Bound By Force

“What…?” My paws pulled back into hands, fingers stretching and curling.

My sharp senses faded, replaced by the scents of the forest all around me.

I stumbled as my legs shifted, the powerful muscles of a wolf transformed into the softer form—my human form.

My howl softened into a breathless gasp. “Seven?”

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.’

“Are you deaf?”

I gasped, my lungs burned as I scrambled to my feet.

This man stood tall above me, shrouded in shadows.

My heart raced in my chest, pounding hard with every beat, as if it might burst free. The tension made it feel alive, thumping loudly like a drum as I took a step back, trying to steady myself.

I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could feel his presence—strong, dominant, like nothing I'd ever felt before.

“What are you doing in my territory?” His voice was deep, rumbling through the air like distant thunder.

It sent a chill down my spine.

I froze, unable to speak. His territory?

My breath came out in ragged gasps, and Seven stirred restlessly inside me, itching to take control.

‘Let me out,’ she growled. ‘We’ll take him down!’

But I hesitated. There was something about him—something dangerous.

“Answer me,” the man demanded, stepping closer. His eyes were shining in the darkness, sharp and fierce.

I could feel the weight of his glare, like he was sizing me up, deciding if I was a threat or just another wolf to be dealt with.

Seven had no patience. I felt her push forward, and before I could stop her, she lunged.

My body surged forward, teeth bared, claws out. We went straight for him, reckless and wild, aiming for his throat.

The rush of adrenaline took over, and I felt the strength of my wolf flowing through my veins.

But he was fast. Too fast.

Before I could land the hit, he shifted—his body rippled, transforming into a massive wolf. His fur was white-grey, almost like Seven’s, but darker, more solid.

His eyes gleamed with a ferocity that matched his size, and I realized too late that I’d underestimated him.

We collided, the force of it knocking me back. I growled, twisting in the air as I tried to regain control, but he was already on me.

His teeth sank into my side, and pain shot through me, white-hot and searing.

“Aaagh!” I howled in pain but fought back, slashing at him with my claws, snapping my jaws at his neck.

He was stronger.

Too strong.

Every time I tried to push him off, he came back harder. His teeth tore into my flesh again and again, ripping through fur and skin.

Blood soaked my coat, dripping onto the ground, and my limbs grew weaker with every passing second.

‘Fight!’ Seven roared inside me, refusing to give up. ‘We can’t lose!’

But I couldn’t keep up. The white-grey wolf slammed me into the ground, pinning me down with his massive weight.

His teeth closed around my throat, squeezing just enough to warn me.

I thrashed beneath him, but it was useless.

He was too powerful. My vision blurred, the edges going dark, and I struggled to breathe.

I felt Seven weakening inside me, her energy draining fast. We couldn’t fight anymore. We couldn’t win.

The man—no, the wolf—released his grip on my throat, his breath hot against my fur as he growled low and deep.

I lay there, panting, my body aching, torn apart, barely holding on.

I could feel his gaze on me, watching me carefully, as if deciding whether to finish me off or let me live.

And then, for the first time, I felt something else move inside me, and our eyes met.

It was faint, like a whisper carried in the wind, but unmistakable.

A warmth blossomed deep in my chest, slowly spreading throughout my body. The pain in my limbs dulled, the burning in my lungs eased.

Something was changing.

The white-grey wolf stared down at me, his blue eyes softened.

I didn’t understand what was happening, but neither did Seven. For once, she was silent inside me—no growls, no demands. Just a strange, quiet stillness, as if she, too, was waiting.

He stepped back, his grip on my throat eased entirely.

I gasped for air, my lungs filling greedily. He didn’t attack again. Instead, he watched me with a look that felt both weird and somehow familiar.

Something was shifting between us, a strange, invisible pull that I couldn’t comprehend.

I staggered to my feet, feeling my body tremble, every nerve still on edge.

His eyes blinked once more, and in an instant, the massive wolf shifted back into his human form.

He was breathtaking—tall and imposing, with a presence that grabbed my attention immediately.

His skin was pale, and his short silver hair sparkled in the moonlight. His eyes had softened into a deep, endless blue, like the sky just before dawn.

“Who are you?” I managed to rasp, my voice still hoarse from the fight.

He tilted his head slightly, as though considering the question. “I could ask you the same,” he said, his tone less harsh now but still intimidating. “You’re in my territory. Yet… you’re not just any wolf.”

I swallowed hard, trying to find my balance, both physically and mentally. His presence was overwhelming, but something inside me refused to back down completely.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, but even as I spoke, the words felt hollow. There was something different about me—about us.

Seven stirred once more, but not with her usual self.

This time, it was almost like she was curious, drawn to him in a way that unnerved me.

“I can feel it,” he said, his voice dropping lower, murmuring, almost as if he was speaking to himself. “You’re connected to…”

He took a step closer, his blue eyes trying to connect with mine as if looking for answers. “You…”

His words sent a chill through me. “Me…?”

“You’re my mate…”