All Chapters of Breathless Ties: Chapter 21 - Chapter 26

The council’s chamber had never felt more suffocating. The walls of dark stone seemed to lean in with the weight of centuries, etched with runes from ancestors who had built this place on blood oaths and unbending laws. Torches sputtered in their iron sconces, the flames throwing shifting shadows across snarling wolf carvings overhead. This room had witnessed coronations, punishments, and betrayals. Tonight, it was about to witness something else—defiance. Kael strode to the center with the authority of an Alpha, his boots striking hard against the stone. At his side, Elara matched his pace, her shoulders squared, every step deliberate. Their hands brushed, sparks of the bond crackling under their skin, a current that dared to announce itself even in this den of scrutiny. The elders sat like statues along the benches, their robes stiff, their gazes cutting sharp enough to wound. Some leaned forward, whispering like restless crows. Others narrowed their eyes in silent judgment. The

The forest was unnaturally silent that night. No wind whispered through the trees, no rustle of small creatures disturbed the shadows. Elara’s senses hummed, alert, nerves on fire. The bond screamed in her chest—Kael was near, tense, ready, and the energy between them thrummed with unspoken warning. Something was coming. A sudden explosion of movement shattered the stillness. Wolves, faster and fiercer than any pack trained naturally, lunged from the shadows. Their eyes glowed crimson, reflecting Selene’s influence. “Elara!” Kael’s growl cut through the chaos as he leapt to her side, fangs bared, claws slicing through the attacking wolves with precision. Elara felt the bond flare violently. Her hands sparked, silver energy coiling outward, striking the wolves back. Every movement was guided, instinctual, the bond teaching her, empowering her. Selene stepped out from the shadows, crimson gown flowing, eyes burning with malice. “Come on, little mate,” she hissed. “Let’s see how st

Night fell like a velvet curtain, concealing the forest in darkness. Kael and Elara moved through the underbrush with the precision of predators, every step silent, every breath controlled. The bond pulsed violently, guiding them, synchronizing their movements, their instincts, and their power. “This is it,” Kael whispered, lips brushing her ear. The heat from his breath made her shiver, the bond thrumming with fire. “Once we step into her territory, there’s no turning back.” Elara’s fingers twined with his, energy sparks dancing faintly along their linked hands. “I’m ready. We’re ready.” The clearing came into view, twisted trees marking the boundaries of Selene’s chosen ground. Shadows stretched unnaturally, moving as though alive, and the air was thick with the Luna’s intent. Selene stepped from the darkness, crimson gown glinting under the moonlight. Her eyes burned with fury, a predator poised for war. “So, the little human thinks she can play in my forest?” Kael growled, w