003

SOULBOND

~DAXON POV~

The air in the room feels heavy with tension, making it hard to breathe. Mathias and I stand shoulder to shoulder, our eyes locked on the fragile figure before us.

Her breathing is shallow, her body trembling like a leaf caught in a storm.

"Soulbond," Mathias and I say in unison, our voices low and deep, almost reverent.

It is no surprise to us.

Mathias and I have always known, deep in our bones, that we would share the same Soulbond. Being identical twins, it was almost a given.

We have shared everything since the moment we entered this world—our thoughts, our dreams, our lives—and this is no different.

If anything, the thought of sharing her feels right, as natural as the bond between us.

"She is our Soulbond," I whisper through my mind-link with Mathias, the connection between us buzzing with shared emotion.

"Yes, and she is beautiful," Mathias replies, his voice tinged with awe. "But she's human."

"Do you care about her being human?" I ask, though I already know the answer.

"Hell no," Mathias growls, his tone fierce. "She is mine."

"She is mine too," I echo, my voice equally possessive. I don't care what she is—human, wolf, or something else entirely. She is ours, and we will lay down our lives to protect her.

Our little Soulbond stirs, her eyelashes fluttering as her eyes flicker open. Panic bursts in them the moment she sees us looming over her bed.

Her breath hitches, and she scrambles backward, her movements jerky and pained.

"Please, don't hurt me," she pleads, her voice breaking. "I've had enough."

She struggles out of bed, clutching her side, her face twisted in agony. My heart pounds in my chest, a rhythmic ache that matches the fear radiating from her.

Mathias and I exchange a glance, the same thought passing between us: 'this is our fault. We should have been there sooner.'

'We should have stopped him.'

"Don't worry, Cupcake," I say, softening my voice in an attempt to soothe her. "We would never hurt you."

But it is no use.

Her heart is racing, her pulse an agitated drumbeat that echoes in my ears. She is terrified of us, and it tears at something deep within me.

I see the bruises staining her skin, the shadows beneath her eyes, the way she cradles her ribs as if they are on the verge of shattering.

Damn it, Karl did this to her, and we let it happen.

"Lyra," I mind-link, the words laced with urgency. "We need you in the human girl's room."

"Why are you there?" she replies, her tone sharp. "You better not have hurt her more."

"We didn't hurt her," I say, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"And there is something you should know," I pause. "She is Mathias and my Soulbond."

There is a long pause, a silence so heavy it feels like a weight pressing down on my chest.

Finally, her voice comes through, calm but resolute. "Fuck it, I'm on my way."

Our little Soulbond has fled to the corner of the room, her back pressed against the wall as if she could disappear into it.

Mathias and I stay where we are, afraid to move, afraid to frighten her further.

The pain in my chest is agonizing, a sharp, stabbing reminder of our failure. She has every right to be afraid, especially after what Karl did to her.

My sister arrives moments later, her presence a calming force that fills the room.

She approaches our Soulbond slowly, her movements deliberate and gentle, like a mother wolf soothing her pup.

"Hello, my name is Lyra," she says, her voice soft and soothing. "Everything is going to be okay."

"Please, don't hurt me," our Soulbond whispers, her voice trembling.

"Nobody will ever hurt you again," Lyra promises, her tone firm. "Let's get you back to bed."

She guides her gently to the bed, her hands steady and reassuring. Our Soulbond...Tate, we will soon learn....still looks cautious, but she allows herself to be led, her body tense but compliant.

"What is your name?" Lyra asks, her voice warm and inviting.

"Tate," she replies, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Tate," Mathias and I repeat in unison, the name becoming part of us.

"Tate, what a beautiful name," Lyra says with a smile. "These are my shit head brothers, Mathias and Daxon. They won't hurt you."

Tate looks at us, her eyes wide and hesitant, but before she responds, the door bursts open. Karl strides in, his presence immediately setting her off.

She screams, her voice piercing, and scrambles backward on the bed.

"Get him away from me, please!" she begs, her voice cracking.

Mathias and I move as one, our bodies blocking Karl's path. I grab him by the collar and drag him out of the room, my anger simmering just beneath the surface.

I slam him against the wall, my fists clenched tight.

"Playtime is over, pretty boy," I growl, my voice low and dangerous. "She is not in your care anymore."

"But...why?" Karl asks, his eyes looking at Mathias then back to me.

"Sorry Karl, but you don't hurt her anymore. She is our soulbond," Mathias tells him.

Karl's face pales, his bravado crumbling as realization dawns. He has crossed a line, one that could cost him his life.

"She's your Soulbond?" he asks, his voice shaky.

"Yes," I snarl. "Both of us."

Karl's lips curl in a sneer, but there is fear in his eyes. "She's a worthless human. You have to reject her. She won't make a good Luna."

Mathias' growl rumbles through the hallway, a warning that sends shivers down my spine.

"You will not disrespect our Soulbond and your Luna," I say, my voice laced with alpha authority.

Karl's defiance crumbles, and he bows his head. "Yes, Alpha."

"You will be punished for hurting your Luna," I continue, my tone cold and unyielding.

"The only reason we're not killing you is that we're at fault for allowing this to happen. If anyone harms her again, it will be death. You're temporarily banned from the Beta position for your crimes. Guards, take him away."

The guards appear, their faces grim, and drag Karl down the hallway.

Mathias and I exchange a look, the same thought passing between us: we will make this right. We will earn Tate's trust, no matter how long it takes.

We return to her room, where the Moonhealer, Grace, is tending to Tate's wounds. She looks up as we enter, her expression unreadable.

Tate's eyes meet ours, and I see the fear still lingering there.

"You two need to leave," Lyra says, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"No," Mathias replies, his voice firm. "We're not leaving her. We're sorry, Sweetheart. We didn't know it was you."

He steps closer, but Tate flinches, her body recoiling as if his presence physically hurts her. The pain in Mathias' eyes mirrors my own.

Our Soulbond is afraid of us, and it is our fault.

"Just go," Lyra says, her voice soft but insistent. "Let her calm down."

Reluctantly, we leave the room, our hearts heavy with guilt and determination. We sit in the waiting area, our minds racing with thoughts of how we could make this right.

Mathias breaks the silence first. "What are we going to do?"

"We have to make her trust us," I reply, my voice resolute.

We will show her that we are not the monsters she thinks we are. We will protect her, cherish her, and make her see that she was meant to be ours.

Starting tomorrow, we will begin the long journey of winning Tate's heart. And we will not rest until she is ours, body and soul.