“Wait!” I whispered shouted as he made to take the side entrance.
He paused and looked up at me with a questioning gaze.The second our eyes met, the bond slammed back into place—tight, searing, and gut-wrenching. It knocked the air from my lungs.“What is it?” He asked“I just remembered the side entrance is locked. Wait for me, I'm coming to you.” I said.He nodded as his hand moved, a subtle flick of his fingers toward the ground.Come down.I stood at my window, my heart racing. I should’ve called the guards. Should’ve shouted, should’ve done anything but what I was about to do.But I didn’t. For the first time I was about to damn all consequences and do as I pleased.I moved like a ghost through my own house. Years of sneaking out had made me an expert.I avoided the squeaky stairs near the hall, ducked beneath the windows where guards were posted.The front door was nothingBennett POVThe moment the principal dismissed us, I walked out with a headache pounding behind my eyes.One more warning. That’s what he’d said.“One more stunt from either of you, and I’ll have no choice but to expel you both. I don’t care who your fathers are. You’re disruptive. And frankly? I’m tired of the drama.”Same.I was tired of the drama too—of the dreams, the near-marks, the way my body reacted to Lucas like I’d been cursed.Because maybe I had been.Because what do you mean by i had walked into his arms last night and let him kiss me till i felt numb. Till my blood thrummed with need and lust.I shoved my hands in my pockets, stalking down the quiet hallway as students filtered into class. I just needed a second. A room. A corner. Some air.I pushed open the first empty classroom I saw and slipped inside, letting the door click softly behind me. It was dimly lit, sunlight pouring in narrow beams across the floor. I leaned back against a desk and exhaled.And then I heard
Lucas POVBreakfast with my parents was silent like it always is.Not the comfortable kind of silence, but the kind that made your skin itch. The type that warned you something was coming—you didn’t know from where yet.I sat at the end of the long mahogany table, a fork in one hand, a glass of orange juice in the other. My eggs were untouched, and I didn’t care. My mother was across from me, gently stirring her tea with shaky hands. I could feel her glancing at me from time to time, like she wanted to speak but didn’t know how. My mother has always been a timid woman, scared of my father and scared to counter his words and actions.Then there was my father.Professional ruiner of mornings.He was sitting at the head of the table. His hands were folded, and for once, he wasn’t barking orders or criticizing my posture. He was watching me. Quietly. That was even worse.“You’ve been quiet lately,” he said suddenly. His voice was smooth, with an undertone of suspicion lying beneath it.
“Wait!” I whispered shouted as he made to take the side entrance. He paused and looked up at me with a questioning gaze.The second our eyes met, the bond slammed back into place—tight, searing, and gut-wrenching. It knocked the air from my lungs.“What is it?” He asked “I just remembered the side entrance is locked. Wait for me, I'm coming to you.” I said.He nodded as his hand moved, a subtle flick of his fingers toward the ground. Come down.I stood at my window, my heart racing. I should’ve called the guards. Should’ve shouted, should’ve done anything but what I was about to do.But I didn’t. For the first time I was about to damn all consequences and do as I pleased.I moved like a ghost through my own house. Years of sneaking out had made me an expert. I avoided the squeaky stairs near the hall, ducked beneath the windows where guards were posted. The front door was nothing
Ryder POVIt was Midnight and the woods were eerily quiet. It was almost like the forest was holding its breath. I leaned against the gnarled old oak, arms crossed, trying not to look like I’d been pacing for ten minutes straight.Then I heard footsteps, quick and loud.Kael.He slipped out from between the trees like a shadow and tossed a glance around before speaking. “You came alone?”“Always,” I said. “Didn’t want anyone following me, especially not with the way Bennett’s been… twitchy.”Kael exhaled through his nose, looking grim. “Yeah. Same over here.”We stood in silence for a beat, just listening to the breeze rattle through the leaves.“Heard anything?” I finally asked.“Bits and pieces,” Kael said, pulling his hood back. “Your Alpha’s father Dominic. He’s in deep with someone. I don’t have names yet, but he was talking about the mate bond. About using it. Manipulating it. Said Lucas needed to be kept under control, or—his words, not mine ‘put down.’”I swore under my breat
Serafina Pov. The Violet mist rose from the stone bowl, curling into the air like a serpent tasting the magic. I stirred slowly, the pestle moving in careful circles. Moonstone dust shimmered within the potion, glowing softly under the flickering candlelight. “Patience,” I whispered. The corrupted bond was progressing nicely, faster than I had anticipated. The bond was fraying. I saw it unravel in my projection mirror. Lucas twitching in his sheets, Bennett’s heartbeat spiking mid-dream. The corruption spell was soaking deep now, twisting their connection into something volatile. Something feral.I added two drops of nightshade oil, then a final pinch of black salt.The vision sharpened.I moved to the altar, lifted a thin strand of Lucas Storm’s hair from its silk wrapping. Acquired at great risk, of course—someone had died for it. I didn’t even remember their name. Only the value of what they’d given me.I dropped the hair into the potion and watched it dissolve. It hissed
RYDERMy phone buzzed with a text message.Unknown number: Need to meet. Urgent. Bennett in danger-K I stared at the message wondering what might have possessed Kael to text me that way. He never reached out directly on the phone. He prefers to catch a person unawares, making it his life goal to frustrate me. And he also never uses dramatic words like “urgent” or “danger.”Bennett was in the kitchen pacing around restlessly like a caged Alpha wolf. He has been like this since last night, refusing to settle down or relax. He hadn't slept and hadn't eaten. And he sure as hell hadn't talked about it. “You need to eat something,” I said, sliding my phone into my back pocket. He was a few feet away from me so he thankfully hadn't noticed the message.“I'm not hungry.” “When was the last time you had a full meal?” He shot me a glare sharp enough to melt ice. “When was the last time you did