CHAPTER FIVE : BOUND WITHOUT ANSWERS

**Freya's POV**

The guards didn't even give me time to change.

They stood at my door, stone-faced and silent, while Aunt Elsa argued with them in the hallway.

"She needs time to get ready," she said firmly. "You can't just drag her out of the house like some criminal..."

"The Alpha's orders, ma'am," one of them said. "She comes now."

I stepped out of my room, pulling a cardigan over my robe.

"It's fine, Aunt Elsa. I'll go."

She grabbed my hand. "I'm coming with you."

"No," the guard said. "Just the girl."

"I'm not letting you take her alone..."

"It's okay," I interrupted, squeezing her hand. "I'll be fine."

She looked at me, her eyes filled with worry. Then she pulled me into a tight hug.

"Be careful," she whispered.

I nodded and pulled away.

The guards led me outside to a black car waiting. One of them opened the back door and I climbed in.

The ride to the palace was silent. I kept my hands folded in my lap, trying to keep them from shaking.

What were they going to do to me?

Would they punish me for what happened?

Would they blame me for seducing the Alpha's son?

My stomach twisted.

When we arrived, the guards escorted me through the main entrance and down a long hallway.

We stopped in front of a set of massive wooden doors.

The throne room.

One of the guards knocked twice, then pushed the doors open.

Inside, two men stood on the raised platform where the twin thrones sat.

Dante. And an older man I recognized as William, the current Alpha.

My breath caught.

Dante's gray eyes were cold, his jaw tight. He was wearing a black shirt now, buttoned up.

He didn't look at me.

William, however, watched me with sharp, calculating eyes as I walked forward.

"Freya Grey," he greeted, his voice calm. "Thank you for coming."

I dipped my head slightly. "I didn't have much of a choice."

William's lips twitched, but he didn't smile. "We need to discuss what happened last night."

My throat went dry.

"Please," he continued, gesturing to the space in front of them. "Tell us what happened. In your own words."

I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak.

"I went to the ball because my aunt insisted. I drank more than I should have. I got overwhelmed and tried to leave. I got lost in the hallways." My voice shook slightly. "I opened a door, and Dante was inside."

William nodded, his expression unreadable.

"He was sweating. In pain." I glanced at Dante, but he still wasn't looking at me. "I heard two women outside talking. They said they'd drugged him. That they were waiting for him to... lose control."

William's face darkened.

"I knew I should've left," I admitted. "But he was suffering. The drug, it would've hurt him unless..." I trailed off, my face burning.

"Unless he had help," William finished.

I nodded.

"And you offered that help," he said. "Willingly."

"Yes."

"He didn't force you."

"No," I said quickly. "He told me to leave. Multiple times. I chose to stay."

William studied me for a long moment.

"And afterward?" he asked.

"I woke up before him. I panicked and left."

Silence filled the room.

William turned to Dante. "And you remember this?"

Dante's jaw clenched. "Most of it."

"Most of it," William repeated. "But not all."

"The drug made things... hazy," Dante said stiffly.

William nodded slowly, then looked back at me.

"Freya, I need to ask you something and I need you to be honest."

I nodded.

"Show us your neck."

My stomach dropped.

I glanced at Dante. His eyes flicked to me for the first time, and something unreadable crossed his face.

I reached up with trembling hands and pulled the collar of my cardigan aside, then tugged the robe down to expose my shoulder.

The mark was there. Clear and undeniable.

William stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he examined it.

"A mate mark," he said quietly. "A true one."

I adjusted my clothing quickly, my face burning with shame.

William turned to Dante. "Show her yours."

Dante hesitated, then unbuttoned the top of his shirt and pulled the fabric aside.

There it was.

The same mark. On his chest, just below his collarbone.

My breath hitched.

It was real.

We were bonded.

"There's no question," William said, stepping back. "This is a true mate bond. Marks on both parties. Recognized by the Moon Goddess herself."

He looked between us.

"The question now is: what do you want to do about it?"

I looked at Dante, waiting for him to say something.

But he just stood there, his expression blank.

"I..." I started, then stopped. "I don't know."

"You don't know," William repeated.

"I've been accused my whole life. Everyone thinks I killed the Luna. Everyone thinks I killed my own parents." I tried to keep my voice steady, but it cracked. "I didn't. I swear I didn't. But no one believes me."

Neither man interrupted.

"And now this mark is here," I continued. "Binding me to Dante. To the son of the woman I'm accused of killing." I let out a bitter laugh. "People will think I planned this. That I seduced him. That I'm trying to worm my way into power."

I shook my head. "I can't... I don't know how to live with that."

William watched me carefully. "So what are you saying?"

"I think..." I took a shaky breath. "I think I should reject the bond."

Dante's head snapped up.

"No," he said, his voice sharp.

I stared at him. "What?"

"I won't accept a rejection," he said firmly.

"You don't have a choice..."

"I do," he interrupted. "And I'm saying no."

"Why?" I demanded, my voice rising. "You don't even want this! I can see it on your face!"

"That's not the point."

"Then what is the point?" I was shaking now. "Why would you want to be tied to someone everyone hates? Someone you probably hate too? I don't want this. I don't want to be tied to you. I don't want people to hate me even more than they already do."

"Doesn't matter what you say. I won't let you reject me. Ever.”