18

XENIA'S POV

The warmth of Kaleb's embrace was all-consuming, and for a moment, I felt completely at peace. But then, just as suddenly as the bond had settled, I felt something shift inside me. My vision blurred, the world around me fading away until all I could see was darkness. My body felt light, as if I were floating, and a strange, powerful energy began to surge through me.

I heard voices, distant and muffled, and I struggled to understand what was happening. Kaleb's arms were no longer around me—I could no longer feel his presence. Instead, there was a new sensation, a warmth that seemed to come from somewhere deep inside me, pulling me in a different direction.

I blinked, my vision slowly coming back into focus, and I saw Marrylen standing before me. Her eyes were wide with shock, her mouth slightly open, and I could feel the connection between us—the same kind of energy I had felt with Kaleb. It was strong, undeniable, wrapping around the two of us like an invisible tether.

Marrylen reached out, her hand trembling as she touched my arm. The moment her fingers brushed against my skin, the energy intensified, a surge of power rushing through me, binding me to her. I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest, and I could hear Kaleb's voice calling out to me, filled with confusion and fear.

"Xenia! What's happening?" Kaleb's voice was frantic, and I could hear the pack murmuring in confusion. My gaze flickered to him, and I saw the shock etched across his face, his eyes wide as he watched Marrylen and me. Nenyia, too, was staring, her brows furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Marrylen's eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the same confusion mirrored there. "Xenia," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What... what is happening to us?"

I shook my head, my mind reeling, unable to comprehend what was happening. The bond I felt with Kaleb was still there, pulsing within me, but now there was something else—something new and powerful, connecting me to Marrylen. I could feel her emotions, her fear, her longing, and I knew that she could feel mine as well.

Nenyia stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied us. "This is... unprecedented," she said, her voice laced with disbelief. "Two bonds, forged in the same night. The spirits... they have chosen this path for you, Xenia. But why? Why would they bond you to Marrylen as well?"

The pack was silent, their eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold. I could feel their confusion, their unease. They didn't understand what was happening, and neither did I. All I knew was that the bond between Marrylen and me was just as strong as the one I shared with Kaleb, and it terrified me.

Kaleb's face was a mixture of pain and confusion, his eyes darting between Marrylen and me. "Xenia," he said, his voice strained. "What is this? Why are you bonded to her?"

I looked at him, my heart breaking at the anguish in his eyes. "I don't know," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. "I don't know why this is happening."

Marrylen's hand tightened on my arm, and I turned to look at her. There was fear in her eyes, but there was also something else—something that mirrored my own emotions. She was just as lost as I was, caught in a situation that neither of us understood.

Nenyia raised her hands, her eyes closing as she began to chant, her voice low and resonant. The energy around us seemed to shift, the air growing heavy, and I could feel the power of the spirits pressing down on me, trying to make sense of what was happening. The bond between Marrylen and me pulsed, growing stronger, and I could feel her presence deep within me, just as I could feel Kaleb's.

"The spirits have spoken," Nenyia said, her voice filled with awe. "This is not something we can undo. Xenia, you are bonded to both Kaleb and Marrylen. The spirits have chosen them for you, and you must honor this bond."

The weight of her words settled over me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I looked at Kaleb, then at Marrylen, my heart aching with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. I hadn't asked for this, hadn't expected it, but now it was my reality. I was bonded to both of them, and I had no choice but to accept it.

Kaleb stepped closer, his eyes searching mine, his expression filled with both pain and determination. "Xenia," he said, his voice trembling. "No matter what happens, I am still here. I will always be here for you."

Marrylen nodded, her hand still resting on my arm, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. "And I will be here too," she whispered. "I don't know why this happened, but I won't turn away from it. From you."

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked at both of them. This wasn't what I had expected—this wasn't the life I had imagined for myself. But now, standing here, bonded to both Kaleb and Marrylen, I knew that I couldn't turn away from it. I had to face whatever lay ahead, to embrace the bonds that had been forged, and to find a way to make this work.

Because despite everything—the confusion, the fear, the uncertainty—I knew that I loved them both. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

KALEB'S POV

The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the clearing as I stood with Nenyia, deep in conversation. The events of last night were still fresh in my mind, the shock of seeing Xenia bond with Marrylen—a human—something completely unprecedented. I could feel the tension within the pack, the uncertainty that had settled over everyone. We needed answers, and we needed them soon.

