The First Pull

Proximity would either save them or tear them apart piece by piece.

Riven stormed into the war room with Lucien chained at his side the heavy iron links clanking with every step. Ancient law left him no choice. The mate bond demanded the prisoner stay close or the pain would cripple them both. Maps and battle plans covered the long oak table while Thorne and a handful of loyal alphas waited with tight faces.

"Keep him right here," Riven ordered shoving Lucien into a chair near the head of the table. "No one touches him but me."

Thorne shifted uncomfortably his eyes flicking between them. "Alpha is this wise? Bringing the traitor into strategy talks?"

"Wise or not the law binds me," Riven snapped sitting down heavily. "Now speak. What do we know of Sable's movements?"

One of the alphas a stocky man named Garrick cleared his throat. "Her riders hit the outer scouts at dawn. She calls for your removal claiming the bond clouds your judgment."

Lucien sat quietly at first chains resting on the table but as Riven leaned closer the bond flared. Sharp pain stabbed through Riven's head like needles. Flashes hit him hard. Lucien's memories. A young boy strapped down in a hidden chamber runes glowing on his skin. Pain. Experiments.

Riven gripped the table edge knuckles white. "What the hell is this?"

Lucien winced touching his own temple. "You see it now. My past. The bond shares everything when we get too close."

Thorne leaned in voice low. "Alpha you look pale. What happened?"

"Nothing," Riven growled but another flash came. This one his own memory bleeding into Lucien. The moment he raised the blade in the summit hall mixed with sudden regret he never admitted aloud.

Lucien breathed through the pain eyes locking on Riven. "The heir. I found him already gone. No claw marks on the body. Something else took him. A darkness that drains life from the strong."

Garrick slammed a fist on the table. "Lies from a murderer. Why listen to this filth?"

"Because the bond forces truth," Lucien replied calm but firm. "I did not kill him Riven. Whatever ended his life now reaches for you too."

Riven rubbed his neck the mate mark throbbing. "Enough fragments. Give me something real or I will make you regret every word."

Lucien leaned forward despite the chains their shoulders nearly brushing. Pain spiked again sharper this time. Another flash. Lucien running through woods power crackling around him a hidden strength he kept buried.

"You feel my secrets," Lucien said voice dropping low. "Now I feel yours. The fear of losing control. It eats at you Supreme Alpha."

Thorne cut in quick. "We have bigger problems. Scouts report Sable gathering forces near the ridge. If we strike first we might end this before more packs turn."

Riven tried to focus on the maps but the proximity made his head swim. "Then we hit them at first light. Garrick take twenty men and secure the eastern pass."

Garrick nodded but his eyes kept darting to Lucien. "And the prisoner? He should be back in chains below not sitting at your table like an equal."

"He stays," Riven said teeth clenched. "Law demands it. Now enough talk. Prepare the riders."

The group argued details voices overlapping fast. Thorne pushed for caution. "If we move too soon we leave the stronghold open. Sable wants exactly that."

Lucien spoke again cutting through the noise. "She wants me dead to break the bond. But killing me pulls you down with me. The moon made sure of it."

Riven turned on him breath hot. "You speak like you know her plans. Are you working with her?"

"No," Lucien answered meeting his stare head on. "But I know fear when I see it. Your wolf does not want me gone. It wants me closer."

The words hung heavy. Another shared flash hit them both. Riven saw Lucien as a child fighting against straps while voices chanted about creating the perfect override. Lucien felt Riven's iron will cracking under the weight of leadership.

"Stop this," Riven muttered voice rough. Pain pulsed between them like a living thing.

Thorne stood up chair scraping loud. "Alpha we need your head clear. Send him back to the cell for now."

Before Riven could answer horns blared outside. Shouts rose from the walls. A sudden attack slammed into the stronghold.

"Intruders!" a guard yelled bursting into the room. "Sable's men at the gates!"

Chaos erupted. Riven jumped up grabbing his sword. "To arms! Defend the hall!"

Lucien rose with him chains rattling. Their nearness made the bond surge stronger. Riven's wolf howled inside him not for battle but for protection. Protect him. The thought hit hard and unwanted.

Warriors poured in from side doors clashing steel with the attackers who had breached the outer defenses. Riven swung his blade cutting down the first enemy but his eyes kept snapping back to Lucien.

"Stay behind me," Riven barked shoving Lucien toward the corner.

Lucien dodged a swinging axe his chains limiting movement. "I can fight if you free my hands."

Thorne fought beside them shouting over the din. "Alpha focus on the front! They came for him!"

An intruder lunged straight at Lucien sword raised. Riven's wolf took over completely. He roared and leaped forward tackling the man with brutal force. Fangs and claws emerged as partial shift took hold. The bond pulled his every move toward shielding Lucien instead of leading the charge.

"Get back traitor," Riven growled to Lucien even as he tore through another attacker.

Lucien called out amid the noise. "Your wolf knows the truth. It fights for us both now."

More enemies flooded the room. Steel rang and blood sprayed across the stone floor. Riven lost himself in the frenzy the shared pain from the bond mixing with battle rage. Flashes of Lucien's memories kept interrupting. Secrets about the dead heir. A shadow that devoured from within.

Thorne yelled from across the fray. "Alpha they are retreating! Hold the line!"

But Riven barely heard. His vision blurred as the wolf pushed harder. Protect. Claim. The commands drowned out everything else.

Then darkness swallowed him whole.

Riven woke on the floor of the war room hours later or maybe only minutes. His body ached covered in sticky enemy blood that coated his hands and chest. He did not remember spilling it. The last clear moment was shielding Lucien during the clash. Now bodies lay scattered and his warriors stood back watching him with wide eyes.

Thorne approached slowly sword still drawn. "Alpha you went into a rage unlike anything I have seen. You took down five of them alone after we thought the fight ended. Then you blacked out."

Riven pushed to his feet head pounding. He looked around for Lucien who stood chained but unharmed in the corner green eyes steady on him.

"What happened?" Riven demanded voice hoarse.

Lucien answered soft but clear. "The bond pulled you to protect me. Your wolf took control when the pain peaked. You do not remember because the merge tried to happen."

Thorne wiped sweat from his brow. "The attackers are gone for now but this cannot continue. The packs hear of every weakness."

Riven stared at his blood soaked hands the blackout haunting him. The first real pull of the bond had tested everything. And deep down he knew it was only getting stronger