Chapter 3

Mira’s Pov

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains, pulling me from a restless sleep.

My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I lay still, the events of the previous day replaying in my mind.

The Lycans.

The mate pull.

Serene’s venomous words. It all felt like a horrible dream I couldn’t escape.

With a groan, I sat up and glanced around the room. The luxurious furniture and silk sheets only reminded me that I was in my enemies territory.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep.

The dress I had worn yesterday hung loosely around me, wrinkled and stiff. A frown tugged at my lips as I realized I had nothing else to wear.

“Of course, they wouldn’t bother to provide me with anything,” I muttered under my breath.

I straightened my dress as best I could and walked over to the small basin to freshen up.

My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, the dark circles under my eyes a stark reminder of my sleepless night.

As I splashed water on my face, my fingers brushed against the hidden dagger tucked into my sash.

My heart clenched, and I stepped back, staring at the weapon as if it held all the answers to my problems.

I had brought the dagger with me for protection, but now it served a new purpose.

Breaking the bond!

I couldn’t let this connection tie me to them. They were murderers—the ones responsible for my mother’s death.

My hand trembled as I pulled the dagger free from its sheath. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I held the blade against my palm, my heart racing.

“You can do this, Mira,” I whispered to myself. “You have to do this.”

But just as the blade was about to press into my skin, the door burst open.

“Stop!”

I jumped, the dagger slipping from my hand and landing with a dull thud on the floor.

My wide eyes met Rowan’s furious gaze as he stormed into the room. His presence filled the space, and I instinctively backed away.

“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

I crossed my arms over my chest, defiance replacing my shock. “What does it look like I’m doing? Leave me alone!”

Rowan’s eyes darted to the dagger on the floor. He stepped forward, his golden-brown gaze burning with intensity. “You were trying to break the bond.”

“So what if I was?” I snapped, my voice trembling with anger.

He growled low in his throat, his wolf clearly close to the surface. “Do you even know what that would do to you? To us?”

“I don’t care!” I shot back, my voice rising. “I didn’t ask for this bond! I don’t want it!”

Rowan’s jaw clenched, and he took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. “You don’t get to decide that. The bond is fate. It’s unbreakable.”

I scoffed, glaring up at him. “I’ll find a way. Watch me.”

Before either of us could say another word, the door swung open again, and Damien, Lucian, and Kai strode in. Their eyes immediately landed on the dagger lying on the floor and then on me and Rowan.

“What’s going on here?” Damien demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.

“She was trying to break the bond,” Rowan said, his tone clipped.

Lucian’s brows furrowed as he stepped forward, his calm expression replaced by one of concern. “Mira, do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

Kai let out a low growl, his wolf clearly agitated. “You’re ours. Why would you try to hurt yourself like this?”

I glared at each of them in turn, my anger bubbling over. “I’m not yours! I’ll never be yours!”

Before they could respond, another voice sliced through the tension.

“What is all this noise about?”

Serene appeared in the doorway, her icy blue eyes scanning the scene. Her gaze landed on the dagger and then on me, her lips curling into a sneer.

“What did she do now?”

Rowan’s jaw tightened. “It’s none of your concern, Serene.”

Her brows shot up in mock surprise. “None of my concern? This girl is here because of you four, and now she’s causing problems? I think it’s very much my concern.”

Kai growled, his frustration evident. “We don’t need your input right now. Leave.”

Serene ignored him, her gaze fixed on me with undisguised hatred. “I warned you, didn’t I? You’re nothing but a tool, a means to an end. And now you’re already proving to be more trouble than you’re worth.”

I stepped forward, meeting her icy glare with one of my own. “You don’t scare me, Serene.”

Her lips curled into a cold smile. “Oh, you should be scared, little girl. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

“Enough!” Rowan’s voice boomed, silencing the room.

He turned to Serene, his eyes blazing with authority. “Leave. Now.”

Serene’s face twisted with anger, but she didn’t argue. With one last glare in my direction, she stormed out, her gown swishing behind her.

The tension in the room remained thick as the brothers turned their attention back to me.

Damien stepped forward, his tone softer but still stern. “Mira, why would you do this?”

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I snapped, crossing my arms.

Lucian sighed, his expression pained. “You’re only hurting yourself by fighting this bond.”

“I don’t care,” I shot back. “I don’t want to be your mate!”

Kai’s eyes darkened, his wolf clearly struggling for control. “You don’t have a choice, Mira. This bond isn’t something you can break. It’s fate.”

“Fate?” I laughed bitterly. “You call this fate? Being forced to mate with the monsters who ruined my life?”

Rowan stepped closer, his golden eyes locking onto mine. “We didn’t ask for this either, Mira. But the bond is real, and it’s unbreakable. Whether you like it or not, you’re ours.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but his words left me speechless.

Damien’s voice was calm but resolute. “You’ll understand in time. Fighting us will only make this harder for you.”

Rowan’s lips curved into a small, almost amused smile. “You’ll adjust.”

With that, the brothers turned and left the room, their departure leaving a heavy silence in their wake.

I stood there, my chest heaving with anger and frustration. Their certainty that I couldn’t escape them echoed in my mind.

But they were wrong.

“I’ll definitely find a way!”