Semua Bab FORBIDDEN BOND: The Alpha's Desire : Bab 11 - Bab 20

It was becoming unbearable. Every breath I took was filled with him. Cedarwood and spice, a heady blend that clung to the very air around Alaric, wrapping me in a constant torment. And beneath that, the primal musk, a deep, resonant note that my omega recognized instantly, a scent that screamed "Alpha," that screamed him. It was a siren song, pulling me under, drowning me in longing I couldn't afford to feel.I focused on the stack of parchments in my hands, willing myself to concentrate on the estate taxes from the southern territories, anything to distract myself from the torture of existing within ten feet of the Prince. Ten feet that felt like ten inches to my over sensitive nose and my traitorous omega.It would have been easier, gods, so much easier, if all I had was a simple, pathetic crush on the Prince. A schoolboy infatuation I could bury under layers of duty and self-preservation. But no. Fate, or whatever cruel deity orchestrated this mess, had decided to throw in a bloody

Kael adjusted the heavy silver platter, the weight suddenly feeling unbearable. The afternoon sun beat down on the palace gardens, usually a welcome warmth but today it felt like a personal spotlight, highlighting his every tremor. He forced a smile, a practiced mask that hid the turmoil churning within."More tarts, Prince Alaric?" he asked, his voice betraying only a slight waver. He avoided looking at Alaric directly, focusing instead on the meticulously arranged pastries.Alaric, lounging against the thick trunk of an ancient oak, glanced up, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Lady Isolde giggled, a delicate sound like wind chimes. She was everything Kael wasn't – poised, confident, and an Omega of impeccable pedigree. Her scent, a sweet blend of honeysuckle and vanilla, hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of the chasm separating him from his mate."Thank you, Kael," Alaric said, his voice low and even. He took a tart, his fingers brushing against Kael's as he did so. A

The moon held an ancient power over werewolves, dictating their transformations, their strength, and most profoundly, their mating bonds. A bond, once recognized, was believed to be unbreakable, a tapestry woven by fate itself. Yet, fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor, a penchant for twisting the threads of destiny into knots of pain and rejection. A rejected mate bond was a wound that never truly healed, a constant ache in the soul, a haunting reminder of what could have been. And in the rare, almost impossible, cases of rejection from an Alpha with royal blood, the sting was amplified tenfold. Rejection of a mate bond was considered a blasphemy to the Moon Goddess, a cosmic slap in the face. It fractured the very essence of a wolf, leaving them vulnerable, unstable. While rare, rejection happened, often driven by societal pressures, political ambitions, or the agonizing reality that sometimes, destined didn't equal desired.Kael knew these facts all too well. They were etche

The evening air in Veridia was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Alaric stood stiffly as Aaron, all casual charm, leaned against the doorframe of his chambers."Say, Alaric," Aaron drawled, his eyes twinkling, "has our dear Kael finished his duties for the day? It's well past bedtime, isn't it?"Alaric's jaw tightened. "He is under my employment. I dictate when his duties are complete."Aaron chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "Oh, I see. Does that mean he tucks you in as well? Or perhaps…" he paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "his duties extend to more… intimate services?"Alaric's hand clenched into a fist. The insinuation hung heavy in the air. He wanted to deny it, to vehemently denounce the idea of Kael, his mate, being subjected to such vulgar assumptions. But the words caught in his throat. He couldn't claim Kael, not yet. Maybe not ever. Or at least, not when he was still wrestling with the unacceptable truth of their bond."Kael's duties are his own," Ala

Alaric's hand pressed harder against Kael’s mouth, silencing him. The air in the room crackled with unspoken tension, thick with Alaric's barely restrained anger and Kael's rising fear. The moonlight filtering through the window cast long, distorted shadows, mirroring the turmoil brewing within them.Alaric’s voice, when he finally spoke, was a low growl, barely above a whisper, "What precisely do you find so…pleasant about Aaron? What makes him so friendship-worthy, in your estimation?" His eyes burned into Kael's, searching for an answer, an explanation for the bond he clearly saw forming between Kael and the visiting prince.Kael ripped Alaric’s hand away, gasping for breath, his chest heaving. "I will tell you exactly why, Alaric! He doesn't think of me as just a servant boy. He sees me, perhaps for the first time in my life, as me." His voice trembled, echoing the raw emotion that threatened to spill over.Alaric scoffed, stepping closer, invading Kael's personal space. "And you