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Chapter 37
Last Updated:
2024-12-25 19:32:44
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Darkbound Mate Chapter 38
The tension in the car is suffocating, a thick, oppressive weight that presses down on my chest. It isn’t just any tension—it’s charged, electric, coiling through the air and wrapping around us like an invisible cord pulling tighter with every passing second.The car glides down a nearly deserted street, its headlights casting pale beams that carve through the inky darkness. Streetlights flicker as we pass, their amber glow reflecting faintly on the damp pavement, a reminder of the rain that had fallen earlier. The faint smell of wet asphalt seeps into the car, mingling with the subtle tang of Kassian’s cologne.Outside, the world feels quiet, almost eerie in its stillness. A stray leaf flutters across the windshield, carried by a light breeze that ripples through the trees lining the road. The occasional hum of another car passing by only serves to highlight the silence between us, thick and unyielding. It’s as though the entire world has faded into the background, leaving only the t
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Darkbound Mate Chapter 39
The moment the car slows to a stop, my breath catches. My eyes widen as the view outside unfolds before me. The glow of the moon reflects off the restless waves, painting the surface of the sea in a silver shimmer. The sand stretches out endlessly, soft and pale under the faint light, and the salty tang of the ocean wafts into the car through the cracked window, sharp and clean.“A beach!” I exclaim, my voice ringing out as I press my face against the cool glass. My breath fogs the window slightly, but I can’t tear my gaze away. “You brought me to a beach!” The words escape in a giddy shout, filled with a mixture of disbelief and joy.I glance at Kassian, who shifts in his seat, his hands flexing against the steering wheel. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like our date to be in public,” he starts, his tone measured. “Given… our image. And I wasn’t sure what you’d like…”But then he trails off, his expression freezing for a moment. I notice the way his posture stiffens, the way his eyes flicke
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Darkbound Mate Chapter 40
The soft glow of the moon washes over us, casting silvery reflections across the gentle ripples of the river. The rhythmic sound of water lapping at the shore blends with the faint rustling of leaves in the cool evening breeze. The air smells faintly of damp earth, salt, and the lingering aroma of the food we’ve been picking at for the past hour.Kassian sits across from me on the thick blanket he’s spread out, leaning back on his hands with a relaxed posture that doesn’t quite match the tension in his shoulders. His voice is low and smooth, but there’s an edge of frustration in it as he recounts his day.“So, I had to go to this company to get some contracts signed,” he says, his tone sharp, “and the wife of the guy I was supposed to meet wouldn’t stop trying to… ugh, I don’t know—seduce me or something. She was ridiculous. Kept batting her eyelashes like she thought that’d do something.”I glance at him from where I’m sitting, cross-legged with my plate in my lap. My fingers idly to
Last Updated : 2024-12-27Darkbound Mate Chapter 41
The soft rustling of leaves blends with the gentle lap of the river against the shore, creating a soothing backdrop to the surreal moment unfolding around me. The night air feels cooler now, brushing against my skin with a teasing chill that stands in sharp contrast to the heat pooling low in my stomach.“Kassian, you were telling me about your high school?” I prompt softly, hoping to draw him back to our conversation and ease the tension between us.He hums a reply, low and distracted, like someone lost in thought—or something far deeper.The sound unsettles me, yet it pulls me closer, as if I’m teetering on the edge of something unknown.When he doesn’t elaborate, I exhale a quiet sigh and turn my attention to the dishes scattered between us. The faint scent of grilled shrimp and tangy marinade lingers in the air, mingling with the salty freshness of the river breeze. I focus on gathering the plates and utensils, the familiar motion grounding me.But nothing about this moment stays
Last Updated : 2024-12-27Darkbound Mate Chapter 42
I force my trembling legs to push me upright, the unsteady motion making my body wobble like a fawn taking its first steps. My knees threaten to buckle beneath me, still weak and shaking from whatever just happened. My breaths come shallow and uneven, the burning sensation in my chest making it hard to think straight.The night air presses against my flushed skin, sharp and biting, a cruel contrast to the overwhelming heat that refuses to leave me. The faint scent of damp earth and saltwater lingers, mingling with the metallic tang of rage rising in my throat.I stagger backward, almost stumbling, but manage to catch myself. My body feels wrong—lightheaded, unmoored, like all the strength has been sapped from my limbs. Whatever Kassian just did to me, it’s toxic. Too overwhelming. Too consuming. And he’d barely started.A violent shudder rolls through me, and tears prick my eyes. They burn, hot and unrelenting, pooling against my lashes but refusing to fall. Rage shakes me to my core,
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Darkbound Mate Chapter 43
