Bound by Desire

Jason’s weight pressed heavily against me as Calla and I dragged him through the forest, our steps uneven, our breaths ragged. His blood soaked into my clothes, warm and sticky, the scent of it thick in the air.He wasn’t speaking anymore.“Stay with me,” I muttered, barely hearing my own voice over the pounding of my pulse. “Just a little further.”Jason’s only response was a weak groan.We stumbled into the clearing that led to our pack’s village, the dim lights from the cabins glowing like fireflies in the darkness. Relief surged through me.We made it.Calla let out a sharp howl—a call for help, a demand that someone do something.A few figures emerged from the cabins, their expressions ranging from concern to wary disinterest.“Move,” I snapped at them, my patience gone.The sight of their indifferent stares, the way they had left Jason to die in that clearing, still burned in my mind. But I had no time to dwell on it now.My father appeared from the main lodge, his sharp gaze sw

The night air was thick with tension as I stepped onto Damien’s territory. The moment my foot crossed the invisible threshold, I knew I was being watched.I kept my steps steady, my breathing even, even though my instincts screamed at me to be on guard. This was no longer my land. I didn’t belong here, and every shadow, every whisper of wind through the trees, reminded me of that.Before I reached the massive iron gates, two figures stepped forward from the darkness. They moved with the silent grace of predators, their eyes sharp and assessing as they blocked my path.“Stop,” one of them commanded. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with short-cropped dark hair and an expression carved from stone. His companion, leaner but no less dangerous, flanked him, fingers twitching near the hilt of a blade strapped to his thigh.“Lyra Callahan.” The taller one said my name like he already knew exactly who I was and why I was here. “You left. Now you’re back. Why?”I squared my shoulders. “Damien is

The deeper I followed Damien into the estate, the more the air seemed to change. Gone was the polished elegance of the upper floors. Down here, the walls were rough stone, the ceilings lower, and the light dimmer—only torches lit our path, casting warped shadows that crawled across the floor like living things. Damien said nothing as we walked, I stayed close, not because I trusted him, but because I didn’t trust whatever else lurked in the dark corners of this place. Finally, he stopped before a set of tall, iron doors that looked older than the estate itself—etched with deep runes and sealed with heavy locks. I felt the magic pulsing off them before I even got close. He placed a hand on the metal, and the doors opened. The chamber beyond was vast, circular, and underground. The stone walls curved upward into a vaulted ceiling where thin chains hung, some tipped with hooks, others with empty cuffs. The floor was marked with faded crimson stains, and the scent of old blood linger

The hallway was quiet as I made my way back to the room. My hair was still damp, the scent of soap lingering faintly around me, but I didn’t feel clean. Not really. Not after everything that had happened.When I stepped into the room, Riri was already there, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed, waiting.“You look better,” she said gently, her eyes scanning my face. “Cleaner, anyway.”I gave a half-shrug, too exhausted to come up with a real response.She stood and walked over to me, her voice lower now. “I wanted to talk to you… while I still could.”I looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”Riri took a deep breath, like she was debating if she should even be saying any of this. “Damien saved me. A while ago. Things were bad where I came from—worse than this. He gave me a place here, gave me purpose. I joined his team, started doing jobs for him. Been loyal ever since.”There was pride in her voice, but also something else. Regret.“I never wanted to hurt people,” she add

The forest was quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves as we walked side by side. Damien finally broke the silence. “Since you helped me out back there, you can go see your family. Like I said.” I glanced at him, surprise flickering in my chest. The weight of the past hours still pressed heavy, but the promise of seeing them—of feeling normal, even for a little while—made my heart lift. “But don’t get any ideas,” he added, voice low and steady. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll come back.” I met his eyes, fierce and unyielding. “Don’t worry. I’m not dumb.” He nodded once, then turned his head toward the trees. “I’ve got some things to handle.” Before I could say more, he vanished. A blur of movement, faster than anything human, until he was gone. I stood there a moment, the forest stretching out in every direction. Then, without hesitation, I let the change take me. Bones cracked. Fur sprouted. Muscles shifted. My senses exploded—smells, sounds, the p