By Fang, By Fire

“I am not here for you Cade, I am here for myself and whether you like it or not, I'm breaking the damn bond no matter the consequences. I'm not living the rest of my life with someone like you”.

I poured out my mind and his expression said it all — he was heartbroken. But I didn't care

No matter what, I wouldn't let this bond control me. I will make sure I cut this string between us, no matter what I have to lose.

I'm not living the rest of my life with Cade. Not after all what he has done to me. He wished me death.

I did some digging and I found a way to end this whole mate shit. I don't care what it cost me — I was going to do it.

I was still deep in thought when I heard Beatrix's voice

“can you just sit down and stop pacing”

I shot her a look before finally sinking into the couch opposite her

“So what's going on lil sis”

“We are literally the same age so stop calling me that” I said, rolling my eyes as memories of my childhood flashed through my mind.

I looked so petite and small that kids of my age looks bigger than me. I glanced at myself and smiled, I was chubby, healthier.

“Are you seriously smiling to yourself?”

Beatrix's voice snapped me back to the present and I gave her an awkward smile.

“Okay, enough about me. What made you leave the city?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

“’Cause you left,” she replied, a touch of seriousness in her voice.

“You're joking, right? Last time I checked, you were a well-known fashion model.”

I countered her. Beatrix was incredibly popular in the city. She never acted like she knew me—and I returned the favor.

“Going down the hill to meet an old friend, have fun being alone in this creepy house” she announced, avoiding the question totally

Was not expecting her to give a reply after all, Beatrix was always like that.

Back to the ritual.

I packed my bag, grabbing only the essentials. The time was a little past midnight, and the ritual was set to take place exactly at 2 a.m.—no sooner, no later.

I slipped out through the back door and into the night, heading deep into the thick forest.

Nothing was going to stop me.

This ritual was happening—two hours from now, everything would change.

Bones cracked, reshaping painfully—and then, in a flash, I shifted into my pretty white wolf.

I took off through the thick forest, paws pounding against the earth, the night wind rushing past me.

I ran until I reached the clearing, the forest suddenly giving way to an open.

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I stepped into the center, shifting back into human form.

I laid out the ingredients one by one, careful and deliberate, my fingers trembling slightly with purpose.

Candles flickered to life—white for purity, black for the dark magic I was about to awaken.

Shadows danced around me, whispering languages I did not understand.

It was going to be a long night.

I inhaled deeply, steadying my heartbeat, and continued the preparation.

At 2 a.m on dot, I sat in the center of the candles, legs crossed, chanting mantras from the sacred book.

The shadows around me grew bigger, each whispering inaudible

The atmosphere became thick and eerie, seconds turned into minutes and I was finally in the last stage of the ritual.

I brought out Cade’s hair, the one I hideously got in our last meeting.

I tangled it with mine and placed it on the star shaped rock I had crafted

“By fang, by fire, by broken fate,” I whispered, voice low and sure.

“I sever the bond that binds me, undo the tie destiny forged in cruelty.”

The air thickened. The wind stilled. Then the ground beneath me began to hum—a low, bone-deep vibration that made my skin crawl.

My chest tightened. Pain bloomed. Then—blood. Warm and metallic, spilling from my mouth.

What the fuck did I do wrong? Where did I go wrong?

A sharp ringing filled my ears, then nothing. Silence. Deafening. Blood trickled from both ears now, and I could barely breathe.

The shadows circling the clearing twisted—shifting into shapes that weren't human. They watched. They waited.

Then—they attacked.

Dark tendrils lashed out, slamming me to the ground. My screams were swallowed by the forest. I tried to fight, but my limbs were heavy, useless.

I lay in a pool of my own blood, body shaking, wailing as the last of my strength drained from me. The runes flickered dimly—then died out, like a heartbeat fading.

Was this it?

Was I really going to die here, alone?.