Chapter 10

The following days were both torturous and confusing.

I tried to keep my distance from Aiden, tried to ignore the bond that flared up every time we were near each other. But he was always there, pushing me, testing me, as if he wanted to prove something I couldn’t quite understand.

He would show up at the training grounds when I was there, his gaze tracking my every movement.

He’d linger nearby during meals, his presence impossible to ignore.

It felt like he was trying to remind me of everything I was fighting against, and yet, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt whenever he was near.

On the final day, just as dusk was settling over the packhouse, Aiden found me outside. His expression was unreadable as he looked at me, his eyes shadowed in the fading light.

“It’s time,” he said quietly.

We walked in silence to the edge of the forest, where James was waiting for us.

He had prepared everything we needed for the ritual, a small stone altar, an assortment of herbs, and a ceremonial blade that glinted ominously in the dim light.

James gave me a reassuring smile, though his worry was clear in his eyes. “Are you ready?”

I nodded, my heart pounding as I took my place beside the altar.

Aiden stood across from me, his gaze steady and unflinching. Even now, with everything on the line, there was no hint of fear in his eyes.

“Let’s begin,” James said, his voice soft but firm.

He guided us through the ritual, instructing us to place our hands on the altar and close our eyes.

I felt the cool metal of the blade against my palm as he made a small cut, and the sharp sting was nothing compared to the weight of what was about to happen.

“Now, repeat after me,” James instructed, his voice solemn. “I release the bond that binds us.”

“I release the bond that binds us,” I whispered, my voice shaking as I felt the pull of the bond tighten, as if resisting our attempt to sever it.

Aiden echoed the words, his tone steady, but I could hear the strain beneath it.

The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of blood and magic.

I felt a burning sensation spread from the mark on my arm, traveling through my body like fire.

Pain flared, sharp and searing, and I had to bite back a cry as the bond resisted, fighting against our attempt to break it.

But I held on, focusing on my desire to be free, to live my life without this chain holding me down.

Then, suddenly, the pain intensified, a blinding, all consuming agony that tore through me.

I heard Aiden’s sharp intake of breath, felt his pain mirrored in my own. And in that moment, I realized that breaking the bond was like tearing apart a part of myself.

The last thing I heard before the darkness closed in around me was James’s panicked voice calling my name.

When I came to, I was lying on the forest floor, the cool earth beneath me.

The pain had receded, leaving a hollow ache in its place.

I looked around, disoriented, and saw James kneeling beside me, his expression tense with worry.

“It’s done,” he whispered, relief flooding his voice.

But when I looked down at my arm, I saw the faint outline of the mark, faded but still there, a shadow of the bond that had once bound us.

The bond wasn’t gone, not entirely. But it was weaker, less consuming.

I could breathe again, the weight that had pressed on me for so long finally lifted.

Aiden stood a few feet away, watching me with a haunted look in his eyes and I could still feel the remnants of our connection, lingering like an unspoken promise.

The next morning, I felt a strange lightness, as if an invisible weight had been lifted. Even though the bond was weakened and no longer pulled at my every thought, it left behind a faint thread, a lingering awareness of Aiden.

James greeted me with an uncharacteristic mix of relief and worry. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his eyes searching my face.

“Different,” I admitted, realizing that was the best word for it. “But I’m okay.”

We spent the morning together, lingering in the quiet spaces of the pack territory, feeling like we were rediscovering each other outside the turmoil of the past few weeks. But as the day wore on, I could sense the tension in James.

Though the bond was weakened, the pack was as uneasy as ever. We both knew things couldn’t just go back to how they’d been.

Later, we went to the training grounds, where the other omegas practiced drills.

I could feel the other wolves’ curious, uneasy glances, aware that rumors of my connection with Aiden and the failed severance attempt had begun to spread. But I tried to focus on the present, on the steady presence of James beside me.

We were running through a sparring routine when, suddenly, Zara appeared at the edge of the field, her gaze fixed on me.

She looked both suspicious and amused, her lips twisted in a faint smirk as she strode forward.

“Layla,” she greeted me, her voice dripping with mock concern. “I heard you had an interesting… experience last night.”

I kept my expression neutral. “Just some personal pack business, Zara.”

“Interesting,” she mused, her gaze never leaving me. “You may not know this, but a mate bond, even a weakened one, is still a powerful thing. Dangerous, even.”

James moved closer, his expression darkening. “If you have something to say, Zara, just say it.”

Zara tilted her head, a smile spreading across her face as she looked between the two of us. “I simply wanted to make sure our little omega understands her place. Playing around with pack rituals, getting involved with forbidden bonds, it’s a risky business.”

The insult stung, but I held my ground, refusing to give her the reaction she wanted. “Thank you for the concern, Zara, but I’ll handle my own choices.”

“Is that so?” Zara’s eyes glinted. “Be careful, Layla. Alpha Aiden may have a soft spot for you, but the pack has rules. And those rules won’t bend just for a rebellious omega.”

Without another word, she turned on her heel and left, leaving a chill in her wake.

That evening, I met James by the lake, a quiet spot where we could talk without worrying about prying eyes or Zara’s scheming presence.

The air was crisp, and the setting sun cast a warm glow over the water’s surface.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, his voice low as he took my hand.

“Yes,” I replied, squeezing his hand reassuringly. “I can feel the difference. It’s still there, like a distant hum, but it’s nothing like it was.”

He gave me a small smile, though the worry remained in his eyes. “I hate that you’re still connected to him in any way. You deserve to be free.”

The honesty in his words softened me, and for a moment, I allowed myself to just be with James.

He pulled me into his arms, and we stayed like that, lost in each other, until the sun had slipped below the horizon.

Two days later, Aiden called me to his office. I was reluctant to go, but ignoring an Alpha’s order wasn’t an option.

When I entered the room, Aiden was leaning against his desk, his expression guarded.

“Layla,” he said, his voice surprisingly soft. “Thank you for coming.”

I nodded, keeping my distance. “You needed something, Alpha?”

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “The bond… it’s weaker. I know that. But it’s still there. I can still feel you.” He paused, his eyes darkening. “And I don’t know if I can let it go, even now.”

I took a step back, trying to keep my voice steady. “Aiden, I can’t keep doing this. We went through the ritual for a reason, and I need you to respect that.”

His eyes softened, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in them. “You know what this bond does to me, Layla. You feel it too. Pretending it doesn’t exist won’t change that.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I replied firmly. “You made your choice. I’m only asking that you let me live with mine.”

A tense silence settled between us. Then he nodded slowly, though the reluctance was evident. “Fine. I’ll keep my distance. For now.” He took a deep breath, his gaze hardening. “But know this, if the pack faces any threat, you will come to me. This bond may be weakened, but it’s not broken, and that’s enough reason for me to protect you.”

His words left me conflicted.

A part of me wanted to believe he was acting out of genuine concern, but another part reminded me of the possessiveness that had driven his actions from the beginning.

“Thank you, Aiden,” I said quietly before turning to leave.