Chapter 20 A Bond He Refuses to Accept
His Alpha voice thundered, shaking the very walls.
Ethan’s wolf hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to bow—to submit.
Lydia was stunned, her eyes widening as she watched Demetrius storm toward Ethan.
Even without turning, his presence alone sent a shudder through her wolf, forcing it to cower in fear.
Demetrius could kill Ethan in an instant. She couldn’t allow that to happen.
"Bare your neck!" Lydia shouted, rushing toward the massive wolf before them.
I am an Alpha.
Lydia stiffened. Ethan’s voice echoed in her mind—his mindlink reaching her even in his wolf form.
"He will kill you—look at him!" she screamed, panic rising in her voice.
Demetrius claws were out, his entire form coiled with lethal intent. He hadn’t shifted, but his wolf was fully present, its murderous gaze locked onto Ethan.
With his fangs bared and claws raised, he moved in for the kill—until a voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Demitrius !"
He froze mid-stride.
Slowly, he turned.
Aria stood at the doorway.
In an instant, the fury drained from him. His claws retracted, his fangs disappearing as he pulled himself back from the brink.
\-
Earlier—
"My rage?"
Miriam heard it—the shift in his voice. Ash was taking control. There was no stopping him now.
She spun toward a nearby guard. "Get the Luna here, now!"
"Yes, Head Lady!" The guard bolted.
\---
In Aria's Chamber
"You’re always in trouble. What happened now?" Dylia asked, applying powdered herbs to Aria’s wound.
Aria winced, hissing under her breath. "I don’t know. Someone just shot me."
"Hmm." Dylia shook her head as she examined the wound. "It’s not as deep as I expected. Did you get treatment already?"
Aria scoffed. "What do you mean? I’m already dying over here. Unlike you, I lost my wolf —so I can't heal"
Dylia rolled her eyes and dug through her bag before pulling out a small vial. She handed it to Aria. "Drink this. It’ll help with your healing."
Aria didn't hesitate. She downed the liquid in one gulp, grimacing at the bitter taste. It was just like the last one Dylia had given her—disgusting, but effective. Almost instantly, a soothing warmth spread through her body, dulling the pain.
"Are you sure you’re not a witch?" Aria muttered, shifting to lie back down.
Dylia chuckled. "Joke’s on you." She packed up her supplies, ready to leave.
Just then, Milicent burst into the room.
"Do you know what’s happening outside? The streets are in chaos! Wolves are fighting everywhere!"
Dylia sighed and smacked her forehead.
"Great. Now I have a whole pack of injured wolves to treat. Take care, Luna." With that, she walked out.
Aria frowned. "What? Why are they fighting?"
Milicent exhaled sharply. "Because of you. Some believe you were mistreated and claim the land isn’t safe under the Alpha’s rule."
Aria eyes widened. "What?"
"Your mother and Alpha Ethan are speaking with the His Grace now. And you know what talking means."
Aria scoffed. "Please. They’re not here for me. They’re using this to stir trouble for Demetrius ."
Not her problem. They could tear each other apart for all she cared.
She turned away, resting against the wall.
Then—a knock.
"Luna, are you there?"
Milicent and Aria exchanged glances before Milicent went to check.
"The Head Lady requests the Luna in the throne room immediately."
Milicent stiffened. Her face paled as she turned back to Aria. "You have to go. The Head Lady’s orders are absolute."
Aria groaned as she forced herself up, her movements slow and stiff. Milicent hurried to her side, supporting her as they made their way out.
Why did everything have to be so difficult? Couldn’t she get a moment of peace in this godforsaken place?
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The Throne Room
Miriam was pacing when they arrived.
The moment she saw Aria , she rushed forward, grabbing her arms.
"Listen to me. Get inside, make yourself visible. Let the His Grace see you. You alone can calm him down."
Arua hesitated. From inside, a frantic voice shouted—
"Bare your neck or he kills you! Can’t you see him?"
Aria froze. "What? You expect me to walk in there and get myself killed? His Grace hates me more than anything!"
Milicent swallowed hard, fear clear in her eyes, but she said nothing.
Miriam’s grip tightened. "You’ll understand later." Then, without giving Aria a choice, she dragged her forward.
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Inside the Throne Room
Silence.
Aria's blood ran cold.
Demetrius stood at the center, his murderous gaze locked on a big wolf, his hand raised for the kill. His claws gleamed, fangs bared—he was moments from ripping the black wolf apart.
Aria didn’t think . She acted.
"Demetrius !"
The room stilled.
For the first time, she had called him by his name.
He turned toward her, his mismatched eyes burning with fury.
Her breath hitched.
She took a slow step back, her heart hammering. But then—she saw it.
His claws retracted. His fangs shrank. The wild rage in his eyes faded, his mismatched gaze grounding itself in reality once more.
He had stopped. Because of her.
Then, without a word, he strode toward Aria , lifting her effortlessly into his arms.
The room fell into stunned silence. Every eye followed him as if he had sprouted two heads.
Without hesitation, he carried her out.
His gaze found his Gamma, and he handed Aria over before turning away.
Then, in one swift motion, he leapt into the air—his wolf bursting forth as he vanished into the woods.
Such speed.
No one had ever seen a wolf move that fast.
Aria remained silent as the Gamma studied her face. Then, without a word, he turned and carried her toward her room.
Hours passed, but Demetrius remained restless. He tore through rogues and wild animals alike, killing anything that crossed his path. The rage inside him burned hotter with every passing second.
He knew exactly what was happening to him.
Shifting back into his human form, he clenched his fists.
"It can't be."
It can be, his wolf rumbled.
"I refuse to believe it. A mate? I've lost all hope for a mate, After my snow die."
We had, but the Moon Goddess isn’t that cruel to us. I told you she’d bless us with another.
Demetrius jaw tightened. "I will never forget Antara."
His wolf howled into the night, the sound shaking the entire forest.
Our mate is dead.
"But she cannot be forgotten."
This is not what Craven expects to hear when he wakes up.
"I’ll put him back to sleep."
Demitrius scoffed, pacing restlessly in his mind.
You don’t understand the power of a bond, Deme-trius .
"It's fine. Keep calling me Demetrius . It makes me feel and act like him."
You’re avoiding the truth. If I hadn’t acted today, Craven would have surfaced and torn that wolf apart. His mate bond is stronger than you realize. Be careful how you treat her because…
"She’s not my mate," Demetrius cut in, his voice cold. "She will never be. After all, I bonded her—that’s why I’m acting this way. I bonded her in the ways of the old. she can never take my snow place. Never "
With that, he shoved his wolf into silence, blocking him out completely.