Kassian steps forward, his towering frame cutting through the moonlight like a shadow. The sound of the waves grows louder, crashing rhythmically against the shore, as if echoing my racing heartbeat. The air is cool but charged, carrying the faint tang of salt and damp earth, the kind of crispness that always feels heavier at night.Before I can process what he’s about to do, he bends down swiftly and sweeps me off my feet.A startled scream bursts from my lips as Kassian effortlessly sweeps me off my feet. My hands fly to his neck, holding tightly for support, and fingertips brush against the scruff of his skin, rough yet warm, and my nails press lightly into his neck as my heart pounds against my ribcage.His jaw tightens briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes before he shifts his gaze back to the path ahead. The motion is so quick I almost miss it, but for a moment, it looks like regret—like he’s fighting something within himself, something he’s not rea
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Darkbound Mate Chapter 44
“I started painting when I was four,” I say softly, my voice barely rising above the whisper of the wind rustling through the trees around us. The air is cool and carries the faint tang of salt and damp earth, mingling with the lingering scent of the sea.Kassian’s strides are steady as he carries me away from the shoreline, the soft crunch of sand beneath his boots marking each deliberate step. The rhythmic sound mingles with the distant murmur of waves, now quieter, as if retreating into the background.“According to my brother,” I continue, glancing up at him, “I was obsessed with colors. It was the only way they could ever get me to shut up. By the time I turned four, I started painting. Despite everything they did to stop me, I kept going. I just… loved the way colors come together, like there’s some kind of mystery behind it…” My voice trails off as I lose myself in the memory.The faint light from the car’s interior spills into the darkness as we approach, illuminating the surr
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Darkbound Mate Chapter 45
A week has passed since my date with Kassian, and the grueling days on set have left me physically drained but no closer to peace of mind. Today, with some rare free time, I find myself craving an escape. At first, I thought staying at home would help, but the silence of my sprawling mansion feels oppressive, magnifying the whirlwind of thoughts I can’t seem to escape.Since the date, Kassian hasn’t called or texted. Neither have I. My pride refuses to let me reach out first. If he isn’t going to make the effort, why should I? I won’t chase someone who swings between being the embodiment of warmth and charm one moment and an aloof, impenetrable fortress the next.My chest tightens, frustration mingling with an ache I can’t shake. Why do I let myself endure this emotional tug-of-war? I like him. Maybe I even love him. Or maybe it’s just infatuation, a desperate yearning to resolve feelings that never fully bloomed.Or, worse, what if it’s something else entirely? What if my connection t
Last Updated : 2024-12-29
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Darkbound Mate Chapter 119
Across the room, Kassian remains unmoving. His mind is a haze of static, his thoughts tangled in a thick web of denial. He watches them press their hands against Lynette’s lifeless form, listens to their frantic attempts to revive her, but none of it registers. She’s not dead.She’s just… sleeping.She’ll wake up soon. She has to.Something deep inside him pulses, hollow and aching. The mate bond—the once-constant hum of connection—has been severed, leaving behind nothing but a vast, unbearable emptiness. He feels it, deep in his soul, but he refuses to acknowledge it. Because if he does—if he admits, even for a second, that she’s really gone—he won’t survive it.His hands twitch at his sides, clenching and unclenching as his thoughts spiral.How do I live without her?How does he wake up every morning without hearing her voice? Who will roll their eyes at his brooding and call him dramatic? Who will compliment his cooking but vehemently love it more than anything? Who will read him li
Darkbound Mate Chapter 118
A quiet hum drifts through the dimly lit office as Oliver methodically sorts through scattered documents, the faint scent of paper mixing with the lingering traces of Kassian’s scent. Outside, the day is still, save for the distant chirping of birds, a stark contrast to the turmoil that has haunted this place for days.He steals a glance at Kassian, sprawled across the worn leather couch, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. There’s something almost childlike about the way he sleeps—completely at ease, his face unburdened by the grief and rage that have shadowed him since Ryker’s death. Oliver can count on one hand the number of times he’s seen his cousin sleep, and never once has it been so peaceful. Before, it was always fitful, his brows drawn tight, his body tense, as if even in slumber, he fought unseen battles. But now… now he’s at rest.A warmth spreads through Oliver’s chest, satisfaction curling around his heart like a protective shield. Justice has been ser
Darkbound Mate Chapter 117
It’s a good day to die.The thought crashes into my mind, and I immediately regret it. Worst possible time for jokes, Lynette.My breath is shallow, my pulse hammering against my ribs like a desperate prisoner trying to escape a cage. The scent of damp earth and pine needles fills my nose, and it almost feels as if I can perceive my own fear.I step back cautiously, my slippers sinking slightly into the forest floor, soft moss cushioning the impact. My eyes dart over my shoulder, scanning for any possible escape routes. Nothing. Thick trees enclose the area like silent spectators, their gnarled branches twisting above, casting jagged shadows in the fading sunlight. Even if I did run, what were the odds I’d make it?Slim. No—nonexistent.Panic grips me with icy fingers, tightening around my throat. My mind screams for a way out, some way to call for help. If only I had a mental link like Kassian did with his pack—something, anything to let him know I’m in danger. But I don’t. The best
