Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

Magnus's POV

Standing in the shadows with my arms crossed over my chest, I watched as Zara thrashed against her restraints. The ropes didn't loosen but only bit further into her wrists, but she didn't stop struggling. Defiant. Stubborn. Even now.

She glared at me, her eyes burning with fury. Pure fury.

She didn't beg. She didn't cry.

Watching her broken should have been amusing, but it wast.

Instead, something dark twisted deep inside my chest, coiling tight like a vice. It wasn't guilt. I didn't feel guilty —she asked for this after all. But the mate bond was a cruel one, forcing me to experience her pain like a slow, insidious poison. Every cut, every pain that wracked her body sent immense pain rippling through mine too. I clenched my fists forcing myself to ignore the sensation.

She needs to learn.

Nerissa paced in front of her, dragging the tip of the dagger along Zara's thigh, just enough to get her shudder with pain. "You could have avoided this if you had just behaved well," she mused, lifting Zara's chin to meet her glare. "You should have been smarter to know your place."

"Fuck. You," Zara spat between gritted teeth.

Nerissa laughed—the sound—sharp and cruel. "Still feisty, right? I like that."

The moment Nerissa pressed the dagger into Zara's thighs, I felt the sharp, wenching pain.

My jaw tightened. My fingers curled into fists, digging into my palm. Damn this bond.

I turned away, masking the tension in my body, but Viktor —every watchful —caught the slight change in my posture.

"Something wrong, Magnus?" He asked quietly, a smirk tugging at his lips.

I let a sharp exhale. "Nothing at all."

But my body doesn't seem to align with me, because the longer I stood there, the more Zara's pain bled into me, threatening to tear apart any ounce of control I had. She gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out, but I could feel the way her body trembled.

It was annoying.

I shouldn't care. I didn't care.

But my damn wolf did.

Viktor stepped closer, chuckling. "The mate bond is a bitch, isn't it?" He said, his voice low.

I shot him a warning glare, but only smirked. He wasn't wrong though.

This had to end. Me. Zara. The mate bond. Everything has to end.

I turned to him, my voice cold and measured. "Send a message to Ashen. One last offer. If he wants her alive, he'll meet me."

Viktor arched a brow. "And if he refuses?"

I met his gaze, my voice cold, and serious. "We'll kill her. He'll never see her again."

I meant it this time. If he doesn't bend to my rules or try to play smart with me. Then I have no choice than to kill her because it's useless keeping her alive. Then I'll launch a full scale war on Ashen and take back what is mine.

I'm done being weak. I'm done trying to fix what couldn't be fix.

Then ghost growled inside me. "But she's our mate."

"Not anymore," I snapped back. "She's forbidden."

Once Ashen bends to my terms, I would reject her myself. Then, she's his problem.

Ashen's POV

The great hall was filled with the hum of celebration. Powerful Alphas, nobles and elders drank, murmuring words of loyalty and celebration. The wedding had been a grand affair, just as the elders had wanted—a symbol of stability for the kingdom.

Yet as I sat on the throne beside Selene, my new wiy, I felt nothing.

No joy. No pride.

Only a hollow emptiness clawed my chest.

Selene turned to me, her hand brushing against mine. "Ashen," she said softly, forcing a smile on her lips. "Tonight marks a new beginning for us. And I promise to be a supportive wife and Luna—”

I wasn't listening. Wasn't even there.

My mind was elsewhere, far from this charade, far from this political union that meant nothing to me. It was with Zara.

She was out there suffering in the hand of that bastard while I was here playing a devoted husband. The mere thought of it made my blood ran hot.

I took a deep breath, trying to push the emotions away, but before I could respond to Selene to put her in her place, a servant carrying a tray of golden goblet stumbled. A sharp gasp echoed through the hall as the tray slipped further grasp, wine splattering all over me.

The room fell silent.

Selene reached for a cloth to wipe me dry, but I stopped her with the flick of my hand. My cold glare shifted to the trembling servant before me, her shaky hands clasped together as she whispered incoherent apologies.

Pathetic.

"Take her outside," I ordered, my voice like steel. "And execute her."

A collective gasps rippled through the crowd, but no one dared to onjt. The guards moved swiftly, dragging the girl away as she sobbed.

Ruthless. I ruled the Frostfang pack with ruthlessness. I can't risk being too soft with them, and one day they conspire against me and take my throne. Not even now that Magnus has resurfaced. If I want to keep the throne then I'd have to let the Pack understand that whoever betrayed me would pay for it dearly.

Selene stiffened beside me. "Ashen," she whispered, her voice laced with unease. "That was so unnecessary, and specially not on our wedding day. Bloodshed on a day like this can bring a evil omen to our marriage."

I ignored her.

Marriage? Evil omen? This marriage itself was already a evil omen from the beginning.

Then, my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out, my heart hammering against my ribs. An unknown number. But I knew exactly who it was.

I opened the message.

Your last chance to save your woman. Meet me at Shadow Vane.

Magnus.

A slow, dark smile formed on my lips.

Still haven't learned your lesson yet?

Finally.

My time had come.

And this time, I won't fail.