Soren stood silhouetted against the light streaming through the broken doors, looking like he’d been through hell. His usually perfect appearance was completely disheveled–shirt wrinkled, hair a mess, eyes wild with something that looked like panic.]
His gaze swept the assembled guests before locking onto us at the altar. I felt the exact moment recognition hit him, saw his f and something that might have been anguish
Before I could process what was happening, he was charging up the steps toward us
“No” The word tore from my throat, but he was already reaching for my veil.]]
face crumple with robef
The delicate fabric ripped away, exposing my face to the room full of witnesses. Gasps echoed through the hall as cameras flashed, capturing every moment of this disaster.
Thank God.” Soren breathed, his hands coming up to frame my face like I was something precious. “Kaela, thank God you’re alive.
Terked away from his touch like it burned. “Don’t Don’t you dare touch me.”
But he wasn’t listening. His relief was transforming into that familiar arrogance, the assumption that he could fix everything with the right words “Enough with this tantrum.” he said, voice taking on that condescending tone I’d heard a thousand times before. “Everyone in the northern territories knows you’re my mate–to–be. Our bonding ceremony is tomorrow–stop this nonsense and come home with me.“]
He reached for my hand, clearly intending to drag me off the altar like some caveman claiming his property
The audacity of it–showing up here, at my bonding ceremony, assuming he could just take me back–ignited something savage in my chest.
I yanked my hand away so hard he stumbled backward. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”
The curse word echoed through the hall, but I didn’t care anymore. I was done playing the proper pack princess
“This is my booding ceremony, Saren. To another Alpha. And in case you’ve forgotten, you made it very clear that I was expendable.” My voice carried to every corner of the room, steady and cold. “You left me dying on an operating table to run to her. You don’t get to waltz in here and pretend you give & that about me now.”
Something flickered across his face–confusion, maybe even hurt. Like he genuinely didn’t understand why I was angry
“Eaela, I don’t know what’s gotten into you,” he said, voice gentler now, “You’re not acting like yourself. This is
Isn’t you“]
“You re right.” I said, and for the first time in three years, I smiled at him without an ounce of warmth. The old me would have crawled back to you on her hands and knees, grateful for whatever scraps of attention you threw her way. But that pathetic girl died on your operating table. This is who I am now.”
Before he could respond, another volte cur through the tension
“Kaela! Oh my God, you’re alive!”
Ophelia rame running through the broken doors, tears streaming down her face in a performance worthy of an award. She looked fragile and beautiful in her hospital gown, the perfect picture of a wronged sister ||
su put us through? Soren nearly killed himself thanking
“Why did you fake your death?” she subbed, throwing herself toward me. “Do you know what you you were goneF
stumble and immediately turn to Soren for support. The caught her automatically, arms wrapping
I sidestepped her theatrical embrace, watching her stu around her protectively
“I know you hate me,” she continued, voire breaking with perfectly calculated emotion. “I know you blame me for taking your place in the family. But did you really have to torture me like this? The electric shock therapy at that reformatory school, the beatings, the psychological abuse… I couldn’t take if anymore. That’s why I tried to kill myself “||
The les rolled off her tongue to smurthly, I almost admired the craft of it. Almost
“And then you set that fire while I was helpless in my bed,” she whispered, clutching Seren’s shirt. “I know I don’t deserve to live, not when it causes so much pain between you twn. Maybe I should just=”||
She made a show of looking around the room for something to hurt herself with, and right on cue, Suren gathered her closer
None of this is your fault, Ophelia,” he said fiercely, glaring at me over her head. “You s
suffered enough. Kaela was the one who
“Who what?” The voice that cut through Soren’s rant was like ice over steel ||
Nikolai stopped around me, placing himself between us and the unwelcome intruders. Where moments before he’d been warm and playful, now he was pure predator. The vampire side of his heritage was on full display–fangs visible, eyes gone black, an aura of harely contained violence rolling off him in waves.
Every wolf in the room took a step back. Even Soren, for all his arrogance, had enough survival instinct to recognize a superior predator when he sa
“You’re saying my mare is what, exactly?” Nikolai continued, voice deadly quiet. “Because it sounds like you’re about to accuse the future Luna of the Grimweld pack of some very serious crimes, I’d think very carefully about your next words, Dr. Blackvein.“]
The formal use of his title was a deliberate insult, reducing him from potential rival to mere employee.
Soren’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. “This is between me and my mate-|
ring, who just pledged herself to me in
“Your mate?” Nikolai’s laugh was winter wind over grave stones. “The woman standing behind me, wearing my ri front of two hundred witnesses? That mate?]
He turned slightly, extending his hand to me. “Kaela. Come here.”
I didn’t hesitate. Whatever this was between us–real or pretend, temporary or permanent–it was mine to choose. And I was choosing him.
The moment my fingers touched his, warmth flooded through ine. Safe Protected. Claimed.||
Niklas lifted our joined hands, making sure everyone could see the platinum band on my finger. “Dr. Blackvein, I believe you’re interrupting my Luna’s bonding ceremony. Along with…” He glanced at Ophelia with obvious disdain. “Your actual mate, it seems,”
The words hit their target perfectly. Soren’s face went white as he realized how this looked–him clutching another woman while trying to claim me
Now.” Nikolai continued, voce dropping to a whisper that somehow carried to every corner of the hall. “I’m going to give you thirty seconds to collect your real mate and get the fuck out of my territory. Before I decide that your disrespect requires a more permanent response.”
The threat was crystal clear. And everyone in that room knew Nikolai Grimweald had both the power and the reputation to make good on it
