Chapter two: The Bond He Fights

I woke up with a start, heart racing before my eyes even opened. The thin ceremony dress still clung to my body, wrinkled and smelling of the night before. My back pressed against cool sheets on a massive bed that definitely wasn’t mine. The room felt too big, too quiet, and far too cold.

I looked around me and my heart hurt at the realization that I have a new home and a Mate who treats me like a distraction in his perfect life.The way the room looked refined and sophisticated shows it is Julian’s private wing.

The veil aura hummed low under my skin, a constant reminder of my new reality. I sat up slowly, rubbing my wrist where his grip had left faint marks. The bond ache already sat heavy in my chest, like something missing that shouldn’t be.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and froze.

The door opened without a knock.

Julian stepped inside, shirtless, sweat still glistening on his chest like he had just come from training or fighting or both. His dark hair was damp, jaw set hard. He looked like a divine god.The moment he entered, the veil aura flared brighter between us, golden threads shining visibly in the air. It tugged at my ribs, warm and insistent.

His scent hit me next. Pine and storm and pure male dominance. My wolf stirred instantly, eager and wanting to press closer and roll in that smell until it covered every inch of me.

I hated it.

Julian’s eyes locked on me, dark and furious. He didn’t speak at first. He just stared, chest rising and falling.

“Kneel,” he ordered, voice flat and cold.

I stayed seated on the bed, hands gripping the edge of the mattress. My pulse spiked, but I kept my face calm. “I’m not a dog, Alpha.”

His lips thinned. He took one step closer. The veil aura brightened again, sending a spark of heat racing down my spine. “You are whatever I say you are in this house. Kneel!!.” He Roared

The command carried power. Alpha power. It pressed against my shoulders, trying to force me down. My wolf whined inside me, torn between submission and disregard. I locked my jaw and stayed exactly where I was.

Julian crossed the room in two strides. He stopped right in front of me, close enough that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. The aura between us glowed so strong it cast soft light on the walls.

“I never wanted a mate,” he said in a low voice filled with anger. “The Goddess picked wrong. You’re a weakness I don’t need. But the bond won’t let me throw you away, so here we are.”

His words landed like ice water. The mate bond pulled tighter, sweet and painful, while his resentment pushed back just as hard. I felt the first real ache bloom in my chest when he stepped half a pace away. It wasn’t sharp yet, just a deep, hollow throb that made my breath catch.

My wolf didn’t like the distance. Neither did my body. Heat still lingered low in my belly from his nearness.

I lifted my chin and looked him straight in the eyes. “Then reject me and be done with it. Set us both free.”

He laughed once, short and bitter. “You think it’s that simple? The veil doesn’t just tie us. It shows everyone exactly how much I can’t let you go. Rejecting you would crack my wolf over time. I built this pack on strength. I won’t let a girl from a weak pack ruin that.”

“So I’m your prisoner instead?” My voice stayed quiet, but the words carried edge. “I was Dragged here in the middle of the night like some trophy you hate owning?”

Julian leaned down, bracing one hand on the bed beside my hip. The veil aura flared hot between us. His face a few inches from mine.His breath brushed my lips. My wolf stirred. “You’re mine to keep and Mine to control. Get used to it fast, little wolf.”

I didn’t flinch. Inside, my thoughts stayed guarded. His scent is everywhere, and my stupid wolf wants to roll in it. Pathetic.

Before I could answer, the door opened again. A younger man stepped in, maybe a year or two older than me. Tall, with soft steady hazel eyes and a quieter presence. He carried a tray with water and simple food.

“Alpha,” he said softly, voice calm and respectful. “I was told to bring breakfast for your… guest.”

Julian straightened instantly, shoulders tight. The veil aura dimmed slightly with the extra distance.

“This is Ethan Willow ,” Julian said without looking at me. “Son of my beta. He’ll be your guard while you’re here. Don’t get any ideas.”

Ethan set the tray on a side table. His eyes met mine for a brief second. Kind. Soft. No cold command, no resentment. Just a quiet steadiness that felt like the first real breath of air since last night.

“Selina, right?” he asked gently. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

The sound of my name in a kind voice made something tighten in my throat. I gave a small nod, careful not to show too much. “Thank you, Ethan.”

Julian’s head snapped toward me. The veil aura flared again, brighter and hotter than before. His hand shot out and slammed against the wall beside my head with a sharp crack. I jumped, but kept my eyes on his.

“You will never speak his name in my house again,” he growled, voice low and dangerous. Possessive fire burned in his stare. “Do you understand?”

The jealousy hit fast and raw. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t sweet. It was pure, ugly ownership mixed with something deeper he clearly hated feeling.

I held his gaze, heart hammering, the veil aura pulsing wildly between us. My wolf pushed forward, confused and drawn to the storm in his eyes.

Julian lingered there for one charged second, breath hot against my skin, then pushed off the wall and stormed out without another word. The door slammed behind him hard enough to rattle the frame.

The room felt colder the moment he left. The mate-bond ache bloomed wider in my chest, a sharp reminder of the distance.

Ethan stayed by the door, watching me with quiet concern, but he didn’t speak again right away.

I pressed a hand to my chest, breathing through the hollow pain. The bond already hurt when he walked away. And worse, some traitorous part of me already wanted him to come back.