Chapter 6—Shattered Control

Donald’s POV

Pain struck slowly, sliding beneath my skin with every heartbeat until even breathing felt like a mistake. My chest tightened. My hands pressed against the wall to steady myself, but it did nothing to stop the ache that threaded through my bones.

She stood at the bottom of the staircase, one hand gripping the railing, her eyes wide and confused. Her lips parted slightly, and the sound of her voice reached me, trembling.

"Mr Smith... what's... happening to you?"

I didn't answer. I moved before I could stop myself. My wolf surged beneath the surface, pulling at me desperately. My body wanted her, demanded her, and needed to fix the bond, but I would not give in. My instincts drove me forward toward her and toward the warmth of her body.

She stepped back, pressing herself against the wall. I leaned closer, drawn without thinking, feeling the raw pull of the bond beneath my ribs. I lowered my head to her neck, catching a faint whiff of her scent and froze. Something about her didn’t fit. Her scent wasn't human. It was alive, sweet, and metallic.

"You're not human," I said, sounding low and steady. "What are you?"

Her lips trembled. "I... I'm... I'm Rebecca... I don't know. Please... please don't hurt me, Mr Smith."

I gripped her wrist tightly and curled my fingers around her small hand, holding her firmly against the wall. My wolf pulled harder, desperate for her touch, her warmth, and for the bond to settle. She flinched but did not pull away completely.

Then I felt her body stiffen against my grip and the pulse of her heart skipping wildly beneath my palm. Her breaths came fast and shallow, trembling violently as the seared bond's pain claimed her.

"What's... what's... happening to me?" She gasped with a trembling voice, fear flashing through her eyes. Her free hand pressed against the wall for support, fingers digging into the stone, and her knees weakened slightly.

I could feel the reaction against me, her body betraying her and responding in ways a human never should. Her pulse pounded under my palm, frantic, insistent, and the bond twisted inside me like a living thing, demanding acknowledgment.

"You shouldn't be reacting this way," I murmured, my wolf growling beneath the surface and pulling at me. "Humans aren't supposed to—this... this isn't supposed to happen."

I watched her heart race beneath my vision, each beat hammering in sync with me. My wolf's voice whispered, urging me and pleading. "Fix it. Take her. Accept it. Let it be."

I fought it. I could not. There was no how on earth I would.

"I... what are you?" I asked again, stepping closer and pinning her fully against the wall. The mark on her neck pulsed faintly, glowing with silver fire, and I could feel the bond screaming through me.

Her lips quivered. "I... I don't... I—"

She faltered, collapsing into the wall as her legs threatened to give out. Her eyes closed, hands shaking, and I realized she was on the edge of fainting. My hands tightened further. This shouldn’t be happening. She was human. She shouldn't feel the bond or react to my rejection. Yet here she was, collapsing beneath the pull I had denied.

I tightened my hold on her hand. "Stay with me," I breathed, my wolf itching me to give in, to let the bond claim her, to stop the pain and make this end.

She shivered, leaning slightly against me, fear and confusion etched into every line of her body. "Mr. Smith... please... what is happening?" Her voice now barely above a whisper.

I swallowed, my voice low and rough. "I... I rejected the bond... and it shouldn’t affect you. You... you're human. You shouldn’t..."

Her gaze moved up to my face. She looked fearful. "I... I feel... I don't understand... why... does it hurt?"

My wolf whimpered beneath my control desperately, every instinct screaming. I leaned closer, my forehead almost touching hers. Her scent filled me, and the heat of her scent and fear burned into me.

"Tell me... what are you?" I asked again, harsher now, gripping her wrist so tightly my fingers burned into her skin.

She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her legs wobbled. Her body trembled, and I realized the weight of my denial—the bond, the power between us, and the instinct of my wolf - was pushing her to her limits.

"I... I... she whispered, voice fading, and she swayed, nearly collapsing.

The world narrowed to her heartbeat and the pull of the bond, and I realized I could not stop the wave crashing over me. My wolf was raw and open, begging me to stop hurting her and accept the darn bond.

I took a step back, trying to ground myself. "Rowan!" I barked, my voice cutting through the hall. "Come here."

Rowan skidded to a halt, eyes wide. "Alpha! What's happening?"

"She's my mate," I said, voice tight. "And I rejected her. I didn't... I don't understand... she's not human... why is she...?"

"She's collapsing?" Rowan said, moving quickly between us. His hand reached for her, steadying her as she slumped almost entirely into him.

I backed up, hands gripping the railing, gold eyes flashing with disbelief and anger. "Where... where did you get her from? She isn’t human! She's reacting to my rejection!"

Rowan looked from her to me, confusing plain on his face. "Alpha... I don't understand either. She... she's human. She should not be..."

"She should not be like this!" I shouted. "She shouldn't feel any of this! Her heart, her body, it's screaming. What is she?"

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed fully, nearly hitting the floor. Rowan caught her just in time, holding her against him as I stumbled, fighting the surge in my chest. My wolf howled inside me, a soundless cry that rattled my bones and shook the hall.

"Alpha... calm down," Rowan said urgently. "We need to get her to a room, now."

I shook my head, voice rough. "No. I can't... I can't move away from her. I..."

Rowan's voice replied firmly. "You're losing control. Let me move her. You need to survive this. You can't let everything you've worked for go to waste. If we waste more time here, neither of you will make it."

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself back and never taking my eyes off her. Her pulse, frantic and alive, filled me. My wolf pressed against me insistent. I wanted to sink into it and take her so that the pain would stop, but I fought, teeth gritted.

Rowan slowly led her toward the upper corridors. "Alpha... we need to fix this bond. If we don’t, it will consume you. And she also. But first... let's leave this hall before the maids and servants see."

Rowan kept a steadying hand on my arm as we moved.

"Alpha..." Rowan said softly but firmly. "You need her. The goddess gave her to you. She may not be what you expected, but she is yours. You need to accept the bond, and you need to do it now."

"I... can't, and I won't," I whispered with a hoarse voice. My heart hammered, and my wolf screamed at my words.

"You can, and you must," Rowan said, not giving in. "You know what must be done. You wanted a bride for rent... and now you have a mate. This is your chance. You can't let it pass. The contract can still remain if that will make it better."

The hallways of my estate felt endless, the corridors echoing with every step, every heartbeat, and every tremor of energy between us. She whimpered softly, her fear palpable, and I knew the bond would not forgive me if I did not reverse the rejection.

I clenched my fists, staring at the ceiling, the walls, and anything in sight, trying to anchor myself. Rowan's voice cut through the chaos.

"You need to make a vow under the Moon. Accept the bond. You can not fight this."

As she slumped fully into Rowan's hold with her limp body, I was left reeling, suspended between fury, confusion, and the unbearable pull of something I could not ignore.