Chapter 7 The Break

Chapter 7 The Break
Christian's POV

The moment she disappeared…
Something inside me shattered.

“Aurora—”

My hand shot forward, fingers closing around nothing but air.
No.
No.
No.

This wasn’t possible. She was right here.
In my arms. In my fucking arms.

“AURORA!” I shout loudly.

My voice echoed through the cave, bouncing off the wet stone walls, coming back to me like a mockery.

Silence followed.

Deafening. Suffocating silence. She wasnt here.....
My chest heaved as I turned around, searching—hoping—waiting for her to reappear. Maybe this was just a dream.
For this to be some kind of joke.
Some kind of illusion.
But there was nothing.
No scent.
No warmth.
No Aurora.
No Aurora! this isnt how its done. I clench my fingers tightly in rage.
A low growl tore out of my throat.
My wolf surged forward violently, clawing at my insides.
Find her.
Mate.
Mine.

“I know that!” I roared, gripping my head as if I could physically hold myself together. What the hell just happened?One second she was here—Kissing me. Breathing my name. Accepting me—
I remember her words, as if they are still ringing in my ears-
“I Aurora Rae Jenkins accept Christian Edward Black as my one and only mate.”
My heart slammed violently against my ribs.
Mate.
She said it.
She said it.
Then why the hell did she run?
A sharp pain shot through my chest, forcing a grunt out of me.
I staggered back, clutching my heart.
“What the—”
It burned.
No—
It pulled.
Like something deep inside me had awakened… only to be ripped away the very next second.

“Aurora…” I whispered, my voice breaking in a way it never had before.
I could feel her.
I swear to God—I could feel her.
A thread.
A connection.
Something very fragile… incomplete…
And then—
Nothing.

A roar ripped out of my chest, raw and animalistic.
I grabbed the nearest rock and hurled it across the cave, shattering it into pieces.
“WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

My voice cracked with rage.With something dangerously close to panic. She accepted me. She called herself mine. She looked me in the eyes and said she loved me. It was true. She really did love me, I saw it in her eyes, the way she looked at me, the way she touched me, the way she gave herself to me completely.

And then she disappeared.
“Was it all a lie?” I growled, pacing the cave like a caged beast.
My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms.
“Was I just a game to you?”
The thought made something dark twist inside me.
No.
No it couldn't be
No… that couldn’t be right.
The way she looked at me…
The way she touched me…
The way she—

My breath hitched.
My body still burned with her.
Her scent lingered faintly on my skin.
Her touch.
Her lips.
Her voice whispering my name.

“Fuck…” I dragged a hand through my hair, pulling at it in frustration. Nothing made sense. Nothing.
Why would she accept the bond…
And then run?
And if she wanted to run? then why did she accept the bond? Why did she do this to me? Whyyyyy???

Unless— My eyes darkened.
“She knew.”
The realization hit like a punch.
“She knew… and she still left.”
My wolf snarled inside me, furious, restless.
She’s ours.

“I KNOW SHE’S OURS!” I snapped, my voice echoing again.
Then where the hell is she?
The air felt too tight.
Too suffocating.
The cave that once felt like heaven now felt like a prison.

I walked to the spot where she had been standing. Where she vanished. My fingers brushed against the empty air.
“You don’t just disappear, Aurora…” I muttered, my voice low, dangerous. Another wave of pain hit my chest. Stronger this time. I dropped to one knee, gripping the ground. My breath came out in ragged gasps.
This wasn’t normal.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to feel.
When you find your mate…
You’re complete.
Whole.
Unstoppable.
So why did I feel like I was breaking apart?
My head dropped forward as I clenched my jaw.
“Damn you…” I whispered.
Silence answered me again.
And for the first time in my life… I didn’t know what to do. But one thing burned through the chaos. Through the rage. Through the pain clawing at my chest. She was mine. And she ran.My eyes slowly lifted, darkness settling deep within them. My jaw hardened. My fists clenched.“Run as far as you want, Aurora…” I said quietly, my voice cold now.
Deadly.
Certain.
A dangerous calm replaced the storm.
“I will find you.”
My gaze swept the cave one last time, sharp and restless, as if I could force her to appear again just by looking hard enough.

That’s when I saw it.
The box.
It sat there silently beside the mattress… untouched… waiting.
For a moment, I didn’t move. Her words echoed in my head. “You have to promise me that you will open it only after 12 am… and you won’t blame me for anything.” My jaw tightened. “Not blame you?” I muttered under my breath, a bitter scoff leaving my lips.

My fists clenched at my sides as I took a step toward it. Then another. Each step felt heavier than the last. As if some part of me already knew…Whatever was inside that box—
Was the answer.

I crouched down in front of it, staring at the neatly wrapped gift.
Her scent lingered faintly over it.
Soft.
Familiar.
Mine.

A flicker of hesitation crossed my mind. Just for a second. Then it was gone.I ripped the box open. Silence filled the cave again. But this time…It felt different. My eyes fell on what lay inside. And everything stilled. The wolf… carved into a heart. And behind it—A wand.

Not decorative.
Not symbolic.
Real.
My breath hitched.
“No…” I whispered, staring at it.

My mind raced, piecing everything together in a single, brutal moment. Her scent…The way she hid things…The fear in her eyes…

“She’s not human…”
The words left my lips slowly.
My voice low....
Dangerously low.

My grip tightened around the carving as something dark and powerful surged within me. “A witch. The cave seemed to grow colder. Quieter. As the truth settled in. And then—My lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

“Is that why you ran, Aurora…?”
My eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flashing through them.
“Or is that why you think I won’t come for you…?”