Chapter 35 Bonded Tested
Tiara slammed her palms against the training ground wall as another explosion of energy surged out of her. Her breath came harsh and uneven. The power rolling off her skin crackled like heated lightning, unsteady, frustrated, and dangerously close to slipping out of control.
“Again?” Damien asked from behind her, voice low but warm, steadying her like gravity. “Or do you want to break the entire wall this time?”
She huffed, trying not to smile. “This wall annoyed me.”
“It’s a wall, Tiara.”
“A very judgmental one.”
That earned a small chuckle from him that was deep, rich sound that always loosened the knot in her chest but even laughter couldn’t hide the exhaustion etched across his face. None of them had slept much since the Council attacks began. The SilverShield Pack had been fighting for survival for days without pause, without peace, without certainty. The air of the pack felt thinner lately, like everyone was holding their breath and waiting for the next blow.
Behind them, a group of young wolves struggled through a formation drill. Half tripped over each other; the other half looked terrified to make a mistake. Morale had taken a serious hit since the last wave of assassins. Fear clung to them like fog.
Tiara looked at her pack, her responsibility and her heart twisted.
“They’re losing faith,” she whispered.
Damien moved closer, brushing his fingers against hers. The contact sparked, their bond reacting instantly. “They’re not losing faith in you,” he said softly. “They’re losing faith in themselves. There’s a difference.”
“They’re my pack. Their spirits crumble, and I feel it in my bones.”
“And you’re carrying all of it,” Damien murmured. “Too much, Tiara.”
She turned to face him. “That’s what being an Alpha means.”
“Yes. But being my mate means you don’t carry anything alone.”
The heat that shot through her bond made her inhale sharply. Their mate link pulsed was warm, insistent, almost pleading. But right as it tried to merge deeper, a sudden flare of danger hit Damien’s wolf. Instinctively, he pulled back, breaking the connection before the power transition sparked.
Tiara froze, breath shaking. “Damien…”
His eyes glowed gold for a moment. “It’s too unstable right now. If we merge powers while the Council is actively targeting us, our bond could be exposed.”
“Exposed to who?”
“To Magnus. To the Council. To NightFang. Everyone.” His jaw tightened. “If they learn the full strength we have when united, they won’t just attack SilverShield. They’ll erase it.”
Silence curled around them. Pain pulsed in her chest not actually from rejection, but from the truth of it.
“I hate this,” she whispered. “Being this close to you… wanting to be one with you… and knowing we can’t.”
Damien cupped her face. “We will. Not when the world is hunting us. Not when doing so puts you in danger.”
Her wolf whimpered at his restraint. Her heart ached at the necessity.
Before she could respond, a sharp whistle cut through the air.
“Tiara!” A female voice called out. “She’s doing it again!”
Tiara and Damien spun around.
On the far side of the training field, Tiara’s mother, Elara stood commanding a circle of younger wolves. Except her training wasn’t the gentle kind. She was tossing wolf after wolf to the ground with clean, efficient strikes.
“She’s brutal,” Damien murmured.
“She’s effective.” Tiara smiled weakly. “She always was.”
In the center of the circle, a young wolf named Lio groaned as he tried to stand. “You didn’t have to hit that hard,” he wheezed.
Elara arched a brow. “The assassins won’t pat your head and apologize either. Again.”
“Mother,” Tiara called as she jogged over. “What exactly are you doing?”
“Training,” Elara said. Then she smirked. “Proper training. Your pack needs tight combat discipline if the Council keeps sending killers.”
Damien crossed his arms. “We appreciate the help, Elara, but they need rest just as much as training.”
“And rest will help them survive an ambush how?” Elara shot back, sharp as a blade. “The Council is using guerilla tactics. Your warriors need stealth defense, shadow movement, and close-quarter combat. They’re not ready.”
Tiara sighed. “Mother—”
“Tiara,” Elara said softly, tone changing. “Your pack is strong. But they’re scared. Fear makes wolves reckless.”
Tiara’s throat tightened. “I know.”
“That’s why I’m training them.” Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. “To give them back their confidence.”
For a moment, Tiara’s chest warmed. Then another scream split the air.
A young girl fell to her knees, shaking. “The prophecy dream again!”
Tiara rushed toward her, Damien right behind her.
The young wolf’s eyes rolled back before snapping open, pure white, glowing like moonshine.
Tiara dropped to her knees beside her. “Lira, breathe. What did you see?”
The girl’s voice came out hollow, echoing. “Blood… two Alphas… one falling into shadow… one rising in light…”
Damien stiffened. “A prophecy?”
“Her visions are real,” Tiara whispered. “She’s had them since childhood.”
Lira grabbed Tiara’s wrist suddenly, fingers ice cold. “One Alpha must fall to save the other.”
Tiara froze.
Damien’s heartbeat stopped.
The pack around them murmured in fear.
Tiara’s wolf leaned forward, ears flat, tail still, instinct howling with warning.
Then Lira collapsed, unconscious.
Tiara held her, pulse shaking. “This can’t be real. This doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means everything.” Damien’s voice was soft but edged with steel. “Prophecies don’t come without reason.”
“I won’t let you fall for me,” Tiara snapped, fear splitting her voice.
“And I won’t let you fall for me,” Damien shot back. “So we’re even.”
Their pack watched them, two Alphas bound by love, fate, and rising danger.
And then a horn blasted through the forest.
A warning horn.
One only blown when enemies crossed SilverShield borders.
Tiara’s head snapped up.
Damien’s eyes glowed gold.
Her mother’s wolf growled in the distance.
Tiara stood slowly.
“Who is it?” she demanded.
A scout sprinted across the field, breathless. “Alpha Tiara…..it's the Council
.”
“And their leader?” Damien asked, though dread already burned in his eyes.
The scout swallowed hard.
“It’s Alpha Magnus. He’s…..”