Chapter 38 Chapter 38: Breaking Point

Chapter 38 Chapter 38: Breaking Point

POV: Sam
I couldn’t stay trapped in that estate a moment longer.
The bond in my chest felt like a live wire, a constant, magnetic pull dragging me back toward Marcus. Between the electric near-kiss in his study and the heated confrontation I’d overheard between him and Elena, everything felt like it was crashing down on me. I needed to breathe. I slipped through the broken window in my room, hit the wet grass with a soft thud, and vanished into the night.
Twenty-five minutes later, I reached the old park on the outskirts of the city—the spot where Silas and I used to sneak off during lunch breaks back when life was simple. He was already waiting on our usual bench beneath the flickering streetlamp, his hood pulled up against the drizzle.
“Sam,” he breathed, standing up the second he saw me. He pulled me into a tight, grounding hug, clapping a hand hard against my back. “Fuck, man. I’ve been worried sick.”
We sank onto the damp wooden bench. Rain pattered softly on the canopy of leaves above us, and the park was deserted, save for the distant, rhythmic hum of city traffic.
“I’m sorry I disappeared like that,” I said, rubbing my hands together to chase away the chill. My shoulder still throbbed from the earlier wounds.
Silas leaned forward, elbows on his knees, studying my face with sharp concern. “What the hell happened? Since you were taken bro, I was so fucking scread. Then your uncle shows up like some kind of demon and drags you out of everywhere, I had no choice than to come up to him then when you were taken. Talk to me, Sam.”
I opened my mouth, the truth sitting heavy on my tongue. I wanted to spill it all—the blood bond, the way Marcus looked at me, the near-kiss, the kidnapping by draven and the dangerous, forbidden hunger that haunted me. But the words died in my throat.
“It was my uncle’s rivals,” I lied, keeping my eyes fixed on the wet ground. “They kidnapped me to get back at the family. Wanted to punish us. But it’s settled now. Everything’s… handled.”
Silas didn’t look entirely convinced, but he nodded slowly. “Yeah, I figured it was something like that. That detective, Harlan, wouldn’t leave me alone. Kept asking questions about you, your uncle, everything. I had no choice, Sam. I had to tell him what I knew.”
He shifted on the bench, glancing around the empty park before continuing. “Your uncle behaved when I came to report that night. I’ve never seen anything like it. The whole room went silent. The way he looked at those guards following you up and down… like he was ready to tear them apart with his bare hands if they cant find you. Even your aunt backed off. It was scary as hell, man.”
I swallowed hard. The memory of Marcus carrying me, the possessive strength in his grip, sent a confusing, traitorous rush of heat through my body. I looked away.
“I need a favor,” I said, forcing a change in topic. “Can you cover for me at school tomorrow? Tell the dean I’m sick. Maybe for a few days. I just… I need some time. Everything is too much right now.”
Silas ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “Yeah, I can do that. No problem. But you should know things are getting weird at school. Students keep asking where you are. Some are saying crazy shit about your family being in the mafia. And the other day I saw your uncle. He went straight into the dean’s office. Didn’t look like a friendly chat. Stayed in there for almost an hour, I guess the lie was swallowed well”
My stomach twisted. Guilt hit me like a physical blow. Silas had always been there for me, and here I was, dragging him into this nightmare while lying to his face.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I didn’t want any of this to touch you.”
Silas bumped my shoulder with his. “Hey, we’re friends. That’s what matters. But my parents… they told me to stay away from you for a while. After everything that’s happened. They’re scared.”
The words stung more than I expected. I nodded slowly, staring at the rain dripping from the leaves.
“I get it,” I said quietly. “I understand.”
We sat in silence for a while. The rain grew heavier, drumming a steady rhythm on the slats of the bench. I felt the crushing weight of it all—the bond, Marcus’s touch, the secrets I couldn’t share, and the life I felt slipping through my fingers.
“Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever have a normal life again,” I whispered, my voice cracking slightly. “Going to class. Hanging out without looking over my shoulder. Just… being normal. Without all this fear and bullshit.”
Silas was quiet for a long moment, then spoke softly. “You will, Sam. It might take time, but you will. You’re stronger than you think.”
I wanted to believe him. But sitting there in the cold rain, lying to my best friend while my body still burned with the memory of Marcus’s hands on me, it felt impossible.
“Thanks, man,” I said, forcing a small, tight smile. “For everything. Seriously.”
Silas grinned, just a little. “Always. You know that.”
We talked for a while longer—about mundane school gossip and old memories—anything to feel like ourselves again. For a few minutes, it almost worked. The tightness in my chest eased.
Then, a voice cut through the rain, smooth and hauntingly familiar.
“Hello, old friends.”
We both looked up sharply. A figure stepped out from behind a cluster of trees, hands tucked casually into his pockets, a relaxed, predatory smile on his face. Rain dripped from his dark hair.
Jerry.
The guy from my old school. The same one who had been part of the assassination attempt at the gala. He looked a little rougher around the edges, but that smug, dangerous expression hadn’t changed at all.
Silas tensed beside me, his entire body going rigid. “what the hell?, you fucking disappear from school”
Jerry ignored him completely, his eyes locked straight on me.
“Been a while, Sam,” he said softly, still smiling. “You look like you’ve had a rough couple of days.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. I stood up slowly, instinctively stepping in front of Silas to shield him.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice tight.
Jerry took another slow step closer, rain running down his face.
“Just saying hello to an old friend,” he replied, his eyes gleaming in the dark. “That’s all.”