Chapter 6 Separation
AGE 16 - THE ENGAGEMENT
Father called me into his study on a Tuesday afternoon, which immediately put me on alert.
"Your grandfather has made a decision about your future," Father said, his voice carefully neutral. "Given your... unique situation and the concerns raised after your first shift, he believes it's time to secure the Sterling bloodline."
My stomach dropped.
No, I wrote immediately. Please tell me this isn't what I think it is.
"You're being engaged. To Celeste Nightshade. Alpha Nightshade's daughter. The formal announcement will be made at a party this weekend."
I'm sixteen. This is insane.
"It's politics," Father said quietly. "This alliance strengthens our position and quiets the whispers about your first shift."
What about Mina?
"Your sister has nothing to do with this. This is about your public role as Sterling heir. What you do privately is your own business, but publicly, you need to fulfill your duties."
Celeste Nightshade arrived for dinner the next evening, beautiful in the way that came from wealth and privilege. Everything about her screamed calculated ambition.
She smiled when we were introduced, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"It's lovely to finally meet you, Rafe," she said smoothly. "I've heard so much about the Sterling heir."
I pulled out my notepad. It's nice to meet you too.
She read my words and something flickered across her face. Not quite disgust, but close. "Oh. Of course. I'd forgotten about your... condition."
Condition. Like being mute was a disease.
My wolf snarled inside me, but I kept my expression neutral.
Dinner was painful. Celeste talked at me about her accomplishments, her social standing, her future plans for when she became Sterling heir's wife. She asked me nothing about myself.
Through it all, I felt a growing wrongness in my chest. My wolf was rejecting this entire situation, making it clear that this female was NOT our mate.
Because our mate was sitting in a temple miles away, completely unaware that I'd just been promised to someone else.
"I think we'll make an excellent match," Celeste said toward the end. "The Sterling and Nightshade alliance will be very beneficial for both our families."
She didn't say "for us." She said "for both our families."
Before leaving, she leaned close and whispered, "I don't expect love, Rafe. I just expect you to play your part publicly. What you do privately is your business, as long as you're discreet."
The engagement party was Saturday evening. I spent three days in a fog, barely eating, fighting too aggressively during training.
Mina knew something was wrong. I could feel her concern through our bond.
At the party, Celeste stood beside me, playing the perfect fiancée. She smiled and charmed everyone while I stood silent and died inside.
My grandfather made the announcement: "It is my great pleasure to announce the engagement of my grandson, Rafe Sterling, to Celeste Nightshade."
Through our bond, I felt Mina's reaction from miles away. The sharp pain in her chest. The tears I knew she was crying.
I'm sorry, I tried to send. This means nothing. You're the only one who matters.
The moment I could escape, I ran to the temple.
I found Mina curled up in our corner, crying silently. We crashed into each other, holding tight while she sobbed into my shoulder.
I'm so sorry, I wrote when she'd calmed enough. I had no choice. My grandfather arranged it.
I felt your pain tonight, she wrote with shaking hands. Felt how trapped you were.
This changes nothing between us. Celeste doesn't matter. You're my twin. My other half.
But you'll have to marry her. Pretend to be her mate.
Only in public. She wants status, not love. We live separately privately.
What happens when we turn eighteen? When the seal breaks and we're supposed to merge?
I grabbed the pencil and wrote the truth burning in my chest.
After we merge and complete the prophecy, I'm breaking the engagement. I don't care about duty or family expectations. You're my only real family.
Mina read my words, and I felt something shift in her emotions. Not just pain, but determination.
What if completing the prophecy means you forget me? she wrote slowly. What if merging means one consciousness dies and the other absorbs it? What if you wake up whole but I'm gone, and you don't even remember I existed?
The question hit like a physical blow.
Then we figure out how to make that happen, I wrote firmly. We have two years to research and find a way to merge without losing each other.
Promise me you won't give up. Promise that even when you're with her, you won't forget about finding a way for us to stay together.
I promise. Everything I do from now until we turn eighteen is focused on one goal: making sure we both survive the merge. Both of us, Mina. Separate and whole.
We pressed our foreheads together, our determination aligning through the bond.
Two years to change our fate.
AGE 17 - THE ACADEMY
The letter arrived on a Tuesday morning, delivered by courier in official Lycan Spirit Academy uniform.
The seal was unmistakable. A silver wolf howling at a crescent moon.
I broke the seal with shaking hands.