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The quiet hum of the AC fills the office, cold air whispering through the space, blending with the faint rush of wind from the open window. Somewhere in the background, the coffee machine lets out a low gurgle. The silence is heavy. Oppressive. It settles around us like a second skin, thick enough to suffocate.I want to say something. I want to fix this. But the words lodge themselves in my throat, tangled between the fear of hurting him and the desperation to pull him back before it’s too late.Then, warmth.A gentle pressure over my fidgeting hands, stopping their restless movements.I jolt slightly at the unexpected contact, my heart skipping a beat. Kassian’s hands are warm—so warm—completely engulfing mine as if he’s trying to ground himself through me.I look up at him, breath catching at the raw emotion on his face. The sadness, the exhaustion, the fear—it’s all there, painted across his features in shades of grief and torment. His amethyst eyes, dulled with sorrow, meet mine,
Darkbound Mate Chapter 115
The hallway outside Kassian’s office is eerily quiet, the usual buzz of the pack absent. The air smells of old parchment, ink, and something heavier—like exhaustion and fading traces of stress-induced sweat. I take a deep breath, steadying myself before rapping my knuckles against the door.“Knock knock, it’s me!” I call out, my voice deliberately cheerful, a singsong lilt added for effect. A wide smile stretches across my lips, but inside, I’m anything but lighthearted.It has been over a week since Kassian defeated his father, and everything has changed. The pack. The leadership. Him.At the pack’s request, he revealed the truth—the real Rowan Draven had died long ago, and Kassian had been living in his place. Doubts lingered, of course. Murmurs of suspicion slithered through the media, but the CCTV footage he once hid sealed the truth. Footage proving he hadn’t been anywhere near Rowan’s death. That was the easy part. After all, back then, Kassian had dyed his hair black.I didn’t
Darkbound Mate Chapter 114
The arena is silent, save for the rhythmic pounding of hearts, the quiet inhales and exhales of tense bodies, and the occasional nervous shuffling of feet against the stone seating. A warm breeze drifts through the vast space, whispering through the ears of the gathered pack members, carrying the distant cries of birds and rustling leaves from beyond the towering arena walls. The scent of smoky vanilla and cream—the distinct fragrance that unites them as one—lingers in the air, blending with the individual scents of sweat, fear, and anticipation. The heavy mix of emotions clogs the atmosphere, suffocating to anyone with heightened senses.Yet, among the hundreds of anxious onlookers, one figure remains entirely unaffected.At the highest point of the arena, where the view is unobstructed, Lynette lounges with effortless ease, legs crossed as she leisurely munches on the cookies in the large bowl at her feet. Sunlight spills through the glass roof above, catching the frosty strands of
Darkbound Mate Chapter 113
The air in the pack arena is thick with tension, the faint strong scents of emotions mingling with the crisp bite of evening air. The weight of everything that has happened in the past hour presses against my chest like a boulder, suffocating, heavy.Vivian made Lynette’s demand clear, and then everything spiraled. My father—weak but still an alpha—exploded in fury, his roar shaking the very foundation of the hall. The guards tried to restrain him, but it was useless. His presence alone is enough to make seasoned warriors hesitate, their instincts screaming at them to submit. It was only when Vivian, despite her own exhaustion, used her magic to subdue him that he finally fell. But at a cost—her body shook violently, blood spilling from her lips as the spell took its toll.Then the truth unraveled, piece by piece, in the most horrifying way.I had always wondered why a powerful witch like Vivian tolerated a man like my father. Now, I know. And the knowledge is sickening.Noelle walked
Darkbound Mate Chapter 112
My mother stared back with wide, horrified eyes. Her lips parted, trembling, unable to form words. Then the scream that tore through her throat, so raw it sent a shiver down my spine even now, years later.She lost her mind in that moment. And in that moment, she lost everything.The gleam of the blade was the last thing I saw before she pressed it to her throat and dragged it across her skin.I remember the gurgling sound, the way the air filled with the thick, metallic scent of blood. I remember her collapsing, her body convulsing. The life draining from her eyes.And I remember him. Ryker, my so-called father, standing there. Watching.He rolled his eyes.And then he turned his back and walked away.He never turned back when I ran after him, my screams tearing from my throat as I begged him to save her. He never cared.And neither did anyone else.The pack didn’t mourn the loss of their unkind and selfish Luna. No one spoke of the pain she endured. No one cared about the woman she
Darkbound Mate Chapter 111
Lynette’s fingers tighten around my forearm before she lets go, stepping forward. My muscles tense instinctively, my gut twisting. What is she doing?“Lynette,” I murmur, leaning toward her, my voice low, questioning. Her sudden change of topic throws me off, her choice of words even more so. She knows what she’s doing—she has to. But why?She doesn’t look at me, but I see the way her shoulders rise and fall in a deep breath. “Trust me.”My throat bobs, and I force myself to nod, even as unease prickles beneath my skin.Then, she shifts her attention back to my father, her head tilting. “You know,” she begins, almost casually, “I thought my father was the worst man alive. But I stand corrected. Turns out, he’s top-tier garbage, while you, Ryker, take the spot of F-rank waste.”A beat of silence. Then—a strangled noise from the crowd. I hear the sharp inhale of people struggling to keep their composure, the barely stifled coughs that are most certainly hiding laughter. Even the guards
