Refusing the Bond

Aria

Oh my days, my brother being here now did some calm I couldn't explain. His eyes mirrored mine, and the communication we couldn't say out, he understood.

Ryder turned back to Kael. They both stared hard at each other, making everyone feel the tension in the air. My hands tugged at my brother. I had to do something because no one was speaking at this point.

Ryder's emerald eyes changed color, just as Kael's own, but Kael looked away the next moment. His eyes lowered to Serena, who stood dumbfounded to say a word, then he stared at me.

"Let's discuss outside, in order to maintain order." Ryder's tone was firm with a kind of authority. The crowd looked away when he stared at them, not interfering anymore.

Master's voice boomed, and the crowd listened. "I see the future Alpha has joined the ceremony. The new members will be ready to follow your lead, as well as the other leaders in your support. Finally, at the top, mark your mate…"

Ryder's stance changed as he walked into Kael's space. Mallory moved to stand by my own side.

"Are you going to proceed, or let's move outside?" Ryder questioned.

Kael's eyes flickered between me and Ryder's. He was perhaps weighing options. His best friend was standing in his presence, but they weren't in cahoot.

Is this what the moon goddess intended? For my fate to tear apart the only family and friendship I had left?

Kael's hands left Serena's as he tucked them into his pocket.

"Lena, do you trust me?" he asked as he still didn't break eye contact with Ryder.

"Always. I'm sure we can go out, and remember we'll take our time. After all," Serena said, holding her hands at the front, looking more sure now.

"Good," Kael's response came as he nodded at Ryder.

Ryder walked out in gigantic steps while Serena followed with Kael calmly behind her. Mallory turned to me with a confident gesture to go ahead. She's right behind me.

We got outside the hall. My eyes welcomed the evening breeze with a racing heart but a calmer mind. The whole scenario of leaving home, getting to the academy, navigating my room, attending the Full Moon Ceremony, and finding my mate filled my whole thoughts.

I curled my hands around my body, feeling heavy with the ball gown. My brother and Kael were my only anchors. I was a mess, and I couldn't deny that.

Where was the calm a princess was supposed to maintain? Handle with elegance and don't yield to pressure. It has flown off…

"Come sit," Ryder gestured to the chair at the relaxation arena outside.

I sat as the rest remained standing. My eyes lowered, knowing I was the weak link amidst them after all.

Mallory sat beside me next. "How do you feel now?"

I raised my eyes to gaze back at her. I had to just nod because the silence broke as she said that.

"Buddy, I don't want to do this either," Kael said to Ryder, who stood by my side.

He didn't say anything but stared far away into the distance, more like considering the possibility of the situation not getting worse than it already was.

"So what did you tell her?" Ryder asked with a calm tone, but his stance screamed impatience.

Kael's hands tucked into his pocket as he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Serena doesn't have to know, nor does anyone."

"Fuck, you didn't give her any sense of security," Ryder blasted.

"Security?" Kael scoffed. "You're not understanding. I can't."

Ryder's eyes fell on Serena. His eyes dimmed, but Kael drew her to his back, with his side shielding her from his gaze.

Ryder turned his back, running his hands into his hair. He turned back to Kael. "You want to let my sister understand she's not accepted and even hurt and humiliate her inside there? And now you can stand to protect Serena?"

Kael's hands fisted, still maintaining his stand.

But Serena walked out behind him to stand before Ryder. "You both need to calm down. It's complicated."

"Yeah, just like he doesn't want to heal from his mother's death and his father's consistent blame. But he's my Beta even before being my best friend. He should know better," Ryder said word for word, but didn't raise his voice at her.

Serena rubbed her hands by her side, nodding in understanding. "He's not the type to show emotion. I can testify to that. No one showed him how to love, and even Kael and I might have our own issues, but he's not the way you all think."

My ears were all open as she spoke, and seeing Kael move uncomfortably on his feet made me wonder what's more to him and Serena. Was I even worth him? This man might be so exceptional and handsome, but he's also struggling. Will I even get to know him as she does and have the same understanding they share?

"The bond. She's his soulmate, Serena, and it runs more deeply than his understanding of not allowing the Moon Goddess to choose for him. He wants to decide every aspect of his life. Can that stop him from getting hurt by the choices of others?" Ryder blurted.

Kael moved swiftly, drawing Serena aside as she sucked in a harsh breath from the words Ryder said.

"That's for me to decide. We might not have marked each other, but it doesn't make me question things or lose my mind," he fired.

Seeing him lose his cool, I couldn't even say anything. My mind and body just want to hold him and calm him, not understanding my brother trying to shield me from getting hurt.

I held on to Mallory's warm embrace now, laying my head there. My brother and Kael, who grew up together and got one another, were at each other's necks. The long friendship seemed to be breaking apart as they both seemed to choose something different.

But didn't they navigate through their different opinions all this while? Both on this, the importance of the people who will get hurt at the end becomes the boundary they couldn't cross.

"Fine, choose yourself as always," Ryder murmured.

"Yes, as it should be." Kael turned, took a pause before he nodded at Serena, and they walked off.

Ryder's hands tightened as he watched his figure, looking rigid, unable to look away, while my own breath stopped at some point.

My upper body lost its strength, relaxing more onto Mallory. I felt a tight grip on my leg, like it was stuck on the ground, immobile. My lips felt dry, and I struggled to inhale through my nose.

He's no more close. He's leaving, my mate…

"Hey, hey," Mallory called, but her voice sounded faint to my ear. The next thing I knew was my brother's hands checking my state, and he was trembling.

"Blood." Mallory took her hands to my mouth in alarm.

The next thing that filled my sense of smell before I passed out was pine and wood, but I couldn't hold on anymore.