Chapter 40: Bite of Fate - Riven's POV

After what felt like forever, my parents returned and went to bed. As soon as I was sure they were asleep, I snuck out my window and went to Callista’s. She was on her bed, and turned her head when I pecked lightly on the window.

I watched her cross the room and together we lifted the window. She crawled out onto the roof with me, then we took off.

As soon as we were on the ground, we made our way to the clearing I mentioned as silent as we could be.

“Are you ready?” She asked in a whisper.

Was I ready? Was I ready to permanently mark my fated mate at sixteen years old? Could I face the consequences that would definitely come after this?

Not only that, but I was binding myself to this girl I’d only known for less than two weeks.

Yes, to all of it.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

We slowed our pace as we got closer. I listened to the sounds of the forest, making sure the patrol wasn’t anywhere near this place. The last thing I wanted was for us to get caught.

We moved like shadows, avoiding limbs and fallen logs as best as we could. The night air was cool against my skin, carrying the scent of pine and earth. Above us, the moon wasn’t shining brightly.

What are you doing? He stirred, curious. Where are we going?

Shut up, I told him. This doesn't concern you.

Everything about her concerns me. She's ours. You're ours. We're all bound together.

I shoved the demon down and focused on Callista's hand in mine as we made our way deeper into the woods. The clearing I'd chosen was about five more minutes away and would be far enough that no one would hear us, but close enough that we could get back quickly if needed.

Neither of us spoke during the rest of the walk. There was too much to say and somehow not enough words for any of it.

When we reached the clearing, I stopped, taking it in. I'd been here a hundred times before, usually when I needed space to shift and run. But tonight, it looked different..and special.

What little moonlight there was filtered through the trees, casting silver light across the grass. It was perfect.

“I hate that we’re not doing this under the full moon.”

“Is this it?” She asked, her voice soft. “It’s perfect.”

"Yeah." I turned to face her. "Is it okay? We can go somewhere else if—"

"It's perfect." She stepped closer, her hands finding mine. "Riven, are you sure about this? Really sure? Because once we do this—"

"I've never been more sure of anything." I cupped her face, needing her to see the truth in my eyes. "Callista, I love you. I know it's fast, I know we're young, but I love you more than I thought I could love anyone. And I want this.”

Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked up at me. “I love you so much that it terrifies me. Maybe we’re not fully in love yet, but I know we will be. I can’t lose you. That much I do know.”

“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I said. “You’re going to be right here with me, marked as mine.”

"Do you really think this will work? That sealing the bond will contain it?"

"I have to believe it will." I pressed my forehead to hers. "The Moon Goddess said love was the answer. And marking each other, claiming each other completely, is love, isn't it?"

"Yeah." She breathed out slowly. "It is."

We stood there for a moment, just holding each other, then I pulled back.

“We should do this before I lose my nerve.”

“You? Lose your nerve?” She tried to smile. “I’m the one who is terrified.”

“Of me?”

“No,” she snapped, slapping my chest lightly. “Of the pain that comes with bites. I heard they hurt.”

“They can,” I said, refusing to lie to her. “But only for a moment. Normally, we’d… Well, you know this is normally done after the ceremony and the situation is a little different.”

She raised one eyebrow. “Yes, I know. Now, how do we do this?”

“I bite you first,” I said, my voice rougher than intended. “Traditional marking is on the throat, right where it meets the shoulder. It has to be deep enough to scar, but not to seriously injure.”

“Oh, that’s comforting,” she muttered.

“Hey, I won’t hurt you,” I said, tilting her chin up. “Not more than is necessary. I’ll try to make it as good as I can.”

"I know." She took a breath. "Okay. I'm ready."

But she didn't look ready. She looked terrified, and that made my wolf whine with distress.

"Callista, we don't have to—"

"Yes, we do." She cut me off. "Stop giving me outs. I want this. I'm just scared."

"Me too."

That seemed to help. Some of the tension left her shoulders. "Really?"

"Terrified," I admitted. "What if I bite too hard? What if I hurt you badly? What if the demon tries to take over mid-bite?"

"Then I'll pull you back." She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Like I always do."

I held her for a long moment, breathing in her scent and memorizing this moment before everything changed.

