< Bound by Fate, Chained by Fear\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claim\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jaxon scoffed. \u201cIt is when you\u2019re the mate of the Alphas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My frustration boiled over. \u201cI haven\u2019t even felt the bond yet! You can\u2019t expect me to-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will,\u201d Callum interrupted, his voice low and commanding. \u201cAnd when you do, you\u2019ll realize no one else can have you. Not now, not ever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heat shot through me at the sheer possessiveness lacing his words, and I hated how my body responded to it. My stomach twisted a pulse of something unwanted settling in my core.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not now, body. Seriously. Get it together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need time,\u201d I forced out. \u201cTo process.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve had enough time,\u201d Jaxon growled, stepping into my space. His presence was suffocating,\u00a0<\/p>\n
overwhelming-addictive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve waited years for you,\u201d he continued, his voice dark. \u201cWe\u2019re done waiting, sunshine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped back instinctively, but Jaxon followed, his hand catching my wrist before I could get far. His touch sent a shockwave through my body, making my breath hitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can fight it all you want,\u201d he murmured, fingers tracing lazy circles against my skin. \u201cBut you\u2019re mine. Ours. No one else will touch you, look at you, or even think about you without\u00a0<\/p>\n
consequences.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My pulse hammered against my ribs. His voice, his ******g presence-it was too much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJaxon, stop,\u201d I whispered, more of a plea than I wanted it to be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But he didn\u2019t. His thumb dragged over my pulse point, slow, deliberate. \u201cI won\u2019t stop, Rhea. Not until you understand how deeply we\u2019re tied to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Callum\u2019s voice cut through, low and deadly serious. \u201cYou\u2019re ours, little Luna. We\u2019ll protect you, cherish you, and, yes-claim you. No one else gets to have you. And if you think you can fight that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His lips twitched, eyes gleaming. \u201cYou\u2019re wrong.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My legs felt weak, heat pooling in my core despite every logical part of me screaming to resist\u00a0<\/p>\n
them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t want this\u2026 do I?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to want it,\u201d Callum said like he could hear my thoughts. \u201cIt\u2019s already yours.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rory, the infuriating little s**t, grinned. \u201cPrincess, just give up. You\u2019re not gonna win this one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStay out of it, Rory,\u201d I snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He just laughed, leaning against the wall like this was all some big game. \u201cCan\u2019t. This is way too entertaining.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bound by Fate, Chained by Fear\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claim\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned back to Callum, desperate for something-anything that gave me even a sliver of control. \u201cYou said you\u2019d listen to me. How is this listening?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are listening,\u201d he replied. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019ve agreed to compromise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes. \u201cCompromise?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Luna ceremony will wait until after your birthday,\u201d Callum said smoothly. \u201cBut the\u00a0<\/p>\n
announcement? That happens today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt the blood drain from my face. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jaxon leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. \u201cYou\u2019re ours, and everyone needs to know it. If\u00a0<\/p>\n
anyone so much as looksat you the wrong way, they\u2019ll answer to us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That dark promise sent an unwanted shiver down my spine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d I muttered. \u201cDo whatever you want.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Callum\u2019s gaze softened slightly, and for a second, I thought I saw something almost gentle in his eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s not about what we want, little Luna. It\u2019s about what\u2019s best for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My laugh was bitter. \u201cAnd you think this is best for me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he said simply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jaxon smirked, brushing a strand of silver hair from my face. \u201cYou\u2019ll see soon enough, sunshine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And before I could snap back, Lila\u2019s furious voice rang out, -\u201cEnough!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lila\u2019s POV:\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice rang through the courtyard like a whip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every head turned toward me, but I only had eyes for my brothers-the four overgrown idiots currently crowding Rhea like she was some prize they\u2019d just won. Rhea\u2019s face was pale, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, a storm of emotions warring in her eyes. She was barely holding it together. And those f*****g morons couldn\u2019t even see it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stalked toward them, my hair whipping behind me like flames, and planted myself between Rhea and Callum before I could think better of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, Callum? This is how you\u2019re handling it?\u201d I snapped, shoving a finger into his broad chest. \u201cDo you even realize how overwhelming this is for her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Callum\u2019s eyes darkened instantly, his wolf bristling at my challenge. \u201cLila,\u201d he warned, his voice sharp but controlled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t Lila me,\u201d I snapped, refusing to back down. \u201cYou can\u2019t just bulldoze your way through everything because you\u2019re Alphas. Rhea deserves a say in her own life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/6\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bound by Fate, Chained by Fear\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claim\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brothers bristled, but I didn\u2019t care. I turned toward Jaxon, who was standing a little too close to Rhea, his fingers grazing her wrist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you,\u201d I growled, narrowing my eyes. \u201cBack the hell up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jaxon smirked like I was amusing him. \u201cRelax, little sister. I\u2019m just getting our mate used to-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo what?\u201d I cut in, glaring him down. \u201cBeing treated like a possession? She\u2019s not your new\u00a0<\/p>\n
favourite f*****g toy, Jaxon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His smirk slipped just a fraction, but before he could respond, Rory grinned, completely\u00a0<\/p>\n
