All Chapters of Darkbound Mate: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

I go downstairs for a glass of water, the sound of my bare feet on the wooden steps echoing in the stillness of the house. The faint hum of the refrigerator greets me in the kitchen, along with the earthy smell of freshly brewed tea that someone must have made earlier.Tyson stands by the counter, a glass of cold water in his hand. He doesn’t notice me at first, and for a moment, I just watch him. His presence is grounding, though it does nothing to lighten the ache in my chest.“Hey,” I murmur softly, my voice barely audible.He glances up, offering a faint smile. The warmth in it should comfort me, but instead, it only deepens the emptiness I can’t seem to escape.The kitchen feels colder than it should, the faint hum of the refrigerator filling the silence as Tyson looks at me from beneath his dark lashes. His innocent smile, paired with the casual way he sips his water, does little to ease the storm inside me. I smirk, masking the ache in my chest. “Somebody’s been busy with ‘acti

The café smells of freshly brewed espresso, warm pastries, the faint, earthy hint of wood, and the scent and emotions of the people in the café. The bell above the door jingles as I push it open, and a gust of cool air follows me in, ruffling the edges of my jacket. Wooden tables, their surfaces worn smooth by years of use, reflect the muted golden light of hanging lamps. Outside, the faint patter of rain against the windows adds a softness to the hum of conversations and the occasional clang of cups. But none of it registers fully because she’s here.I see her before she sees me. Lynette sits at a small table by the window, her ocean-green eyes catching the afternoon sunlight, making them shimmer like glass over shallow waves. Her frosty blonde hair cascades over her shoulders in effortless waves, the pale strands glowing like spun silk. She looks up as I enter, and her cherry blossom pink lips curve into a smile so radiant it pierces straight through my chest.She’s not wearing make

The game begins, and I’m in my element, zipping around the rink, slamming into other cars with gleeful abandon. Kassian looks downright uncomfortable in the tiny car, his knees practically brushing the dashboard. He doesn’t complain, but the way he adjusts his grip on the wheel, his movements precise and measured, makes it clear he’s just tolerating this for my sake.I take full advantage, ramming into him at every opportunity. “Are you even trying?” I call out, laughing as his car jerks sideways.“This is ridiculous,” he mutters, though I swear I see the corner of his mouth twitch.After a few rounds of wrecking havoc, I finally call it quits, my sides aching from laughing so hard. Kassian climbs out of his car with his usual composure, but there’s something lighter about the way he moves now—like maybe, just maybe, he’s starting to relax.I catch his eye and grin. “You’re terrible at this, by the way.”“I think I did fine,” he replies, but there’s no edge in his voice.“Sure, let’s

Oliver’s POVThe western forest is alive with the faint rustle of leaves, the sharp tang of pine filling the air as I inhale deeply. It’s quiet now, save for the occasional hoot of an owl somewhere in the darkness. The moon hangs low, casting silver light over the perimeter, which only hours ago had been breached.I tighten my grip on the hilt of my blade, my other hand resting on my hip as I face the leader of the first guard quad. His name is Cade, a burly, dark-haired wolf with sharp blue eyes that never seem to miss a thing. He stands rigid, his posture a picture of discipline, though his scent carries a faint trace of unease.“Have you checked the southern perimeter?” I ask, my voice steady but sharp enough to cut through the crisp night air.“Yes, it’s secured,” Cade replies, his deep voice calm but certain. “There was no interference from that angle. The rogue only got in through the east.”“And you’re sure no one from the pack saw anything?” My gaze locks onto his, searching f

Oliver’s POVThe silence that follows Kassian’s confession is heavy, suffocating almost, wrapping around us like an unspoken weight. I press my lips into a thin line, my gaze fixed on him as disbelief and shock swirl in my chest. His words replay in my head like a broken record, each repetition hammering in the magnitude of what he just said. Kassian, of all people, has found his mate.And the poor, unfortunate woman? I can’t even begin to pity her.Kassian sits slouched in the chair across from me, his broad shoulders tense and his hands twitching against his knees. The faint scent of cinnamon, sage, and rosewood clings to the air around him, a smell that’s always been distinctly his but now seems sharper, almost frantic. His heartbeat echoes in the room, loud enough to join the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock, the two sounds merging into an almost oppressive cadence.“She’s…” he starts hesitantly, dragging a hand through his hair. The movement is nervous, jerky, so unlike the usu