11. THE BOND

Sarah POV

“Control it.”

His voice dropped lower and sharper this time.

It was not a suggestion but an order.

My breath hitched as something in me responded.

My wolf. It stilled. Just for a second.

And that scared me more than losing control.

Because my wolf didn’t listen to anyone. Except—

No, this doesn't makes sense

“I… I can’t…” I whispered, my fingers trembling as I tried to steady myself against the table. The crack beneath my grip widened slightly.

Adrian’s gaze flickered down to it, then back to me.

“You can,” he said calmly. “You’re choosing not to.”

This sentence hit harder than it should have.

“I’m not—” My voice broke this time around frustration rising. “You don’t understand…”

“I understand enough.”

He stepped closer again.

Too close.

The space between us shrank until I could feel the faint warmth of his presence, steady… controlled… nothing like the chaos inside me.

“How long?” he asked.

My brows furrowed slightly. “What?”

“How long have you been like this?”

My heart skipped.

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His eyes narrowed just slightly.

“You’re a terrible liar. You came to this school without knowing how to control your wolf!”

The words hit like a slap. Before I could respond.

The doors slammed open. A sharp gust of wind swept through the cafeteria.

“She’s with me.” That my sister voice. My body stiffened instantly. She walked in like she owned the air itself. Her gaze swept across the room, taking everything in within seconds.

“Interesting,” John’s voice followed lazily from behind her. He stepped forward, hands tucked into his pockets, his usual careless smirk resting on his lips. But his eyes were sharp. Behind him was Zero in his usual nonchalant manner.

“This is… messy.”

Murmurs spread again, this time around fearful voices. They were humans, and they did noticed everything that happened

John sighed softly, like he was already tired of this situation.

“Alright,” he muttered. “Let’s clean this up.”

My heart dropped.

“What are you—”

“Shh.” He lifted a finger slightly.

Then, he spoke, not loudly, nor quietly, but enough for everyone in the Hall to hear.

But the moment the words left his lips, Something shifted. The air thickened, everywhere felt heavy. Like something pressing down on everyone

One by one, The humans went silent Completely silent. Their eyes turned white. Every single one of them.

Kate.

My breath caught, No. She stood still, frozen in place, her expression blank and empty, like she wasn’t even there anymore. Fear gripped my chest.

“What did you do to them?” I whispered, panic rising. John didn’t answer, He just kept murmuring.

The sound crawled under my skin. Then he snapped his fingers. And just like that, Bodies dropped, One after the other.

A dull, heavy thud echoed across the cafeteria as every human collapsed to the ground.

After that Silence followed. My breathing turned uneven again, but this time,not because of my wolf. But Because of what I just witnessed. The room now felt different. Like something had been stripped away.

I slowly looked around, only a few remained standing.

Demons, Vampires and Wolves.

Their gazes weren’t curious anymore.

“She almost exposed us.”

A voice cut through the silence. Then another.

“Careless.”

“Untrained.”

“Dangerous.”

Each word felt like a weight pressing down on me.

My wolf stirred again, but weaker this time.

I took a small step back.

A hand wrapped around mine. I froze, Adrian.

His grip wasn’t rough, but it wasn’t gentle either.

It was Possessive.

The room went quiet again, it was not because of fear, But because of him.

Even the ones whispering earlier had gone still.

Adrian stepped forward. Just a step, And somehow It felt like too much. The air tightened.

Pressure building in a way that made even breathing feel like effort.

His expression didn’t change. Still cold, But his eyes. There was something there now, Something far more dangerous.

“Enough.” one word and no one argued, not even John, nor zero or even my sister. That alone told me everything I needed to know.

Adrian’s grip on my hand tightened slightly.

Then the world shifted, no it broke, it never shifted.

One second, we were in the cafeteria and the next we weren't. The space around us distorted, folding in on itself like reality itself couldn’t keep up.

My breath caught sharply as the ground disappeared beneath my feet then returned.

Silence.

Cold air brushed against my skin.

I stumbled slightly, my hand instinctively tightening around his.

We were outside, far from the cafeteria.

Far from everyone. Into the heart of the wood.

My heart pounded violently in my chest.

“What… what was that?” I whispered. Space?

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. He slowly let go if my hand, and for some reason,I felt loss instantly.

“You’re a problem,” he said flatly. I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

“I didn’t mean for…”

“I don’t care what you meant.” That shut me up.

His gaze locked onto mine again. Sharp, way too sharp.

“You don’t belong here,” he continued. “Not like this.”

Something in my chest tightened. It wasn't pain but it was close.

“I have to be here,” I said quietly. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Why?”

“I’m looking for someone,” I said finally.

His expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes sharpened.

“Who?”

My fingers curled slightly at my sides.

You.

The word almost came out, but I forced it down.

“I don’t know his name,” I admitted instead. “I was only told… I would recognize him when I see him.”

There was silence after that Adrian looked at me long enough, his expression still the same. Never changing.

“You crossed into a controlled territory,” he said slowly. “Entered a school full of supernatural factions… without knowing control… for a guess?”

“It’s not a guess.”

My voice came out firmer this time. Because that part was true.

“I felt it,” I continued, my chest tightening slightly. “The moment I got here… something changed.”

The second the word left my mouth, I regretted it. My wolf reacted dangerously. Adrian stepped closer to me

“What kind of ‘feeling’?” he asked, he was way too calm. Looking like he got control of what was happening.

“Nothing I can explain,” I said quickly, taking a step back.

Big mistake.

Because the moment distance formed between us, my wolf reacted violently.

A sharp, frustrated growl slipped past my lips before I could stop it.

My eyes widened, Adrian noticed, His gaze darkened slightly.m, but not one of anger but of realization.

“Interesting…” he murmured.

I shook my head quickly, panic rising. “It’s not what you think”

“Then what is it?” He closed the distance again.

And just like that,the tension inside me changed into something else entirely.

My breath steadied, my wolf became calmed. That had never happened before. Not once, nor with anyone. And the fact Adrian saw it, because this time, he didn't hide it. His expression shifted.Just slightly.

“You calm down… when you’re close to me,” he said quietly. This wasn't a question but a statement, my heart pounded, way too fast.

“I don’t…”

“Don’t lie.” His words came sharper this time. Not one of anger.

I clenched my fists, damn it “You think I understand this?” I snapped, frustration finally breaking through. “I can’t even control my own wolf and now it’s suddenly. Reacting to you like this? You think I planned that?” There was silence, Adrian exhaled slowly, he was neither angry or annoyed. He was just thinking, which wasn't a good idea. Because it meant he was putting pieces together.

“Say it,” he said.

My brows furrowed. “What?”

“What you were going to say earlier.”

My breath caught.

“You held something back,” he continued, his gaze locking onto mine again. “Say it.”

I hesitated.

Everything in me screamed not to.

But something deeper, Something instinctive—

Pushed forward.

My lips parted before I could stop myself.

“I think…” My voice dropped to a whisper. “I think the person I’m looking for…”

My wolf stirred again. Not violently. Not angrily. “…is you.”

There was silence. Even the air felt like it stopped moving. Adrian didn’t react immediately.

And somehow that was worse.

My chest tightened as doubt crept in. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Maybe I just made everything worse…

“You’re either very brave…” His voice cut through my thoughts. “…or very foolish.”

I swallowed hard. “Which one is it?” I asked quietly. This time there was a pause. Then. He stepped even closer. Close enough that I could feel his breath. Close enough that running wasn’t an option anymore.

“We’ll find out.”

My breath hitched. Because the way he said it

It wasn't a warning. It was a promise.