A Bond That Refuses To Die

CHAPTER 4 – “A Bond That Refuses to Die”

“Stop. Please stop.”

Eryx jolted awake, his own voice echoing. Fire tore through his arms and legs. Pain clawed from his chest, spreading deep. Something ripped free inside.

The bond.

It shouldn't hurt anymore. Rejection snapped it clean. But it burned anyway.

He gasped for breath. Fingers clawed his shirt, digging at his chest like he could rip the agony out. His wolf thrashed silent, trapped behind cracking ribs.

He burst from bed. Door slammed wide.

Kael stood there, dressed sharp. No sleep. Just waiting.

“What did you do?” Kael crossed fast, voice cutting. “Tell me.”

“I don't know.” Tears soaked Eryx's face. “The bond hurts. It's fighting to”

Pain spiked. He screamed. Back arched off the bed. World flashed white.

Strong hands gripped his shoulders. Held him down.

“Look at me.” Kael's face hovered close. Jaw tight, eyes scared. “Eryx. Eyes on me.”

Eryx blinked through tears. Locked gazes.

“Trust me now?” Kael's grip bit. “Can you?”

“No.” It broke out weak. “Can't trust you.”

“Then survive. Just hold on.”

Alpha power flooded the air. Thick storm wave. Eryx locked up. Muscles seized. His wolf bowed low, no fight.

Pain twisted, didn't fade. Heat snaked from his chest, searching.

Kael's hands slid to his cheeks. Thumbs brushed tears soft.

“Breathe with me.” Voice low, steady. Kind edge.

Eryx tried. Failed. Tried again. Breaths synced. Pain eased,not gone, just bearable.

“Good,” Kael murmured. His strength wrapped close. Shield. “Stay.”

Eryx's wolf whined soft. Then it reached.

Into the broken gap. Through empty dark where nothing should live. A thread tugged back.

Eryx blinked. “No. Can't be.”

“What?” Kael leaned in. “What do you feel?”

“The bond. Still there.” Voice shook. “You rejected me. I accepted. It died.”

Kael went still. Palms stayed warm on skin. Aura heavy.

“Didn't die.” Slow words. “Bent.”

“Liar. Everyone saw it snap.”

“They saw a show.” Kael pulled back slight. “Pain real. Rejection real. Bond... not.”

Eryx stood shaky. Edge dulled. “What did you do?”

“Nothing.” Kael turned to window, back rigid. “Bond chose.”

“Bonds die on rejection.”

“Normal ones.” Tension lined his shoulders. “Not this. Stronger. Deeper than mates.”

“What's that mean?”

“You're no ordinary bond.”

Anger cut confusion. “No riddles. Tell me straight.”

Kael spun. Eyes shadowed, cracked open. “Yours can't break. Redirects.”

Words hung thick.

Eryx's mind reeled. Not gone. Shifted shape. Still tied them.

“You knew.” Whisper thin. “Before ritual. Knew it was special.”

Nod.

“How long fated?”

“Two years.”

Punch to gut. Two years watched. Silent. Planned the break.

“Why?” Voice cracked. “Knew it mattered. Why shame me public?”

“Protect you.”

“From what?”

“Them.” Fists balled. “Elders. Pack. They'd use you. End you. Once they saw what you are.”

“What am I?” Voice climbed. “Weak omega. Barely feel my wolf. What scares them?”

Kael grabbed his hand. Pressed it to his chest. Over heart.

“Feel.”

Eryx pulled. Held firm.

“Feel it.”

Thrum deep. Steady power. Then under—second beat.

His own.

“How?” Hand shook. “My heart in you?”

“Connected.” Raw quiet. “Old way. Rare. Elders haven't seen in ages.”

“What?”

“True pair.”

Eyes met. Truth burned clear.

“True pairs share all.” Kael held hand steady. “Power. Life. Fate. Hurt one, other bleeds. Kill one, both go.”

“Legend. Scare story.”

“Real.” Eyes fierce. “You're half the strongest in a century.”

Mind blanked. Him? Outcast. Trash-sold omega. No power.

“Wrong.” Pulled free. “I'm nothing.”

“Everything they feared.”

No doubt in tone.

“True pairs dodge control.” Kael sat bed edge. Close, no touch. “No politics. Elders saw us. Deemed you threat.”

“So forced rejection.”

“Threatened your family. Pack. All dead if no public snap.”

Pieces clicked. Elders' smirks. Quick cell prep.

“But bond lived.”

“Dormant.” Kael fixed. “Waited safe.”

“When safe?”

“Shadow market.” Cold dawn. “I got you sold my way. Legal claim. No questions.”

Stomach churned. “You let hell hit. Felt worthless. Bids like meat.”

“I know.” Voice cracked. “Carry it forever.”

“Should've told.”

“You'd fight. Die.”

Truth iced.

Eryx stood. Knees held. Stared out window. Fortress walls trapped and shielded.

“Now what?” Reflection hollow. “They'll find bond.”

“Let them.” Hard edge. “You're mine. Legal. Fight me direct.”

“If they?”

“Executioner time.”

Warmth stirred chest. Wolf perked—not fear. Pull tight.

“But why reject if true pair power?”

Question dropped heavy.

Kael shut down. Ice mask.

“'He' rejected.” Careful. “Not 'you.' Why?”

Eyes wrong. Stance off.

Chill hit.

“That Alpha. Not you.”

Silence screamed yes.

“Who then?”

Fists clenched. “They feared what you are.”

“What?”

Fear raw in Kael's eyes.

“Only blood moon omega in generations.” Quiet final. “Prophecy says not just mate.”

Pause crushed.

“You'll stand beside me.”