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Chapter 40: THE STRANGER IN THE WOODS
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 41: INTO THE UNKNOWN
"I will go with you," Irwin said quietly, her voice almost lost in the morning breeze. She placed her hand on Valen’s, her grip steady but hesitant. She still couldn’t read him fully, but something in his demeanor made her want to trust him or at least, to understand him better.Valen smiled, his gaze softening as he helped her mount the white horse. The ease with which he did it made Irwin’s stomach twist in knots. His touch was gentle, almost too familiar, as if they had done this countless times before. He mounted his own horse beside hers, and they began their journey deeper into the thick forest.The ride was mostly quiet, but not uncomfortable. Valen’s presence had a strange calming effect on her, though she didn’t want to admit it. Every time he looked over at her, his eyes seemed to glimmer with unspoken words. And every time he said something, it was enough to keep her mind spinning in multiple directions.“So, Lovethe,” Valen said suddenly, his voice breaking through the r
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 42: SECRET IN THE SHADOWS
Valen opened the door to his house, gesturing for Irwin to enter first. She hesitated, glancing back at him for a moment before stepping inside. Wooden furniture, clearly handmade, filled the room. A large fireplace crackled warmly in the corner, giving the space a welcoming glow. Yet, despite the warmth, an undercurrent of loneliness and isolation seemed to seep into every crevice.“Make yourself comfortable,” Valen said softly, his voice almost a whisper as he followed her inside and closed the door behind them. He moved with such ease and grace that for a moment, Irwin felt out of place.Irwin walked further into the room, glancing around. Everything in Valen's home appeared to have been crafted with care and purpose. The walls, lined with books and odd trinkets, seemed to tell stories of their own. She turned to face him, her mind swirling with questions. He had rescued her from the hate brooding inside of her, but there was still an aura of mystery surrounding him that Irwin co
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 43: SHADOW WE CAST
The question hung in the air like a shadow, and Irwin felt her heart skip a beat. She looked at Valen, unsure of what to say next. His deep gaze held hers, waiting for her to respond. It was a moment where the silence between them spoke louder than words. She shifted awkwardly, trying to break free from the tension that seemed to coil around them.Irwin could feel Valen’s eyes on her, waiting, searching for the truth she had tried so hard to hide. But instead of pressing her further, Valen sighed, walking back to his chair by the fire.“I didn’t mean to pry,” Valen said, his voice soft but firm. “We all have our secrets, Lovethe.”The name struck Irwin again. "Lovethe" a name she had given him to shield her true identity, yet now, every time he said it, it sounded more intimate, more personal. She swallowed hard, her mind racing.“You’re right,” Irwin finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “We do.”There was a silence between them, the crackling of the fire the only sound
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 44: BURIED TRUTH
The sun filtered through the window, casting soft light across the room as Valen continued sharing parts of himself he had long buried. His voice had dropped lower now, more intimate, as if peeling back layers of armor he had worn for far too long. Irwin sat quietly, absorbing every word. “I was supposed to be the strongest in our pack,” Valen began, his voice carrying the weight of untold pain. His eyes, dark and stormy, seemed to flicker with memories long buried. “But when the time came to prove it, I was cheated. The man who betrayed my parents? He set up the fight.”Irwin’s eyebrows knitted together as she leaned in closer. Her heart clenched, hearing the deep ache behind his words. She had always known Valen as a fighter, but this—this was something far deeper. “How did he cheat?”Valen’s lips curled into a bitter smile, a mixture of anger and sadness flashing across his face. “There was a fight, a test of strength to see who would lead our group. I was the strongest, I was set
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 45: UNSPOKEN DESIRES
The air in the room seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken words and desires neither could fully understand. Valen's gaze never left her, his eyes burning with a hunger that sent shivers down Irwin's spine. She felt trapped in the moment, her body betraying her, aching for something she knew she couldn’t have or shouldn’t want.Irwin's heart pounded as Valen moved closer, his hand brushing against her arm, sending a jolt of electricity through her veins. She tried to step back, to create some distance, but the pull between them was too strong."Valen," she began, her voice shaky, "we can't... this isn’t right, at all."But even as she said the words, she couldn’t bring herself to move away from him. His presence was intoxicating, overwhelming her senses until all she could think about was the feel of his skin against hers, the way his breath ghosted over her lips."Why not?" Valen's voice was low, rough, filled with a desire that mirrored her own. "I don’t care about right or wrong, L
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 46: CROSSING BOUNDARIES
**Chapter 46: Crossing Boundaries**Irwin’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood there, her back pressed against the cold stone wall. She had no idea how things had escalated so quickly. Her mind screamed at her to stop, to think about what she was doing, but her body had betrayed her. Every rational thought dissolved into the heat of the moment, and all that mattered was the fire burning between them.The way his lips moved against hers, the way his hands gripped her body like he was afraid she’d vanish—it was intoxicating. She could feel the intensity of his desire, the pent-up passion that neither of them had acknowledged until now. Irwin’s fingers tangled in Valen’s shirt as she pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. His scent, the warmth of his skin, the way his breath mingled with hers—it overwhelmed her senses. Valen’s hands roamed her body, gripping her waist with a possessive strength that sent shivers down her spine. He pressed her tighter against the wall, pinning her
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 47: FAMILIAR SCENT
