Chapter 117 Claimed in Chains

Chapter 117 Claimed in Chains
POV Asher:

Claimed. I was claimed. I still can't believe it, even though four days have passed. The best days of my life — and the most tense ones as well.

I watch the flames of the bonfire, which we made to lessen the constant cold in the dungeon, rise in lazy spirals until they disappear among the cracks in the cracked ceiling. I imagine that, even with a complete renovation and comfortable furniture, the place would continue with this somber aura, which leaves us depressed and desperate to get out of here.

But we can't leave. We are trapped. Almost literally. Therak's father, Declan, roams the forest outside, looking for my mate. Looking for us. If he captures any of us, he gets Therak, because we made the bond. Not the complete one, but we've already formed enough ties to cause great damage, whether physical or mental. That's why the bear isn't letting me go out to hunt. Therak is terrified. In a way I never imagined.

"Love, please. I'll hunt down prey and be back in less than an hour. So fast you won't even miss me!" I say, appealing to pet names, to see if that makes the grumpy Alpha change his mind.

"I already said no." Therak growls, not even looking at me when he responds to the request I've been making since morning. "He'll attack when we're apart."

"My sense of smell is very good. If I sense the slightest odor indicating anyone, I'll come running back. I swear!"

The large man ignores me, continuing to pace back and forth in the dark, moldy cell where he spent over twenty years of his life imprisoned and tortured.

Una, who until then was lying on Begay's chest as a fox, shifts into human form and then seeks affection in the blond's arms, who finally lifts his head and stops walking.

"Therak, I know you're worried, but we need food." She murmurs, wrapping her arms around our mate's neck, while he lifts her easily so she can wrap her legs around his waist.

The omega is the only one who can calm Therak — or get close. When she places her hands on the bear's pale skin, he melts like jelly, sighing contentedly and forgetting where he is. That's why Begay and I made the decision to always keep her glued to him at bedtime. Somehow, Una manages to ward off Therak's nightmares, which make him tremble and wake up in panic every time he closes his eyes. I believe it's because of the healing powers that most omegas have — and the little fox is learning to control them very well.

In these days we've been trapped in the dungeon, satisfying the fierce desire that came with the heat, Una has developed extraordinarily. She mastered shifting, learned to fully use the mental bond — not only to send thoughts but also to capture them — and, most impressively, began to understand us in a way that only a powerful omega can. She perceives what we need before we even discover it ourselves. She keeps the peace, being the link that calms everyone.

"I just want to protect you." Therak murmurs, burying his face in the female's neck as he holds her tightly.

My chest tightens seeing the scene. The Alpha of Moonclaw Ridge, considered the most dangerous and influential polar bear in Canada — perhaps even in the world — covered in scars that dominate his skin and soul, is curled up in the arms of a tiny fox, who caresses him as if he were a cute stuffed animal.

"You do protect, Therak. Every day." Begay says, rising to touch his shoulder.

Therak shudders at the contact, but despite letting out a small grunt of satisfaction, he doesn't lift his head to face the redhead.

"I hate this so much." Therak says, after long seconds of tense and suffocating silence. It's impossible not to notice his choked voice. "How my bad decisions are hurting you..." He finally lifts his head, and I feel like crying when I see his eyes are full of unshed tears. "This should be the greatest moment of our lives. Una deserved to be in a comfortable house to go through her first heat. You deserved that! It was supposed to be perfect, but in the end..."

"It is being perfect," I interrupt him, approaching so he can feel the love from all his mates. "We've done most of the bonding; we've felt more pleasure than it's possible to dream of. And most importantly: we are together. There's no way it could be better than that, old man," I tease at the end, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere a little.

Therak smiles. It's not much, however, it's still a smile that eases the knot in my throat — and seems to undo part of the weight he carries on his shoulders.

"Sorry. I've been a terrible mate. Ruining the whole heat experience." The bear murmurs, sounding ashamed.

"You are not!" Una states, but Therak shakes his head, ignoring her attempt to soften the situation.

"I am. It's this place." He makes a broad gesture, encompassing the entire windowless room. His expression immediately closes up as he stares at one of the rusty chains, forgotten on the blood-stained floor. "I have too many horrible memories... I thought that if we bonded here, the good memories would outweigh the bad ones. Unfortunately, that's not what happened."

"It surprises me that you burned the house, but not the dungeons." Begay comments on the question that had also crossed my mind.

Therak lets out a dry laugh after sitting on the floor near the fire. He adjusts Una on his lap, still holding her as if he needs the contact not to freak out, and extends his hand, inviting Begay and me to come closer. Each of us goes to one side, surrounding the great bear tortured by his own past.

"I wanted to burn it, but I was weak. A coward." He swallows hard, and I caress his knee when he starts trembling. "The mere idea of coming down here made my throat close up. What I went through inside here..."

The sigh he lets out is full of pain, and this time, he can't stop the tears from streaming down his cheek, getting lost in his light-haired beard.

"You don't have to talk, dear," I murmur, so sad about what he suffered when he was a little boy. Or rather, when he was a polar bear cub.

"I want to be honest with you." Therak closes his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, as if he needs strength. "Especially because we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, and you deserve to know why I sometimes lose control and turn into a monster."

"You are not a monster, Therak." Begay holds one of his hands, giving it a firm squeeze.