All Chapters of Bound To The Alpha Who Hates Me : Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

[Sera's POV]I wake up to sunlight streaming through the windows and the feeling of being watched.Kade is sitting in a chair beside the bed, a cup of coffee in his hands, just looking at me. Without the curse clouding everything, I can feel exactly what he's feeling through the bond—wonder, nervousness, affection, and a touch of lingering guilt."How long have you been watching me sleep?" I ask, stretching carefully to avoid aggravating my cracked rib."About an hour." He doesn't look embarrassed about it. "I can feel you now. Really feel you. Through the bond. It's... intense.""Good intense or bad intense?""Good. Overwhelming, but good." He sets down his coffee and moves to sit on the edge of the bed. "How's your rib?""Sore, but healing. Dr. Chen said werewolf healing should have it mostly fixed in a few days." I sit up slowly. "How are you? After last night?""Honestly? I don't know." He runs a hand through his hair. "I feel lighter, like something heavy that I've been carrying

Riley insists on testing my new abilities the next morning."Come on," she says, practically dragging me to the training grounds at dawn. "You unlocked ancient goddess powers yesterday. We need to see what you can actually do.""I'm still figuring it out myself," I protest, but I follow her anyway. Truth is, I'm curious too. I can feel the power humming under my skin, waiting to be used.The training grounds are empty this early, which is good. The last thing I need is an audience while I potentially make a fool of myself."Okay, first test: strength." Riley points to the training weights—massive iron bars that the strongest warriors use for conditioning. "Try lifting that one."It's easily three hundred pounds. Before yesterday, I couldn't have budged it. But now, when I grasp the bar, it feels manageable. Not light, but definitely liftable.I hoist it overhead with effort but without the struggle I expected."Holy shit," Riley breathes. "That's Alpha-level strength. Maybe stronger."

[Kade's POV] The morning of the marking ceremony, I wake up with Sera in my arms. She's still asleep, her face peaceful, her hair spread across my chest. I didn't move, neither did I wanted to wake her; just wanted to memorize this moment—the last morning before everything becomes permanent. I'm not nervous. I'm terrified. Not of marking her. I want that more than I want my next breath. But I'm terrified of failing her. Of not being the mate she deserves. Of the Silverwoods coming and all that... As if sensing my thoughts, Sera stirs. Her eyes flutter open, and when she sees me already awake and watching her, she smiles. "How long have you been awake?" Her voice is rough with sleep. "A while." She paused thoughtfully before saying, "Nervous?" "Terrified," I admit honestly. She props herself up on one elbow, studying my face. "Of marking me?" "Of everything after. Of not being enough for you." Her hand cups my cheek, her thumb stroking my skin. "You're already e