You did it for yourself!

The door slammed open.

Salem’s heart stopped.

His mate stood in front of the shattered mirror, blood dripping from his knuckles, red streaks staining the white sink beneath. Shards of glass lay scattered across the tiled floor like frozen stars, the metallic scent of blood thick in the air.

“Orson,” Salem rasped, his voice laced with alarm as he rushed forward. “Orson—are you alright?”

Orson didn’t answer immediately. He stood still, his chest rising and falling slowly as he stared at the broken reflection. When Salem reached out, his mate finally turned to him, and that was when Salem saw it.

The tears.

They clung to Orson’s lashes, stubborn, unshed, glinting with a pain that punched Salem harder than any blow ever could.

Guilt slammed into him like a cold wind.

“How could I be fine?” Orson whispered hoarsely. “Tell me, Salem. How can I be fine when my heart is tearing in two?”

“Orson—”

“You shouldn't have done that,” Orson cut in, voice trembling but sharp like broken glass. “You shouldn't have made that hasty decision. You didn’t even let us say goodbye.”

Salem clenched his jaw, trying to explain, trying to reach for words that might make it better. “I had to. I did it to protect—”

“Don’t!” Orson shouted, his voice cracking. “Don’t stand there and defend it. Don’t try to twist it into something noble.”

His eyes burned. “This bond, this damn bond—it’s already in us. Whether you accept it or not, the ache is real. The emptiness is real. And no matter what story you feed yourself, we’ll feel it. Every day.”

“We were better without them,” Salem argued, though even to himself, the words sounded hollow. “We’ll move on. We’ll survive this, Orson. Things will go back to normal.”

But even as he said it, a shadow crossed his face. Deep down, he knew. Nothing would ever be the same again.

“Just leave,” Orson muttered, brushing past him. “Go.”

He stormed into the bathroom, turning on the tap. The sound of rushing water filled the silence as he began scrubbing the blood from his hand. But before he could close the door behind him, Salem followed—his face dark, angry.

“You’re not sending me away again,” he growled. “I leave you for a moment, and I return to see you bleeding?”

“Stop overreacting,” Orson spat back, not looking at him. “It’s no big deal.”

Salem’s frown deepened. He fought to control the heat boiling under his skin. “Please,” he said in a lower voice, “you have to understand why I did it.”

“I do understand!” Orson roared suddenly, turning back to him, voice shaking. “You did it for yourself! To prove something. To prove you’re still the Alpha! That you’re strong enough to spit on some damn prophecy and break bonds!”

He stepped closer, nostrils flared. “Bonds that haven’t even been marked yet!” he growled, voice raw.

Salem’s chest heaved, breath ragged. “Of course not claimed—”

Orson laughed bitterly, a short broken sound. “Yeah. Of course not.”

He turned to leave, but Salem caught his wrist.

“Please,” he whispered. “Orson… don’t push me away. I didn’t do this to hurt you. I did it for us.”

Orson looked at him, and for a moment, silence filled the room. The weight of their choices sat thick between them. Orson’s lips parted like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. His throat bobbed as he swallowed back his emotions.

This was his mate. His best friend. His Alpha.

And despite the betrayal… he still wanted him. Needed him.

Salem stepped closer and slowly wrapped his arms around him, voice low and rough in his ear. “I’ll fix it. I promise. I’ll carry this weight with you. Whatever happens next… we face it together. You’re mine, And I won’t let this tear us apart.”

Orson let out a shaky breath, then turned, eyes locked with Salem’s.

And then they kissed.

It was a desperate, soul-deep kiss. No hesitation. Just mouths colliding, teeth clashing, breaths stolen. A growl rumbled in Salem’s chest and Orson answered with one of his own, his hands already tugging at Salem’s shirt.

Salem pushed him, firm and rough, until Orson’s back hit the cold tile wall. He kissed down the side of his neck, sucking over the spot where his mark sat. Orson’s moan was guttural, raw, hands gripping at his mate’s shoulders.

In one rough motion, Salem ripped Orson’s shirt open, buttons clattering to the floor. He dropped to his knees before him.

His mouth was hungry. Open, warm, and wet.

Orson’s fingers clutched the edge of the sink, gasping as Salem’s mouth moved slowly and steadily on his cock, worshipping him with every stroke of his tongue and lips.

Salem held onto his thighs, possessive, not letting him move as he devoured him with reverence and rage all at once.

Orson moaned out his name, head falling back against the wall, breath shaky. “Salem—”

Salem didn’t stop.

His mouth moved in slow, maddening strokes until Orson’s knees buckled slightly, but then, he dropped down too, switching their places.

Orson’s lips wrapped around his massive length, and Salem’s groan was sharp and broken.

“Fuck, babe,” he moaned, one hand cradling Orson’s curls, his eyes fluttering. “You’re so good… just like that.”

Orson took him deep, his hands gripping Salem’s hips. There was no hesitation between them, no shame, just years of trust and this bond pulling them to pieces.

But it wasn’t enough.

Not yet.

Salem hauled Orson to his feet, spun him around, and pressed him against the wall. Their bodies collided, heat crashing through them like wildfire. Salem’s hand slid down, guiding himself as he leaned in, his voice low and dark.

“You’re mine,” he growled against Orson’s neck. “Only mine.”

He pushed in deep, and they both cried out, broken sounds of pleasure and need. Salem didn’t stop. His rhythm was fast, hard, merciless. Every thrust carried the weight of guilt, anger, love, and lust.

Orson braced against the wall, panting his name.

Then, he turned, shoved Salem back, and took his mouth in a kiss so rough it stole his air. They switched, bodies twisting, Salem letting Orson take control as they claimed and devoured each other again—Alpha to Beta. Mate to Mate.

The bathroom echoed with their sounds, their breath, the crash of heat and need.

And even in the chaos, even in the fire of their bodies—

That ache still lingered.

The bond still burned between them.

But in that moment… They were one, and that was enough.