Chapter 7

~Ryan~

I stood there, stiff, jaw so tight I thought I might snap a damn tooth. The Crystal or whatever, I didn’t even know—was all over me, practically draping herself across my side, showing off the mark she’d just put on my neck like it was some trophy. Her voice was this low, smug purr, but it barely registered.

Because I felt nothing.

No pull. No warmth. No bond.

 Just... nothing.

And I was trying to act normal, trying to keep my face blank, but inside, everything felt wrong.

And then—

 Like a bolt of lightning straight under my skin—zap—it hit me.

My head snapped up so fast it made me a little dizzy, eyes scanning, heart picking up, wolf stirring like he’d just been shocked awake.

Mate.

The word pounded through me, a single beat that rattled in my chest.

My wolf surged forward, claws scraping inside me, eyes narrowing, searching—desperate.

And then I saw her.

 Ellie.

Her eyes met mine from across the crowd, and the second it happened, it was like the ground tilted. Like the air got sucked out of my lungs.

No.

No. No. No. No.

It can’t be her.

 It can’t—

But the bond was roaring in my blood, and my wolf was losing it—Ours. Ours. Ours.

My stomach twisted. My heart was racing, but not from excitement.

 From panic.

 Because I already had a mark on my damn neck.

This—this wasn’t—

 I couldn’t have two mates. That’s not how this works.

I blinked.

And she was gone.

Slipping into the trees like a ghost, disappearing before I could do anything.

And I just... stood there.

 Frozen.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t think.

 My mind was a mess—thoughts colliding, my wolf clawing, snapping at me to go after her.

 But I didn’t.

 I just stayed. Rooted.

I don’t know how long. A few minutes? More? It felt like forever.

Then, it hit me again.

 Harder.

 Like a knife straight to my chest.

Danger. Fear. Mate.

The rush of it nearly dropped me to my knees.

I didn’t think. My legs just moved.

 Body shifting halfway, speed kicking in as I tore through the trees, her scent pulling me like a damn hook in my ribs.

My heart was pounding—hard.

 Not just from the run.

Why can I feel her like this?

 Why does it hurt so much?

 Is she really... mine?

I hit the clearing, and I saw them—Rogues.

Circling her, snarling, closing in.

 And something inside me snapped, broke open.

Red blurred my vision.

I didn’t think.

 I just acted.

My wolf took over, and we tore into them.

 Bone cracked under my hands.

 A body flew into a tree with a sound that made my stomach churn.

 The rest ran—they knew what I was. What I’d do.

I stood there, chest heaving, heart racing so loud I could hear it in my ears.

And Ellie...

She was staring at me, eyes wide, face pale, like she didn’t know whether to be scared or relieved.

And the bond was there.

 Thick. Real.

 Undeniable.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

My wolf wouldn’t shut up.

But I shoved it down.

 Hard.

I couldn’t do this.

 I couldn’t let this be real.

I was marked.

So I let the anger come up instead. It was easier than the panic. Easier than the guilt.

 Easier than everything else.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

 The words snapped out of me, harsher than I meant.

Her eyes welled up—she’d been crying. She looked... broken.

 And it twisted something sharp in my chest.

But I ignored it.

 Had to.

She didn’t say anything, just looked away.

I grabbed her arm, not rough, but firm—my wolf growling at me to hold her, comfort her, do anything but what I was doing.

 But I shoved him down too.

“You could’ve died,” I bit out, voice tight. “Out here alone like that? Stupid. Careless.”

The second the word left my mouth, I regretted it.

 Careless.

I felt the sting of it hit her through the bond—like I’d slapped her.

Her face crumpled, and she mumbled something—sorry, maybe—but I barely caught it.

 I was too busy trying to keep myself together.

She’s mine.

 I know she’s mine.

But I can’t.

I walked her to the edge of her territory.

Every step was hell.

 My wolf was practically howling under my skin—reaching, wanting me to stop, to fix it, to claim her.

But I didn’t.

I let go of her arm when we got there, fingers tingling like they didn’t want to stop touching her.

 I stepped back, my chest tight, every part of me screaming to stay.

But instead—

“Next time, don’t be stupid,” I muttered.

It came out softer than I planned.

 I didn’t mean for it to.

 But my wolf wouldn’t let me be completely cold. Not to her.

I turned away before I could mess up, before I could pull her into me and tell her everything.

 Tell her I felt it.

 That she was mine.

 That I wanted her.

But I couldn’t.

Because I had this mark.

 Because I was stuck.

 Because I didn’t know what the hell to do now.

So I walked away.

Heart pounding.

 Stomach twisting.

 Wolf growling.

I walked back to the ceremony when I saw Crystal charging at me, her arms extended. 

“Here we go again.” I sighed.

She wrapped the full length of her arms around me. 

But yet again, I couldn't feel anything. Everything was just blank, scentless. 

“Where did you wander off to?” she asked. 

“Nowhere really. Just went for a walk.” I lied. I wasn’t one to know, but I had a feeling, she might not be happy hearing that I went after her step sister. 

“Okay. But hurry let's go. Father wants to give us our blessings.” she grabbed my hand and pulled me away.

She was so excited about all this. But the contrary was the case for me. 

I couldn't pay less attention to what was happening, I couldn't just shake off the feel I had meeting Ellie.