Dear Mr. Rafe Sterling, It is our pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted to Lycan Spirit Academy...
Father's face transformed with excitement. "Do you understand what this means? The Academy only accepts the top fifty Alpha candidates from across all territories. This is the highest honor a young wolf can receive."
When Vivienne saw the letter, approval flashed in her eyes. "Perhaps the Sterling heir isn't as defective as everyone thought."
When does it start? I wrote.
"Two months. You'd leave at the end of summer for the entire academic year."
My heart stopped.
Three territories away. An entire year. No weekly meetings with Mina. No way to maintain the physical connection that kept both our wolves stable.
I can't go.
Father's smile faded. "What do you mean you can't go?"
I have responsibilities here.
Father studied my face and understanding dawned. "This is about your sister, isn't it?"
I nodded.
When we were alone, I told him everything. The prophecy. The merge. The possibility that one of us might die when the seal broke on our eighteenth birthday.
Father's face went pale. "You're telling me that in one year, you and your sister are supposed to merge into one being, and there's a chance one of you won't survive it?"
Yes. Which is why I can't leave her now.
"If you refuse this acceptance, your grandfather will disown you. You'll lose access to resources. To the library. To the funds I've been using to help your sister."
I hadn't thought about that.
That night, I showed Mina the letter.
She read it, devastation clear on her face. This is an incredible opportunity.
I'm not going. I'm refusing the acceptance.
Your father said you'd be disowned, she wrote.
I don't care.
But I do. Her handwriting grew messy. You'd lose everything. How will we fund our research?
Then she grabbed the pencil and wrote quickly.
The prophecy mentioned the Academy. "The Twins will be tested where Alphas are forged." What if there are answers there? Information we can't access here? We've exhausted the resources.
I can't leave you for a year. My wolf barely functions when we're apart for a week.
The telepathic bond is stronger now. Maybe strong enough to work across distance.
And if it's not?
Then you come back. But Rafe, we need answers. We've been researching for six years and still don't know how to merge safely.
Through our bond, I felt everything she wasn't writing. The terror of being without me. The loneliness she knew she'd feel. The fear that something would happen while I was gone.
But underneath was something stronger. Love. The fierce love that made her willing to sacrifice our time together if it meant saving us both.
I hate this, I sent through our bond.
I know. I hate it too. But we're running out of time.
Two months, I finally wrote. I have two months before I leave. We use every second to strengthen our bond and prepare.
THE WARNING
We met every single night instead of once a week. Trained harder. Pushed our connection further.
Our telepathic bond worked reliably up to five miles. Beyond that, it grew fuzzy.
Three territories was hundreds of miles.
One night, we both fell asleep in the temple and shared a dream.
Our mother stood at the altar, young and beautiful with our silver-grey eyes.
"No," she said, horror on her face. "You're not supposed to be together yet. It's too soon."
"Who's coming?" Mina asked, and I realized she had her voice in this dream.
"The Council. The same ones who killed me. They know you've found each other. They know you're close to completing the prophecy."
"How do we stop them?"
"You can't. Not yet. You're not strong enough. The seal has to break naturally on your eighteenth birthday. If they force it, if they make you merge too soon, you'll burn out."
"Then what do we do?"
"Separate. Stay apart until the time is right. Trust the bond. And whatever you do, don't let them make you merge before you're ready."
She reached for our faces, but her hands passed through us like ghosts.
"I love you both. I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you better."
The dream faded. "They're coming. Run. Don't let them find you together. Not yet."
We woke gasping, clutching each other's hands.
Through our bond, I felt Mina's terror matching mine.
Then we heard it. Voices in the distance. People moving through the forest toward the temple.
You need to go, Mina wrote frantically. If they find us together, they'll know what we are.
I'm not leaving you alone.
You're leaving for the Academy in six hours anyway. Go, Rafe. Please. Trust the bond.
The voices were getting closer.
I grabbed her face and pressed my forehead against hers.
I love you. I'm coming back. One year from now, we're going to figure this out together.
I love you too. Now GO.
I forced myself to run toward the back exit. I looked back once and saw Mina standing in the entrance, hand pressed over her heart.
Our bond stretched between us like a living thing.
Then I was running, our mother's warning echoing in my mind.
They're coming. Don't let them find you together.
We had one year until we turned eighteen.
One year to find answers.
One year before the prophecy came due and we discovered if we'd live or die when we finally became whole.