unbothered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCareful, sis,\u201d he said with a mocking lilt to his voice. \u201cYou\u2019re starting to sound like her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what\u2019s wrong with that?\u201d I shot back, crossing my arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seth chuckled, stepping forward with his usual infuriating ease, hands raised in mock surrender. \u201cAlright, alright. We get it. You\u2019re protective of your bestie. Noted.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cProtective doesn\u2019t even begin to cover it,\u201d I said, voice firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Callum sighed, running a hand through his hair, but caught the flicker of hesitation in his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Good. At least one of them was listening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d he finally relented. \u201cBut only because you asked.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned to Rhea, my heart twisting at the sight of her standing so stiffly, her shoulders drawn tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou okay?\u201d I asked softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nodded, but I didn\u2019t miss the lump in her throat or her fingers trembled slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No. She wasn\u2019t okay.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And my brothers needed to f*****g realize that before they broke her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rhea\u2019s POV:\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t have time to process the relief of Lila stepping in before my friends approached, their steps hesitant, their postures stiff with formality. They stopped a few feet away, bowing their heads slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlphas,\u201d Bree greeted, her voice measured. \u201cIt\u2019s an honour.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nearly rolled my eyes. Honour my ass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The quads gave short nods, but their dominance was palpable, making my friends shift uneasily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRhea,\u201d Bree finally said, her voice softer now. \u201cCan we talk?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, my gaze flicking to Callum. He gave me a curt nod, stepping aside but not leaving\u00a0<\/p>\n
4.6\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bound by Fate, Chained by Fear\u00a0<\/p>\n
entirely. I barely had time to breathe before Bree yanked me into a huddle with the rest of our\u00a0<\/p>\n
group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell is going on?\u201d she whispered urgently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re my mates,\u201d I said flatly. There was no sugarcoating this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The reaction was instant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d they all hissed in unison.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you\u2019re not even eighteen!\u201d Finn blurted, earning an elbow from Lila.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claim\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter,\u201d Evan said, his thoughtful tone standing out from the panic. \u201cShe\u2019s ten days away\u00a0<\/p>\n
from coming into her wolf. If the Alphas\u2019 wolves recognized her, it\u2019s real.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rubbed my temples, the weight of their stares suffocating. \u201cCan we not talk about this right now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bree opened her mouth to argue, but Lila\u2019s sharp gaze flicked toward her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGive her a break,\u201d Lila snapped. \u201cShe\u2019s had a rough morning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRough is an understatement,\u201d I muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before I could sink further into my thoughts, my gaze landed on Nora and Ethan standing\u00a0<\/p>\n
nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their silvery mate marks shimmered under the sunlight, a glowing reminder of their bond. Something in me twisted, broke, bled. I stiffened, my breath hitching, memories clawing their way\u00a0<\/p>\n
to the surface- Ethan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The quads sensed the change in me immediately. Their postures shifted, their gazes sharpening as they followed my line of sight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
S**t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lila stepped in before the tension exploded, distracting them with some quip I didn\u2019t even register.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLittle Luna,\u201d Callum\u2019s low voice drew my attention. He stepped close, too close, his scent\u00a0<\/p>\n
wrapping around me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be here to pick you up after class,\u201d he murmured, his lips brushing my forehead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jaxon followed suit, his tone possessive as he kissed my temple. \u201cBe good for us, sunshine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard, my stomach knotting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLittle Luna,\u201d Callum added, his hand sliding down to rest firmly on my waist. \u201cIf anyone tries to approach you, tell them you\u2019re mated to the Alphas and are their future Luna.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His fingers squeezed, a silent promise and a warning all in one. I could feel my friends staring, their\u00a0<\/p>\n
576\u00a0<\/p>\n
< Bound by Fate, Chained by Fear\u00a0<\/p>\n
jaws practically unhinged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claim\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wanted to strangle them at this point. Before I could move, Jaxon beat me to it. He reached for\u00a0<\/p>\n
my\u00a0<\/p>\n
hair tie, slipping it free with a single pull. My silvery waves cascaded down my back, catching\u00a0<\/p>\n
the sunlight like liquid moonlight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as I love seeing your beautiful snow-white neck, my sunshine,\u201d Jaxon murmured darkly, brushing a stray lock over my shoulder. \u201cIt lacks our marks. We don\u2019t need other wolves getting any\u00a0<\/p>\n
ideas that you\u2019re available.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned in, his lips just a breath away from my cheek.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave it down, my sunshine,\u201d he whispered, \u201cso we don\u2019t have to put any horny teenagers in the\u00a0<\/p>\n
dungeon for getting the wrong idea.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heat rushed to my face, and my cheeks were flaming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I whispered before I could stop myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The satisfied smirks they exchanged made me regret every life decision that led me to this\u00a0<\/p>\n
moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rory grinned. \u201cPrincess, you\u2019re blushing again. You\u2019re gonna make the other students jealous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up,\u201d I snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seth chuckled, eyes glinting with amusement. \u201cThey\u2019re already jealous. Haven\u2019t you noticed the death glares from half the she-wolves here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I groaned, stepping away before they could pull me further under.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we walked away, my heart clenched painfully. I should have been thrilled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fated mates. Future Luna. Every she-wolf\u2019s dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But my past whispered ugly truths in my ears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What if they leave? What if they cheat? What if I\u2019m just another conquest to them?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The quads were known for breaking hearts-not keeping them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I wasn\u2019t sure if mine could handle being broker again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Shadows Of Passing Time \u2013 Carter Hughes 109 < Bound by Fate, Chained by Fear\u00a0 Claim\u00a0 Jaxon scoffed. \u201cIt is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-melting-the-ice-princess-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29750\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}