger, “you leave her alone. You never come near her again. Swear it.”Mark’s expression shifted, his smirk returning as if he’d already won. “If you sever the bond, she will mean nothing to me. I have no reason to deal with her after that.”I didn’t trust him. Not fully. But at that moment, I had no other choice.“Ezekiel!” Kailey cried, her voice breaking as she struggled to get off the bed. “Don’t do this! You can’t—”I turned to her, my chest tight with anguish. “Kailey, I...” My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard, unable to find the right words. “I have to.”She shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. “No, you don’t! Please, Ezekiel, don’t let him win!”Her words stabbed at my heart, but I forced myself to look away.My wolf growled in protest as I reached deep inside myself, finding the bond that tethered me to her. It was vibrant and strong, glowing with a warmth that had become a part of me in such a short time. Breaking it felt like ripping out a piece of my own soul.Kailey let out a strangled sob, and I felt the bond tremble as I began to sever it. My wolf howled in agony, clawing at my mind, begging me to stop.“Ezekiel!” She screamed, her voice filled with pain. “Please! Don’t do this to us!”