Chapter 10 10. Break the bond
Tabitha’s POV.
As I let my thoughts loose, the brothers talk about the rogue attack.
“Rogues are getting cocky these days. That one came in way too close,” Reed remarks while sitting beside me.
Luca nods. “We’ve seen more of them in the past few months than the entire year before that.”
“Maybe we’ve gotten too soft on them. They thought they had a free pass just because we’re not as ruthless as we used to be. We need to teach them a lesson,” Reed declares. I can see the fury simmering in his eyes as he stares at my swollen ankle. “They can’t just prowl near our turf and attack our people.”
“The attacks won’t stop just because we’ve dealt with a few of them,” Luca mutters matter-of-factly.
“In that case, we’ll just have to hunt each one of them,” Reed declares. “They are the reason why the navy has spotted many human corpses scattered all over the island these past few weeks. We can’t keep covering up their tracks. We have to stop them all before they kill any more people. Or else, we’ll be risking the secrecy of our kind.”
“It’s already bad that some humans are already aware of our existence,” Luca says.
I want to scoff. Surely, he’s not shading me, right? My mom is a she-wolf, so it’s normal that I am aware of the existence of werewolves too. Although, there are also other humans who work in the Crystal Ridge pack—especially the staff in the Aldair estate. However, they’ve been raised on the island all their life and inside the inner circles of werewolves and packs. So, it’s not a surprise that they are also aware of werewolf business. I guess what Luca pertains to are humans who do not interact within the werewolf community directly, those who are actually oblivious that such creatures exist. Alpha Emery Aldair’s position in the navy serves as a massive cover for his pack and werewolf activities, especially since he has some of his pack members within the navy ranks. The three packs in Kaelara; Crystal Ridge pack, Stormblood pack, and Deathclaw pack have some sort of agreement that werewolf activities should be under wraps, so the humans will not suspect their existence. It has been like that for years. They have set up a system for that.
But the ones who break that system are the rogues—werewolves who are not part of the three packs and refuse to follow their rules.
“We should kill every last one of the rogues within the island. It’s the only way to restore order,” Reed says. He sounds so sure about it.
I find the idea repulsive. Killing never really sits right with me.
“That’s what I think too. These rogues are never going to learn. Killing is the only way,” Luca agrees.
They talk about murder so casually that it makes my blood run cold.
“Don’t you think that’s too much? K-Killing everyone, I mean?” I ask, my voice weak.
Luca frowns. “It is necessary. The rules keep the peace within three major packs in this island. It keeps the citizens safe, and keeps the ordinary humans safe—humans like you. You saw what they did to you earlier. They have no regard for rules, they kill whoever they want. Is that what you want? To roam around the island fearing for your life because of the unruly rogues?”
“T-That’s… I, uh…” I can’t think of a reply. He’s got a point. And maybe I’m being hypocritical especially after they just saved me from a rogue attack earlier. They killed all three and if they didn’t do it, I might be the one who will end up dead.
“The rogues will always have a choice—join a pack and follow the rules. Now, if they can’t do that, then they can’t blame us for hunting them down,” Jace adds.
My eyes drop to the floor as I fumble on my tattered dress. I hate that they’re right. It’s easier to think of them as bloodthirsty killers who relish in the sight of blood and love watching another person suffer. At least with that painting in mind, it’ll be easier for me to hate them and break the mate bond.
But if they’re like this… it’s making me realize that they’re not actually monsters. It makes it harder for me to break the bond.
After an hour, my phone buzzes. It’s a message from my mother.
Mom:
Sweetheart, where are you? You disappeared from the party earlier and you haven’t returned yet. Please tell me that you’re okay.
“Who is it?” Luca asks, cocking a brow.
“It’s… my mom. She’s worried about me. I should head back.”
Reed scoffs and bends down. Before I can stop him, he scoops me up easily into his arms.
“Hey, let me go. I can walk on my own!” I complain.
“The fuck you can. Are you blind? Your ankle is swollen,” Reed growls. “Stay still. I don’t have Luca’s patience. Don’t test me.”
I grit my teeth and bite back the urge to argue with him. I let Reed carry me back to the estate while the other three follow.
The five of us enter through the back door of the estate to avoid the guests in the courtyard. The party is still ongoing and I would rather not interact with any of the guests after the scene Yennifer caused earlier.
To my surprise, Alpha Emery and my mother are waiting for us at the foyer. They look surprised to see Reed carrying me inside.
“Oh my god! Tabi, what happened?” My mom rushes to me as Reed places me to the couch.
“She sprained her ankle,” Luca explains.
“How?” mom presses on.
“There were rogues. They attacked while I was walking through the woods.”
“What? Where exactly?” Alpha Emery steps closer, frowning.
“Near the edge of the western perimeter,” Jace answers. “They were inside our border.”
Mom gasps. “Oh my god, are you alright?”
“I’m fine now,” I say, glancing at the brothers. “They showed up and—helped.”
Mom turns to the boys, clearly stunned. “You saved her?”
Reed lets out a short breath, clearly bored. “We didn’t do it for her. We were already patrolling. Just protecting the vicinity.”
Something about the way he says that stings, but I stay silent.
“Well, whatever the reason, thank you. You still helped her,” Mom says, her voice full of genuine gratitude.
Jace scratches the back of his head. “Yeah, it’s been… kind of an unexpected day. Especially after we found out she’s our—”
“I need to rest,” I interrupt quickly. “We can talk about everything later.”
Jace’s mouth snaps shut. Alpha Emery watches me for a bit, then nods.
“Alright. Rest for a while, Tabitha. Don’t worry about the party, you can just rest for now.”
“Thank you.”
“She should stay off that foot for now,” Luca says.
“Come, sweetheart,” Mom offers her arm. “Let’s get you to your room.”
With Mom’s help, I limp toward the stairs. I glance back once. All four of them are watching me with uniformly unreadable expressions. Once we’re inside my room, Mom eases me onto the bed.
“I’m sorry. For ruining your engagement party,” I murmur.
She shakes her head and tucks a pillow behind me. “You didn’t ruin anything. It’s not your fault. And besides, the party isn’t even over. Just rest your foot while we wrap things up outside, alright?”
I nod. She leans down and kisses my forehead.
“I’ll come check on you later.”
She leaves, and I close my eyes. Finally alone. My thoughts spin too fast to keep track of.
But the silence doesn’t last long. The door creaks open again, and I sit up quickly. All four of my stepbrothers walk in. All four are wearing serious expressions on their faces.
“Why’d you stop us?” Evren asks.
“What?” I try to play dumb.
“You stopped me from informing them that you are our mate,” Jace says firmly. He looks irritated.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Because it’s none of their business.”
“What? They should be aware of our mate bond,” he insists.
“No, they shouldn’t. Because I don’t want this. I haven’t accepted the mate bond yet.”
“There’s nothing to accept. The mate bond is set the moment the five of us felt it, ” Jace chides.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to break the bond,” I say with conviction.
Reed lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Still holding onto that fantasy?”
“Drop your plan, Tabitha. It’s not gonna work. You’ll be tethered to us whether you like it or not,” Evren says coldly.
I fist on my blanket, anger burning in my chest. Whether it’s five years ago or now, I always find myself falling under someone’s control. This mate bond is just another thing that is keeping me away from the freedom that I want.
“You ran once,” Reed says. “But not this time. You’re stuck with us. Just accept it.”
I meet their eyes, my teeth grinding in fury. But deep down, I know they’re not wrong.
I’m prey in a den full of wolves… and there’s no escaping this time.