The Bond

The beating of my heart grew louder and louder until it drowned out every sound around me. My chest rose and fell as if I had run for miles, though I hadn’t even moved.

He looked in my direction. Even from a distance, under the shadow of his cap and hoodie, I felt his gaze burn into me. I couldn’t see his face, but I didn’t need to. His scent still wrapped around me like fire and lightning. His presence pulled at every piece of me, demanding I step forward.

‘Of course he knows,’ Cordia whispered in my head, her voice trembling with excitement. ‘He can recognize us even from afar. We are his mate, Clary. Let’s go. Let’s meet him!’

I took one shaky step out from behind the tree, my legs trembling, my whole body wanting to run to him. But then-

Andrea appeared.

She walked out of the house like she owned the world, her head high, her smile wide. And then she reached for his hand.

I froze.

He turned toward her, and in that second, the bond that pulled me toward him snapped tight inside me. A growl almost tore out of my throat.

Andrea’s lips pressed against his cheek.

Heat rose inside me, sharp, violent, unbearable.

‘How dare she touch our mate!?’ Cordia howled. Her rage filled my chest until I realized my fists were clenched so tight my nails cut into my palms.

“She’s crossing the line,” Cordia growled again. “She’s out of boundary, Clary!”

But I stood frozen, powerless, watching the man who was mine let her touch him. And then, as quickly as he came, he turned away. Without a word, he stepped into the first black car. The rest of the vehicles followed as they drove away into the night.

Gone.

The pull, the fire, the bond... it all ripped through me and then left me hollow. I lost every ounce of strength in my body. My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground, leaning against the tree as the weight of the world crushed me.

“Am I even worth living?” My voice cracked as I whispered to myself. “Why does it feel like the world betrays me? Has the Goddess cursed me for something I don’t even know?”

Cordia snapped at me. 'Clary, what are you doing!? Are you just going to let her do that to our mate!?'

Her anger made my chest ache, but still I whispered, “No… I have to know. I have to see with my own eyes. I have to know who that man really is.”

I forced myself to stand, though my legs trembled under me. Every step back toward the house felt like walking through fire.

When I pushed open the door, Andrea was there... leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed, like she had been waiting for me.

“Who is he?” I asked before I could stop myself. My voice was low, darker than I had ever heard it.

Andrea straightened, her eyes glittering with cruel amusement. “Why do you care?” She smirked, tilting her head. “Anyway… he’s my mate. The Alpha, Xylo Crosswind.” She dragged out the word mate, stabbing me with it like a dagger.

My stomach twisted violently.

“No…” My throat tightened. “That can’t be. He’s my mate.”

The words slipped out before I could think, before I could stop them.

In the blink of an eye, Andrea was on me. Her hand clamped around my throat, shoving me hard against the wall. My skull rattled with the impact, air vanishing from my lungs.

“He’s mine,” she hissed. Her face was inches from mine, her eyes blazing with hate. “He’s not yours, Clary. Don’t you ever dare take him from me. If you do… I’ll kill you.”

I clawed at her wrist, gasping, but she was too strong. Her grip tightened until black spots blurred my vision. “I-it… can’t… be…” I croaked.

Andrea’s lips curled, and suddenly she laughed. She released me, and I collapsed to the floor, coughing and gasping, my throat burning.

Her laughter echoed in the room like poison. “It can’t be? Oh, Clary…” She leaned down, her smile cruel. “Do you even see yourself? You’re weak. Weak. Weak! You’re useless! And you think you can stand beside the strongest Alpha in the world? Keep dreaming, little sister.”

Her laughter cut through me like blades, tearing apart the fragile hope I had.

‘Don’t listen to her,’ Cordia whispered, her voice pained.

Andrea crouched lower, her eyes glinting. “Who would believe you, Clary? Who would ever think the Alpha’s mate is a weak, pathetic excuse of a werewolf?”

Her words made my chest cave in. My heart quivered.

Still, I forced myself to stand, my legs shaking but holding. I stared back at her with whatever scraps of courage I could find. “I may be weak now, Andrea… but be careful. One day, this weak little sister of yours may become strong.”

For a moment, her laughter stopped. Then it burst out again, harsher, louder, crueler. “One day?” She wheezed between her laughs. “Oh, Clary. Stop dreaming. Just focus on your loser boyfriend. Leave the Alpha to me.”

Her smile vanished as she leaned close, her voice sharp. “Stop dreaming.”

“What’s going on here!?” Dad’s voice boomed suddenly as he entered with Mom beside him.

Andrea straightened immediately, her grin returning. “Oh, nothing. Just your useless daughter claiming my mate as hers. Can you believe it? She said the Alpha Xylo was her mate.”

My father’s eyes flicked to me. For a moment, I thought I saw pity in them. But it wasn’t enough.

“Clary,” he said, his tone heavy. “Xylo is Andrea’s mate. The bond is real. The pheromones, the connection, they both feel it. Even if you think he’s yours, you can’t handle him. You’re too weak.”

His voice was apologizing, but his words stabbed me deeper than Andrea’s hands ever could.

Mom crossed her arms, her eyes sharp with shame. “Don’t ever speak of this again, Clary. Do not approach the Alpha. Don’t put our family in shame.”

Shame. The word seared into me like fire.

I lowered my head. “I… I’m tired. I’ll go upstairs.” My voice cracked, my lips trembling. I didn’t wait for them to answer—I just ran.

Upstairs, into my room. Door closed.

The moment I was alone, the tears spilled over. I sank to the floor, pressing my hand to my mouth to silence my sobs.

What did I do to deserve this? Why was I born only to be despised? Why does the Goddess hate me so much? Is my purpose only to serve? To be their shadow? To suffer?

I dragged myself to my bed, my body heavy with despair. The pillow muffled my cries, but it couldn’t muffle the pain tearing through my chest.

Andrea was strong. Andrea was loved. Andrea was chosen.

And me? I was nothing. A shame. A mistake.

“Why can’t they see me? Why can’t they understand?” My whispers broke into sobs. “Why, Goddess, why did you even let me live?”

Cordia whimpered softly inside me, her voice breaking. 'Clary, please… stop crying. It makes me weak. Be strong. Please…'

Her voice faded, leaving me in silence.

The darkness closed in, wrapping around me like a shroud. And for the first time, I wished it would never let me go.