All Chapters of Bound By The Shackles Of Fate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 28

~KAEL~My heart skipped a beat, a sudden tightening in my chest.I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, ready to stand, but Eliara’s hand shot out, pressing against my chest. “Kael, wait,” she said, her voice a soft purr, trying to hold me back.I looked at her, the disdain burned so hot inside me, I was surprised she didn’t feel it scald her skin. My wolf clawed at me, urging me to shake her off, to get away from her touch.I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but the words withered on my tongue. Her hands slid off me as if she sensed the shift. But then her lips twisted into a smirk. “You’re leaving because of her?” she asked, venom coating each word.Eliara stood, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re pathetic,” she sneered. “Running after a weak girl like her.”I paused at first. Slowly, I turned to her, my eyes cold. “Get out.”Her smirk vanished. “Kael—”“I said get out.” My voice was low, but the threat in it was clear. She huffed, muttering under her breath an

~ARIA~ I closed the door to my room and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. I walked to my bed and sat down, my hands clenching the sheets. Escaping wasn’t going to be easy. Kael's estate was more like a prison. Guards patrolled every inch of the grounds, and cameras watched everything. But I was willing to risk it all. I took out a small notepad and started making a list. The first step was to stay calm and not draw attention to myself. The second was to get as much cash as I could. The money Kael had given me as an allowance was enough for me to survive for a while. The third step — the most important one — was to meet Lena tonight. She was the only person I trusted here. Once I got out, I’d call Luca. He would pick me up the next morning. I can even book a cheap hotel for a night to stay off Kael’s radar. After making the call, I’d switch off my phone so Kael couldn’t track me. A soft knock at the door startled me. “Aria?” came Lena’s whispered voice. Rel

ARIA~The sound of keys jingling woke me up. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the exhaustion. Damon stood at the door, his face calm as always."Kael says you can come out now," he said quietly.I nodded and stood up, my legs shaky from the cold, hard bed. Damon’s eyes softened just a little."For your own good, try not to make Kael angrier," he said. "It’ll only make things worse. And… watch what you say."I knew Damon didn’t talk much, so those words meant he was trying to help me. I swallowed hard and followed him out of the small, stone room. The door closed behind me with a heavy thud, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.We walked back through the garden, gravel crunching under our feet. The sun was up now. We entered Kael’s mansion through the back door to avoid anyone seeing me like this. My cheeks burned with shame, but I kept my head high.Damon led me straight to Kael’s chambers. We stopped in his private guest room, which was beautiful and full of expen

~ARIA~The kiss was fierce, possessive but passionate. His mouth moved against mine with a desperate intensity that stole my breath. His fingers slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The heat of his body seeped into mine, burning away my resistance.My heart pounded wildly and my lips refused to respond. His lips were relentless, coaxing and claiming, as if he was trying to erase every doubt, every fear. A soft moan escaped me, and he seized it, deepening the kiss. I kissed him back before I realized what I was doing.A warmth I hadn’t known in so long spread through me, washing over the cracks in my heart. His grip tightened, his fingers pressing into my skin like he was afraid I’d disappear.But then reality crashed down on me.What am I doing?I quickly pushed Kael, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The way I was breathing,it was as if I had engaged in a marathon. My lips burned, tingling with the ghost of his kiss. Kael’s eyes b