The Severing

The bond screamed, but I didn't let go.

Pain exploded through me—not mine, but theirs. The dying wolf's anguish at losing his mate. The female's distant panic as she felt the connection ripping away. And underneath it all, the bond's own desperate fight for survival.

My fingers tightened around the invisible thread only I could see.

Pull, Ash urged. Quick and clean.

But this bond was stubborn. It had sunk roots deep into the wolf's heart, intertwined with his life force. One wrong move and I'd kill him instead of saving him.

The crowd pressed closer. I could feel their eyes burning into my back.

"She's actually doing it—"

"Look at her arm—"

I blocked them out. Focused on the bond, on finding the exact place where it connected to his soul. There—a knot of golden light, pulsing weakly.

I pulled hard.

The bond shrieked.

The wolf convulsed, foam flecking his muzzle. For a horrible moment, I thought I'd miscalculated.

Don't stop now!

I yanked with everything I had.

The bond snapped.

The wolf collapsed. The golden thread vanished like smoke. And I felt the fourth mark carve itself into my forearm—burning, searing, a piece of my soul torn away forever.

I gasped, stumbling backward. The pain was worse this time. Sharper. Like my soul was tearing at the seams.

Four, Ash whispered, terrified. One more and we die.

My knees buckled.

Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.

Cedar and smoke. The scent surrounded me as Kade pulled me against his chest. Heat radiated from him, chasing away the bone-deep cold that always followed a severing. His arms wrapped around me—one hand cradling my head, the other at my waist.

Too close. Too warm. Too right.

"Easy," he murmured against my hair. "I've got you."

The silver thread between us exploded with light. I could feel it trying to complete, could feel the rightness of being in his arms, could feel my wolf purring in contentment.

No. This couldn't happen.

I shoved against his chest. "Don't touch me."

He released me immediately, but not before I saw his eyes—darkened, pupils blown wide. His wolf staring at me with recognition and hunger.

"You feel it," he said quietly.

Not a question.

"The wolf will survive." I pulled my jacket closed, hiding the fresh mark. "The bond is broken. He'll live."

"Sera—"

"We don't have a deal." I took a step back, needing distance. "I changed my mind."

Because I'd just used my fourth severing. Because he was my mate and mates died. Because one more use of my power would kill me.

Because I was terrified of what I'd felt in his arms.

Kade's expression hardened. "You made a bargain."

"Find someone else."

"There is no one else!" Raw desperation. "You're the only bond-breaker in the Northern Territories. The only one who can save me."

"Then you're going to die."

I turned to run.

And froze.

A woman stood at the forest edge. Beautiful like poisonous flowers—sleek black hair, cold blue eyes, wearing a dress that cost more than I'd ever owned.

And wrapped around her, connecting her to Kade, was the other end of the false bond.

Her lips curved into a smile that made my stomach drop.

"Well, well," she purred, eyes sliding from Kade to me. "The famous bond-breaker. I've been looking for you."

Kade swore viciously behind me.

The woman took a step forward. Dark magic coiled around her fingers like smoke. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice when you broke one of my bonds?"

Her bonds.

"Lyanna," Kade's voice went cold. "Let her go."

"Oh, I don't think so." Her smile widened. "She's far too valuable. The Council's been searching for a bond-breaker for decades."

The dark magic lashed out.

I tried to dodge but I was still weak. The magic wrapped around my ankle and yanked.

I hit the ground hard. Air rushed from my lungs. The world spun.

Lyanna appeared above me. Up close, she was perfect. Flawless skin. Perfect features.

Everything I wasn't.

Everything a mate should be.

My chest ached with more than just pain from the fall.

"Sleep now, little bond-breaker," she whispered, almost gentle. "We have so much work to do."

The magic slammed into my chest.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

I woke to leather and old books.

My head pounded. Every breath hurt. My left arm burned where the fourth mark had formed.

But I was alive.

I kept my eyes closed. Listened.

Footsteps. Heavy. Male. Pacing.

Fire crackling.

Voices distant, beyond a door.

And underneath it all—that pull. Warm. Insistent.

The mate bond.

"I know you're awake."

Kade's voice. Close.

I opened my eyes.

I was on a leather couch in an office. Bookshelves lined the walls. A fire crackled. Morning light filtered through windows.

And by those windows stood Kade.

He'd lost the jacket. Just dark jeans and a black t-shirt that showed every line of muscle. His hair was disheveled. He looked exhausted.

And furious.

"Where am I?" My voice was rough.

"My territory. My pack house." He turned, silver eyes pinning me. "Northern Territory compound. Two hundred miles from where Lyanna tried to take you."

Tried. Past tense.

"You stopped her."

"Obviously." He moved closer and my traitorous body reacted—heart racing, breath quickening. "She's not strong enough to steal from me."

Especially not my mate. The unspoken words hung between us.

"How long was I out?"

"Six hours." He stopped beside the couch. "How do you feel?"

"Like I got hit by dark magic."

His mouth twitched. Almost a smile.

I pushed myself upright. The room spun before settling. "I need to leave."

"No."

"That wasn't—"

"Neither was that." He crossed his arms and I absolutely did not notice how his biceps flexed. "You're not going anywhere."

"We don't have anything to—"

"Lyanna knows what you are. She'll tell the Council." His voice dropped. "Every witch, every pack with a grudge—they'll all come for you. And you can barely stand."

He was right. I hated it.

"What do you want?"

"Break my bond. But first, we figure out how to do it without killing you."

I looked at my four marks. Black. Jagged. Permanent. "There might not be a way."

"Then we find one." His jaw set. "I'm not asking you to die for me."

"You might not have a choice."

"There's always a choice." He pulled out a file. "Everything we know about false bonds. How they're created. Who created mine. We study it. We learn it. We break it safely."

"That could take months."

"Then we work fast." He met my eyes. "Because that poison? I've got weeks. Maybe three months."

The information hit like a blow. Weeks. Not six months.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would it have changed your answer?"

Probably not.

"We start now," he said, setting the file down. "Every day counts."

A knock interrupted.

"What?" Kade snapped.

The door opened. A younger man stepped in—similar features but friendlier. Where Kade radiated danger, this man radiated charm.

His eyes found me and he smiled. "So you're the bond-breaker who has my brother twisted up."

Brother.

"Marcus," Kade warned.

"Just saying hello." He moved closer. "Marcus Thorne. Gamma of this pack. Also Kade's younger, much more charming brother."

Despite everything, my mouth twitched. "Sera."

"I know exactly who you are." His grin widened. "The rogue who broke a bond, faced down Lyanna, and has the Alpha King actually showing emotion. You're basically legendary."

"Marcus."

"Fine, fine." He headed for the door, paused. "For what it's worth? I'm glad you're here. Someone needs to save his stubborn ass."

He left before Kade could respond.

"Your brother seems nice," I said.

"He's a pain." But there was affection there.

I looked at the file. At Kade trying to hide his desperation. At the mate bond pulsing between us.

At the choice I was going to make despite every instinct screaming to run.

"Fine," I heard myself say. "We figure out the bond."

Relief washed over his face. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

The words died.

Because through the window, in the forest beyond, I saw her.

A figure in a dark cloak. Watching.

She lifted her hand in a mocking wave. Filed teeth gleaming.

Morgath.

The witch who created false bonds.

She'd found me.