Then I pulled back and guided her to sit on the grass. "It'll be easier if you're sitting.”

She sat, and I knelt behind her, gently moving her hair away from her neck. The sight of that pale, unmarked skin made my wolf surge forward with possessive need.

Mine. Mark her. Make her ours.

"I'm going to do it now," I warned, my voice already shifting with the wolf's influence. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." Her voice trembled, but she tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck. "Do it."

I pressed a kiss to the spot first. It was a silent goodbye to who we were before this moment. Then I let my canines extend, feeling them lengthen and sharpen.

"I love you," I whispered against her skin.

Then I bit down.

Callista's scream tore through the night, and for one horrible moment, I thought I'd done it wrong or hurt her too badly. But then the mate bond exploded between us like lightning.

It was everything at once. I felt her pain, my satisfaction, our love, and the bond searing itself to both of us. I tasted her blood as the mark took hold and felt it burning into her skin.

Mine. She was mine now. Truly, completely mine.

I released the bite, immediately licking the wound to help it heal. The mark was already forming, looking identical to the Moon Mark on her opposite shoulder.

Callista was shaking, with tears streaming down her face, but when she looked at me, her eyes were wide with wonder.

"That was—" She couldn't finish the sentence. "I felt everything. It was—"

"I know." I pulled her into my arms. "I feel it too."

The bond between us was different now. It was stronger, brighter, and where it had only been a thread connecting us, now it was thick and unbreakable.

"Your turn," Callista said, her voice steadier now. She shifted, positioning herself in front of me. "Where do I—"

"Same place." I tilted my head, exposing my neck. "Right here."

I could see the hesitation in her eyes. The fear of hurting me.

"It's okay," I assured her. "I can take it."

"What if my bite isn't deep enough? What if—"

"Callista." I caught her face between my hands. "Trust yourself. Your wolf knows what to do. Just let her."

She nodded, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, they were glowing slightly as her wolf rose to the surface.

"I love you," she said.

Then she bit.

The pain was sharp and immediate, but absolutely worth it. I felt her canines pierce my skin and felt the mate bond flare in completion. The sensation was overwhelming. It was pain and pleasure mixing until I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.

When she released me, licking the wound to seal it, I had to fight not to collapse.

"Holy wolves," I breathed.

"We just bit each other. We're actually mated now,” she said, awe filling her voice.

"Yeah." I touched the mark on my neck, feeling the raised edges already forming. "We are."

For a moment, we just sat there, processing what we'd done, then Callista tensed.

"Riven. The demon. Can you feel it?"

I checked, reaching for that dark presence that had been my constant companion for years, but it was quieter for once. It was still there, coiled in the depths, but subdued.

"It's contained," I said, my voice soft. "Not gone, but... held back, like the bond is actually keeping it in check."

"Really?" Hope lit her face. "It worked?"

“Yes,” I said, pulling her to me and kissing her hard. “It actually worked.”

We stayed in the clearing for a while longer, neither of us quite ready to face reality yet, but eventually, the sky began to lighten in the east. We had to go back.

The walk home was different from earlier. We were different and changed in ways we were only beginning to understand. When we reached the back of the house, I paused.

“Once we go inside, they’re all going to know. They’ll see the marks and smell our combined scents. And then—”

“We’ll face the consequences together.”

“Together,” I agreed.

My parents were already up. I could see the light through the kitchen window. She almost went for the back door, but I shook my head.

We slipped inside the same way we left, by climbing up the porch and stopped on the roof.

“You should try to get some sleep,” I whispered while we were at her window.

“So should you, but it’s already dawn.” She touched the mark on her neck at the same time I touched mine. “Do you have regrets?”

“None.” I leaned forward, kissing her softly. “You?”

"Not a single one."

We separated, each retreating to our rooms, but everything was different now. W

As I climbed into bed, touching the mark Callista had left on my neck, I felt the demon stir one last time.

What have you done? He asked, sounding almost concerned.

What I had to, I answered. And it worked. You're weaker now.

For now, it whispered. But we'll see how long that lasts. We'll see.

I closed my eyes, exhaustion finally pulling me under.

Tomorrow we'd face our parents and deal with the consequences, but tonight, I had saved myself by binding myself to the person I would always love most.

And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.