All Chapters of Darkbound Mate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“Zalie, what is it?” I ask, suddenly alert.She blinks, snapping out of her trance and smiling nervously. “Nothing. Just felt like someone was watching me.”“Do you want to leave?” I offer, glancing around for anything suspicious.She shakes her head quickly, brushing it off. “No, no. Don’t worry about it.” Her voice is chipper again, and the momentary tension dissolves. “Anyway, as I was saying…”I sit back, waiting for the rest of her story.“I agreed to the private dance,” she continues, smirking. “I figured it would add to the authenticity of my acting. So, I danced. I gave them my best moves, and girl, let me tell you—I was ‘on fire’. But then, of course, they took it too far. They asked for sex. In public.”I wrinkle my nose. “Men are goats.”“Exactly! I mean, I know people do it, but I’m not one of them. Shame isn’t just a word, it’s a lifestyle, and those men clearly don’t have it. Anyway…” She pauses again, her gaze darting around the café once more, as if she senses somethin

I scroll through my contacts until I find Evan’s number. My brother’s son. He always has a way of making me smile. The phone barely finishes dialing before he picks up.“Aunty Lynette!” Evan’s excited voice bursts through the line, his energy infectious even over the phone.I smile despite myself. “Were you—”“Yes!” he interrupts, practically yelling. “Mom is pregnant, Aunty! I’m going to be a big brother!”“Aww, really?” I coo, my heart softening. “That’s so sweet! Is she there? I need to congratulate—”“Mom! I told Aunty the news, and she wants to talk to you!” he shouts, his voice muffled slightly as I hear the rapid slap of his feet against the floor. Moments later, there’s a shuffling sound as he hands the phone over.“Good evening, Lynette,” Daniella says, her voice warm but weary. “How was your day?”“Stressful,” I admit, exhaling heavily as I glance at the wall clock. “But congratulations on the pregnancy.”There’s a pause on the other end before she responds, her tone hesitan

The conference room feels stifling. The hum of the air conditioning isn’t enough to cool the tension prickling at my skin. The faint scent of varnished wood mingles with the sharp tang of coffee, abandoned in cups scattered across the table. The room is dimly lit, save for the harsh glow of the screen in front of me, which vibrates insistently in my hand.My grip tightens around the phone, its edges digging into my palm. The phone buzzes again, the sound sharp and grating against the silence. My breath feels too loud, my heartbeat heavier than it should be. Fenrir stirs, no longer sulking in the background of my thoughts. His excitement is a pulse, a rhythm hammering at my control.‘Answer it! Please, please, please!’ he pleads, his tail wagging in my mind’s eye. The usually ferocious wolf, now acts like a pup eager to play.My thumb hovers over the screen. A video call.The thought makes my stomach twist in knots. I can barely handle her voice without feeling my composure crack. Seei

The karaoke bar hums with life, a chaotic mix of pounding music, clinking glasses, and the rise and fall of laughter from a crowd that seems intent on leaving their inhibitions at the door. A faint haze of smoke lingers in the air, mingling with the sticky-sweet scent of spilled cocktails and the faint tang of fried food. The lights overhead pulse in sync with the music, casting shifting colors across the packed room, from warm golds to electric blues.I glance at Kassian standing stiffly beside me, his hood drawn low over his face and a baseball cap tilted just enough to hide his sharp features. He’s trying to blend into the shadows, his arms crossed so tightly over his chest that I can almost hear the fabric of his hoodie strain. His presence alone makes the space feel smaller, his quiet intensity a sharp contrast to the carefree atmosphere.“This is ridiculous,” he mutters, the gruffness in his voice almost lost in the music’s bassline.“Relax,” I reply, patting his arm. His muscle

Elliott looks up from his tablet, his stride halting mid-step as his sharp eyes land on me. I’m sprawled on the yellow chair, my legs dangling over one arm and my head tilted back against the other.“You look like bullshit,” he says, his voice flat but edged with his usual sarcasm.A soft, jaded laugh escapes me. “I feel like bullshit.”He arches an eyebrow, places the tablet on the coffee table with a deliberate thud, and crosses the room with a steady, purposeful gait. There’s concern written across his face now, his brows drawn together as he stops just short of my chair.Elliott has this way of looking at people like he’s trying to figure out how to fix them, as if every problem is solvable with just the right touch of logic and kindness. It’s a maddeningly earnest quality, and one of the reasons I’ve grown so attached to him.I chuckle dryly, glancing up at him. “Meet Elliott, everyone. A man who cares far too much about humans for his own good. He’s excellent at his job, an even