Irwin didn’t remember leaving Valen’s home. She wasn’t even sure how she had managed to find her way through the dense woods, her mind a tangled mess of emotions and regret. All she could recall was the frantic pounding of her heart and the way her lungs burned as she ran, desperate to put as much distance between herself and the scene she had just fled from. The wind tore through her hair as she hurried toward the clearing, her steps uneven, her breath labored. Her horse stood waiting, its sleek coat glistening under the dying light of the sun, as if sensing her distress. Without a second thought, Irwin hoisted herself onto the saddle, her hands trembling as she gripped the reins. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, none of them making any sense. She had kissed Valen. Not once, but twice. And worse, she had wanted it—desperately. The memory of his touch, the heat of his lips against hers, the way her body had responded so instinctively—it haunted her. But along with that burning
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 48: SHE'S PART OF YOU
The cool evening breeze drifted through the open windows of Qwin’s hut as Dorian stood still, his broad frame stiff with impatience. Cain lingered in the background, a silent presence, watching as Dorian’s frustration grew with each passing second. The crackling fire illuminated the small space, casting long shadows, but even the warmth of the flames couldn’t soothe the tension in the room."Time waits for no one,sgrandmother,”irDorian began, his voice firm, almost a demand. “It’s late. Tell me something grandmother .”Qwin, seated by the fire, stirred the glowing embers with her iron poker, her gaze fixed on the flames, deep in thought. “There is nothing to tell you because You’re rushing, Dorian,” she said calmly, her tone holding the weight of wisdom accumulated over decades. “A matter of this importance cannot be decided in haste.”“I don’t have time for this,” Dorian growled, pacing across the room, his frustration clear in the heavy thud of his boots against the wooden floor. “T
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Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 78: YOU NEARLY GOT YOUR WISH
"I thought if I pushed you hard enough, you’d leave," Dorian admitted quietly, the truth slipping out as if he hadn’t intended to reveal it. His gaze was distant, fixed on a point somewhere past her, as though looking at her would make it harder to continue. "Maybe you’d reject the bond yourself."His words hung heavily in the room, their meaning sinking into the space between them. Irwin felt a familiar ache stir in her chest, the old hurt of his rejection rising to the surface again. She had known, deep down, that Dorian had been trying to push her away, but hearing him admit it out loud was something else entirely.Irwin raised an eyebrow, masking the swirl of emotions inside her with a calm expression. "Oh....Well, you nearly got your wish."Dorian’s eyes flicked to hers at that, something unreadable passing over his face. He opened his mouth as if to respond, but then seemed to think better of it, his lips pressing into a thin line. The silence stretched on, heavy and uncomfortab
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 77: SCARS OF THE PAST
Dorian’s room felt colder as his words hung in the air. His gaze was distant, locked in memories that Irwin had never been part of, a time before they were bound together by fate. The weight of his confession pressed on her chest like a stone, making it hard to breathe."I was scared when I became the leader of the Shadowclaw pack." Dorian’s voice was low, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "I grew up believing I had to be stronger than my father, tougher than any of my ancestors. Failure wasn’t an option."He paused, his eyes flickering toward her for the briefest moment before he looked away again. "None of the she-wolves who pursued me ever caught my interest. Not because they weren’t strong. They were. Many of them were fierce, capable, everything you’d expect from a mate of the Alpha. But I couldn’t choose any of them." Irwin’s hands tightened on the armrests of her chair, her heart thudding in her chest as she listened. She had heard stories about Dorian’s many suitors,
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 76: A QUIET MOMENT
The room was filled with a strange silence as Irwin stepped inside, her footsteps barely making a sound against the thick rug beneath her. The warmth of Dorian's room enveloped her, and she hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. It was a space so personal, so distinctly his, yet here she was, invited but still feeling like an outsider. Irwin quietly made her way to a chair set against the far side of the room. She sat down, her hands resting in her lap as she watched Dorian, waiting for some indication of what he wanted. There was an air of uncertainty between them, a tension that had yet to unravel, and Irwin couldn’t help but wonder what this night would bring.Dorian, however, didn’t look at her. He moved to the window, gazing out into the darkness beyond, the light from the moon casting soft shadows across his face. For a long moment, he stood there, his back to her, and the silence stretched on.Irwin shifted in her seat, her curiosity piqued. This wasn’t like him, to be
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 75: A GENTLE TUG
