Chapter 5 – The Cold Arrangement

The Dead Don’t Lie

The scent of blood had already soaked into my walls.

The dead man was lying sprawling across my floor, his lifeless fingers curling around my shirt like he had fought to keep the piece of my cloth in his grip, even after death. His dead gaze remained locked on the ceiling, while his mouth was slightly opened, as if he had been caught mid-scream.

SHE BELONGS TO ME.

The words carved into his chest were still fresh, the cuts on him were deep and messy. It's clear that the message wasn't written in haste. It was a statement made with purpose,in other to send a message that would not be forgotten.

Kieran stood beside me, his arms crossed, unreadable as always. If the sight of another body in his estate disturbed him, he didn’t show it. He only watched, his expression was cool and calculating.

Caspian crouched beside the corpse, his fingers hovering over the man’s throat. "Human," he murmured. "Not a wolf. No scent of a pack."

Cian, who had been pacing like a caged animal, suddenly stilled. "Then why does he have Seraphina’s shirt?" His voice was sharp, accusing. "Why the hell is he in her room?"

I felt a weird tension creeping up my spine,but I brushed it off

"That’s what I’d like to know."

Kieran’s gaze quickly looked at me. "You didn’t hear anything?"

I met his eyes, refusing to look away. "Nothing."

He stayed quiet for a long time that I could almost see him thinking. Then he let out a sharp breath and turned to the guards standing by the door.

"Find out how he got in," he ordered. "And who let him in."

The guards nodded and disappeared down the hall.

Cian let out a bitter laugh. "That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?"

Kieran’s patience was thin. "Do you have a better plan, Cian?"

"Yeah," Cian snapped, gesturing toward the corpse. "How about we figure out who the hell keeps breaking into this place and leaving messages written in blood?"

Kieran’s jaw tightened, but it was Ronan who finally spoke.

"Check your arm," he said, his voice lower than the others'.

A shiver ran through me, and as I rolled up my sleeve to check my arm,my hands trembled.

The mark had spread.

The black lines that had once been thin, controlled symbols had branched out, curling along my wrist, creeping toward my elbow like veins of ink. The heat beneath my skin was worse now, pressing, like something trying to push through.

Caspian exhaled slowly. "It’s advancing faster than I expected."

I forced my voice to stay calm. "What does that mean?"

Ronan’s gaze darkened. "It means whoever’s marking you isn’t waiting anymore."

I swallowed, my throat dry. "They’re taking me."

Kieran’s expression turned lethal. "Not if I kill them first."

Bound in Blood

The estate went into full lockdown by morning.

Guards were posted at every entrance. Patrols doubled. The wolves were on edge, their movements tense, sharp.

And I was stuck inside, treated like a fragile thing that needed protection.

It didn’t sit right.

I wasn’t made for this. I wasn’t meant to be guarded.

But the mark on my arm? The way it burned when I let my mind wander too long? That was something I couldn’t fight.

Not yet.

Cian found me in the training hall, his hands wrapped in thick bandages. His frustration was written in every taut muscle, in the way his breath left his lips a little too fast.

"You look like you need to hit something," he said, rolling his shoulders.

I let out a breath. "I do."

He stepped into the ring. "Good. Hit me."

I lifted a brow. "Are you sure about that?"

Cian grinned. "I’m counting on it."

I didn’t hesitate.

The second my fist swung, Cian moved—quick, precise, but not quite fast enough. He blocked, but barely.

His grin widened. "Not bad."

I went for him again.

This time, he dodged and jabbed me in the ribs with his elbow. The blow landed on me and knocked the air out of me.

A voice cut through the air.

'You done flirting?'

Caspian stood at the edge of the ring, arms crossed, his face unreadable.

Cian stepped back, smirking. "I was giving her practice."

Caspian shot him a look. "Kieran wants you in his office. Now."

I swallowed the groan climbing up my throat. "For what?"

Caspian didn’t answer. But the look he gave me?

It wasn’t good.

A Deal with the Devil

Kieran sat at his desk,he kept tapping his fingers on the wood in front of him. His body was too still—too controlled. That kind of stillness never meant anything good. What that kind of stillness meant is that something dangerous was coming.

I crossed my arms. "If this is another lecture about me staying put, you can save it."

His gaze locked onto mine. "This isn’t about that." His voice was measured, controlled. "It’s about the bond."

I stilled. "What about it?"

Kieran leaned forward,his elbows were on the desk. "It’s forming faster than it should."

Ronan stood in the corner and he was watching. "That means one of two things," he said. "Either the wolf marking you is close—"

"Or they’re about to force the completion," Caspian finished.

My stomach twisted.

"They can’t do that," I said, with tight voice.

Kieran's expression didn’t change. " If we don’t stop them they can."

I sucked in a slow breath. "What’s your plan?"

Kieran’s eyes burned into mine. "We break the bond before it takes hold."

Ronan’s voice was steady. "Which means forcing another one in its place."

Everything in me stopped.

Cian turned sharply. "What the hell are you saying?"

Kieran exhaled. "I’m saying the only way to protect her—" His gaze didn’t waver. "as if one of us claims her first."

Silence slammed into the room.

I took a step back. "That’s not happening."

Kieran’s jaw clenched. "It might be the only way."

Caspian’s voice was dangerously quiet. "You think binding her to one of us is the answer?" His gaze flicked between them. "That’s exactly what they want."

Cian scoffed. "You think she’s some bargaining chip?"

Ronan didn’t speak.

I turned to Kieran, my pulse was roaring in my ears. "You think this is protection?" My voice was sharp. "Forcing a bond I never asked for?"

Kieran’s eyes darkened. "I think keeping you alive matters more."

I took a deep breath sharply, shaking my head. "No." I turned toward the door. "I’ll figure this out myself."

But before I could step through—

Pain.

A sharp, unbearable heat tore through my arm, sending me crashing to my knees.

Kieran was beside me instantly, his hands steadying me before I collapsed completely. "Seraphina."

My vision blurred.

The mark on my arm burned—black lines pulsing like living veins beneath my skin.

Ronan swore. "It’s happening now."

I clenched my jaw. "Fight it," I ground out. "Break it."

Kieran’s grip on my shoulders tightened. "We will." His voice was fierce. "I swear we will."

The last thing I saw before my body gave out was his eyes.It was dark and Unrelenting.

And for the first time—I wasn’t sure if I was fighting fate Or falling into it.