Semua Bab Bonded to the Bastard: My Rejection, His Obsession: Bab 101 - Bab 110

Leyton’s POV"The scouts are useless," Luciano says.His voice echoes off the walls of the strategy room. He looks like he wants to break something. I can't blame him for the temper. We have been hunting the Crystal Lake leadership for a week, and we have nothing. They are ghosts.I try to look at the maps on the table, but my focus is gone. I am thinking about Alanza. I wonder if her shoulder still hurts or if she is sleeping through the night. Ever since the night I tried to mark her, my wolf has been restless. The bond did not lock into place, but something inside me snapped. I feel tied to her. It is a one-sided weight in my chest that won't go away.Luciano keeps her location a secret. He is acting like a guard dog, and I know why. He sees me as a predator in his territory.We finish the meeting and walk toward the alpha’s house. There are piles of files and hacked hard drives waiting for us. It is boring work, but it is the only w

Luciano’s POV"She is actually going to his house," I snapped, the words tasting like acid.I paced the length of my rug, my boots digging into the expensive fibers. The walls of my office felt like they were shrinking, pressing against my chest until I could hardly breathe. Alanza wouldn't pick up my calls. She wouldn't even text me a one-word reply to let me know she was breathing. But she had no problem making time for Leyton.The thought of them together, talking in low voices while the moon climbed higher, made my blood boil.You did this, my wolf rumbled. His voice was a heavy weight in the back of my mind, cold and dripping with a judgment that made my skin itch. This is your fault."I know," I hissed, stopping in front of the window to stare at the dark treeline. "I’m trying to fix it. I’m doing every single thing I can."You threw her away, he reminded me, his tone sharp enough to draw blood. We had her. We had our

Alanza’s POV"Why are you staring at the dirt when you should be moving?"London’s voice cut through the humid air of the training grounds. I didn't look up. I just focused on the rhythmic thud of my sneakers against the packed earth. If I stopped, the thoughts would catch up to me. If I stopped, I’d have to think about Luciano, or Leyton, or the absolute mess my life had become.Physical pain was a much better distraction. I pushed my legs harder, welcoming the burn in my quads. My body was a map of fading purple and yellow marks. Every day, new bruises formed from the intensity of the drills, and every night, my shifted metabolism knit my skin back together. Beside me, Lucia wasn't as lucky. Her bruises stayed longer, blooming across her pale skin in various stages of healing.I was determined to stay in this bubble of exhaustion for as long as possible. It was safer than dealing with reality. Maybe it wasn't the healthiest way to cope, but surviving th

Alanza’s POV"Just keep your head down and try not to trip over the threshold," Lucia muttered, her voice thick with exhaustion.I didn't have the energy to reply. My legs felt like lead weights as I dragged them through the front door. The second I cleared the frame, I didn't even look for a blanket. I just collapsed face-first onto the sofa. The fabric was scratchy against my cheek, but it was the most beautiful thing I had ever felt.Next to me, Lucia didn't even make it to the couch. She steered herself toward the recliner and sank into it. She pulled her knees up to her chest, curling into a tight ball. "I am staying in this exact spot until tomorrow," she groaned into her knees. "Don't move me. Don't talk to me. Just let the floor swallow me whole.""I’m right there with you," I mumbled, my voice muffled by the cushion. I rolled onto my back, stretching my limbs out until my joints popped.Karlos was already in the kitchen. I coul

Lucia’s POV"He is literally three times the size of a normal human," I whispered to the empty, sterile air of the hospital room.Luciano didn’t even blink. He didn't look at me, and honestly, I don't think he knew I was in the room. His entire world was narrowed down to the rhythm of Alanza’s shallow breathing. He sat hunched over in a chair that looked like a toy beneath his frame, his face twisted into a mask of pure, raw agony. It made my own chest feel tight just watching him.I knew I was supposed to be the grieving best friend, and I was, but this was different. This was that fated mate bond the shifters always whispered about. It wasn't just sadness; it was like watching a man try to breathe while his lungs were being crushed.I looked down at Alanza’s hand. It felt too cool, too still. I squeezed her fingers and lowered my head, closing my eyes tight."Okay, God, let's talk," I muttered under my breath. "I know I&rs