The night was very calm with no sound of the guards or the servants, but the tension in the air was palpable, a delicate balance between what was happening and what neither of them could admit. Irwin’s footsteps slowed as they neared her room. Her body, though physically tired, felt a strange kind of alertness. The mouth of Dorian was still fresh on her mouth, and the weight of Dorian’s touch and traces of kisses on her lips lingering longer than she anticipated.She instinctively veered toward her door, the familiar path pulling her closer to the solitude she was accustomed to. But just as she took a step toward the door, she felt a gentle, almost absent-minded tug on her wrist. It wasn’t forceful, but it was enough to stop her in her tracks.She turned, her eyes landing on Dorian, who hadn’t even realized what he had done. His fingers lingered on her wrist for a heartbeat longer before falling away, but the gesture didn’t go unnoticed. His face was unreadable, his eyes distant yet
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 74: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HOLD BACK
The hallway was bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the narrow windows, as Irwin's face beamed in smile. The air between them felt thick, charged with something unspoken. Their footsteps, once in perfect rhythm, seemed to slow as the space between them diminished. Each step felt heavier, as if the distance that had once stretched far and wide between them was shrinking with every passing second.Dorian’s presence beside her was more noticeable than ever before. The tension in the air was not the kind that signaled a fight, but rather something more intimate, something that both of them had been avoiding for too long. His movements, usually so precise and controlled, felt almost hesitant, as if he wasn’t sure of what to do next. Without thinking, Dorian’s hand lightly brushed against Irwin’s shoulder, the contact so subtle that it could have been mistaken for an accident. But to Irwin, it wasn’t. The warmth of his touch spread through her like wildfire, stopping
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 73: A BLISSFUL WALK
The hallway stretched long before them, illuminated by the soft flicker of torchlight that danced along the stone walls. Their footsteps echoed in unison, the rhythmic sounds filling the otherwise quiet space as they moved side by side. Irwin glanced at Dorian from the corner of her eye, the tension between them for once muted. The silence that hung in the air was not strained, but peaceful—something that felt rare, almost fragile.As they walked, Irwin found herself lost in thought. She couldn’t remember the last time they had shared a moment like this, one without sharp words or cold glares. The memory of their recent fights seemed to linger at the edges of her mind, uninvited but ever-present. Each argument had left invisible scars, and each harsh exchange had added to the growing wall between them. It had become a pattern, one she had learned to expect from their strained bond. And yet tonight, there was something different.The softness in Dorian’s expression, the subtle way he w
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 72: SURRENDER
When Dorian pulled away from the kiss, his eyes lingered on Irwin's, as though he were searching for something—reassurance, understanding, perhaps even a reflection of his own tumultuous emotions. His fingers, rough from battles and hardened by years of holding back, softened as they traced the curve of her lips. It was as though he couldn’t fully believe what had just happened, and neither could Irwin. Her heart raced, pounding against her ribs with a wild intensity that she had never felt before. Dorian had always been so distant, locked away behind walls of ice, but now, something inside him had melted. Something had shifted between them, and it was undeniable. Irwin stared up at him, still trying to process the moment. The tenderness of the kiss lingered, but it wasn’t just the kiss that had shaken her—it was the way Dorian had allowed himself to be vulnerable. It was the way he had let down his guard, even for just a brief moment. Without a word, Dorian moved. He took her by t
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 71: BEAUTIFUL
Dorian’s hand slid gently from her hair, tracing the side of her face with a tenderness that Irwin had never experienced from him before. His fingers moved delicately, brushing her cheek as though he were afraid she might disappear at any moment. The touch sent a shiver down her spine, but she chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension that hung between them, thick and heavy.“You’re beautiful,” Dorian said suddenly, his voice low but filled with conviction.The words hit her like a wave, knocking the air from her lungs. She had never expected to hear that from him—not from Dorian, who had always kept her at arm’s length. Her heart began to race, her breath catching in her throat as she stared up at him, stunned into silence. The sincerity in his eyes was undeniable, but it was so out of character, so unlike the guarded man she had come to know.Irwin blinked, trying to process the weight of what he had just said. All this time, she had believed Dorian saw her as a burden, someone he
Bound By Bloodlines Chapter 70: WHAT'S WRONG
Irwin’s gaze never wavered from Dorian’s face, her mind racing with questions she dared not voice. The weight of his silence pressed down on her, making the air between them feel thick and heavy. His hand, still nestled in her hair, moved with a gentleness that seemed almost foreign to the man she knew. It wasn’t the touch of a warrior or an Alpha; it was the touch of someone vulnerable, someone struggling with emotions he had long tried to bury.“Dorian,” Irwin whispered, her voice barely above a breath, “what’s bothering you?”Her question lingered in the air, unanswered, as Dorian’s eyes met hers. For a split second, she thought she saw something—a flicker of pain, regret, something deep and raw. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by the guarded expression he always wore. His lips parted, as though he was going to respond, but instead, he simply murmured her name.“Irwin...”The way he said her name, the strain in his voice, made her heart tighten in her ches