Nenyia's eyes were distant, her brow furrowed as she considered the situation. "The spirits have chosen this path," she said quietly, her gaze shifting to meet mine. "But why? Why would they bond Xenia to someone who is not of our kind? There must be a reason, Kaleb. And until we discover what it is, Marrylen must stay close."

I nodded, my mind racing. It was clear that Marrylen was now an integral part of this strange, tangled fate. I couldn't ignore the bond between her and Xenia, and neither could the pack. If we were going to figure out what the spirits intended, Marrylen needed to be with us.

It wasn't going to be easy—inviting a human into the pack, especially one who wasn't bonded to anyone else except Xenia. But we had no choice. I had to put my pride aside and do what was best for Xenia, for the pack, and for the bond that tied us all together.

I made my way through the forest to the cabin where Xenia and Marrylen were staying. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of nerves and determination driving me forward. I didn't know how Marrylen would react to my request, but I had to try. I needed her to understand that this wasn't just about her—it was about all of us.

When I reached the cabin, I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door. A few seconds later, the door opened, and Marrylen stood there, her eyes widening slightly when she saw me. There was a flicker of uncertainty in her gaze, and I could sense her apprehension.

"Kaleb," she said, her voice guarded. "What are you doing here?"

I met her eyes, trying to keep my expression calm, open. "I need to talk to you, Marrylen. It's important."

She hesitated, then stepped aside, allowing me to enter. I walked into the cabin, my gaze immediately finding Xenia, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions—confusion, hope, fear. My heart ached at the sight, but I pushed my own feelings aside. This wasn't just about me and Xenia anymore. It was about all of us.

"What is it, Kaleb?" Xenia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I turned to face both of them, my hands clenched at my sides. "We need to understand what's happening," I said, my gaze shifting between Xenia and Marrylen. "The bond between you two—it's something we've never seen before. And until we understand why the spirits have chosen this path, Marrylen needs to come back to the pack with us."

Marrylen's eyes widened, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief. "You want me to live with the pack?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "But I'm not a werewolf. I don't belong there."

I stepped closer, my gaze steady as I looked at her. "I know you're not one of us, Marrylen. But you are bonded to Xenia now, and that makes you part of this. We can't ignore what the spirits have done. We need to figure out why they bonded you to her, and we can't do that if you're not with us."

Marrylen glanced at Xenia, her eyes searching her face for some kind of reassurance. Xenia reached out, taking Marrylen's hand in hers, her gaze filled with determination. "Marrylen," she said softly, "I know this is a lot to ask. But I need you with me. I can't do this alone."

Marrylen's eyes softened, her grip on Xenia's hand tightening. She looked back at me, her expression shifting, a mix of fear and resolve. "Alright," she said, her voice barely audible. "I'll come with you. But just until we figure out what's happening."

A sense of relief washed over me, and I nodded. "Thank you," I said, my voice sincere. "I promise we'll do everything we can to keep you safe, and to understand what the spirits have in store for all of us."

Marrylen nodded, her gaze still uncertain, but there was a glimmer of trust there, a willingness to take this leap into the unknown. I knew it wouldn't be easy—bringing a human into the pack, navigating the complexities of this new bond—but we had to try. For Xenia, for Marrylen, for all of us.

As we left the cabin and made our way back through the forest, I could feel the tension in the air, the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The pack would have questions, and there would be challenges, but I was ready to face them. Because no matter what, I wasn't going to give up on Xenia. And if the spirits had bonded her to Marrylen as well, then I would do whatever it took to protect both of them, to understand the path that had been laid out before us.

We walked in silence, the forest around us filled with the sounds of the night—crickets chirping, the rustle of leaves in the breeze. I glanced over at Xenia, her expression determined, her hand still holding Marrylen's. It was strange, seeing them together like this, knowing that they were bonded just as I was bonded to Xenia. But there was something beautiful about it too—a connection that went beyond anything I had ever experienced.

And as we approached the clearing where the pack awaited, I knew that this was just the beginning. The start of a journey that would test us all, that would push us to our limits. But I was ready. Ready to fight for Xenia, ready to protect Marrylen, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Because this was my pack. My family. And I would do whatever it took to keep them safe.