The Cold Bonds of Duty

Stefan's POV

The stone walls of the stronghold felt colder than usual tonight. I leaned against one of them, my arms crossed, eyes trained on the door that had just closed behind the guards. They’d taken her. Elara. The girl who, for reasons beyond my desire, would be my mate. Or so the bond told me. My instincts screamed at me, dragging my attention to the tug deep inside my chest. It was like a raw, open wound, and yet, I didn’t want to touch it.

I didn’t want her.

My life had no room for softness. No room for the weakness of a mate. I had my pack to lead, a responsibility that demanded every ounce of my focus. I couldn’t afford distractions. And yet, this bond, this invisible string tied between us, was pulling at me relentlessly. But I was an Alpha, and I wouldn’t let my instincts rule me. Not now. Not ever.

She was nothing to me. A tool. A pawn. Nothing more.

A cold gust of wind howled through the cracks in the fortress walls, and I clenched my jaw against it, against the reminder of her scent still lingering in the air. It was soft, fresh, something almost too delicate for a world like ours. A world where survival trumped everything. And yet, as it twisted through my nose, something in my chest clenched, a brief moment of something... guilt?

No. I rejected it immediately.

A soft knock on my door broke through my thoughts, forcing me to shake my head and clear the weakness that had almost taken root.

"Alpha?" Nathan’s voice was low, respectful, yet concerned. Nathan. My Beta. The only one who could sense the turbulence in me.

I straightened up and pulled the door open.

His usual calm demeanor met me, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes as he looked me over.

"The pack has settled for the night," Nathan continued, his voice steady. "The borders are secure. The wolves are on high alert. Everything’s in order, Alpha."

I nodded, but my mind wasn’t focused on his report. It wasn’t on the pack or the wolves or any of the countless responsibilities that weighed on my shoulders. My thoughts were far too distracted by the girl in the next room. The girl who, for reasons I refused to accept, was my mate.

But I would never... never allow myself to fall for her.

My gaze shifted to the window, though I didn’t really see anything beyond the moonlight spilling into the room. My eyes were drawn to the faint, unwelcome scent that clung to the air.

Nathan sniffed the air. His eyes darkened slightly, and his body stiffened. "That’s... different," he muttered under his breath. I didn’t need to ask what he meant. I could smell it too. Elara’s scent was still here, as if it had left its mark on the very stone of the room.

"What is that?" Nathan asked, a small edge of confusion in his tone.

I felt my wolf growl, deep in my chest. My fists clenched, and I fought the urge to snap at him. The scent was like a dagger to my chest. It was hers. Elara’s scent. Her presence lingered like a reminder I could not escape.

But I was an Alpha. I wasn’t weak. I wouldn’t be drawn in by something as trivial as that.

I forced myself to keep my voice flat as I spoke. "I got myself a Luna." I tried to make the words sound like a command, like it was nothing to me, nothing more than a simple statement of fact. "She’s nothing more than a means to an end."

Nathan’s eyes widened for a brief moment, and I could tell that the scent of Elara was getting to him as well. He stepped closer, his voice lowering, like he was afraid to speak too loudly. "Is she... your mate, Alpha?"

The question was like a slap in the face. One I wasn’t prepared for. My wolf howled inside me, urging me to acknowledge the truth. But I silenced it with a force I didn’t know I had.

"I’m not interested in finding a mate," I growled, my voice sharp. "She’s just a breeder. Nothing more."

Nathan didn’t push it any further, though I could feel his hesitation in the air. He knew when to back off, and I was thankful for that.

"Understood, Alpha," he murmured, bowing his head before backing out of the room. But as he left, I felt the weight of his gaze lingering, as though he could see right through me.

The room felt too small, the air too thick. I turned away from the door and strode toward Elara’s room. The pull was stronger now, impossible to ignore. It was like a magnet dragging me toward her, and for a fleeting moment, I felt my resolve falter. But I pushed it away. I couldn’t let her become more than just a tool.

When I entered her room, she was standing by the window, her back to me. Her shoulders were tense, her breath shallow. I could feel the weight of her fear even without seeing her face.

She didn’t turn to face me as I approached, but I knew she could feel me coming. She could feel the inevitability of this moment.

"Please," her voice was a whisper, cracked with desperation. "Don’t do this."

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. There were no words left for her. No sympathy. No compassion.

Instead, I moved toward her, my steps deliberate and slow, controlled. Every step closer to her felt like a battle. The bond tugged at me, demanding that I claim her, but I ignored it. I had to. She was a tool, nothing more.

When I reached her, I grabbed her arm, yanking her toward me. She gasped, her body trembling in my grasp, but I barely noticed. I couldn’t focus on her fear. I couldn’t focus on her at all.

"Your pleas mean nothing," I spat, my voice as cold as ice. "You’re here for a reason. You’re here because your father couldn’t pay his debts. And now, you’re mine."

Her eyes filled with panic, her lips trembling as she spoke again. "I don’t want this... I don’t want to be with you."

Her words were weak, and they didn’t move me. They didn’t change anything.

I grabbed her chin, forcing her gaze to meet mine. "It doesn’t matter what you want," I snarled. "You’re mine now. And you will do your duty."

I leaned down, my lips crashing into hers before she could protest again. Her body stiffened, and I could feel the terror radiating off of her. Her soft gasp of protest was swallowed by my kiss, and her body trembled in my arms, but I didn’t stop. The bond was relentless, and I refused to be weak.

I kissed her harder, deeper, ignoring every scream of protest, every cry of desperation. This wasn’t about love. It wasn’t about desire. It was about duty. The bond demanded it, and I would fulfill it.

When it was done, I stepped back, breathing heavily, my emotions locked away behind the wall I had built long ago. Elara stood there, shaking, her face pale and stricken with horror.

But I didn’t feel remorse. I couldn’t.

"You’ll stay in this room," I said, my voice low and cold. "And you will do your duty. Nothing more."

With that, I turned and walked away, my mind already shifting to the pack, to my duties. Elara’s cries echoed in my ears, but I pushed them away.

The bond was still there, tugging at me, but I ignored it. I had to.

My pack came first. Elara... she was just a means to an end.