All Chapters of Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

She braced herself against the silver chains holding her upright as the whip cracked down once more, its tip coated in silver for an even sharper bite, tearing into her flesh. Lucille bit her lip, suppressing a scream as lash after lash seared across her back. Cacey stormed over to his small table of torture tools, sweat beading on his brow as he threw down the whip in frustration. Snatching up a vial of wolfsbane, he returned to her. Lucille chuckled darkly.“Running out of ideas, are we?” she mocked, coughing up blood and spitting it at him. “What’s left to try? I think some fingernails have grown back if you fancy another go? Or what about that lovely dagger of yours over there? Ah, more wolfsbane. You do realise that after a while, the poison just numbs everything. It’s practically helping me sleep at this point,” she taunted, revelling in his fury.He unscrewed the cap of the slightly blue liquid, pinched her cheeks together, and forced her mouth open to pour it down her throat.

Every part of her hurt. Her whole body cried out in agony—a blend of fire, stinging, and itching sensations as it fought to repair itself, her flesh knitting back together, sealing open wounds. Her skin felt unbearably hot, like damp clothes clinging to her body, making her long for the relief of peeling them away, to feel light and free. As she stirred, she sensed something drawing her in, wrapping her in a cocoon of comfort and warmth. Instantly, she felt herself calm; the heat faded, the itch eased as she nestled in deeper. A steady, rhythmic heartbeat pulsed in her ear, its gentle cadence hypnotic. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. The room was dim, with heavy curtains drawn to block nearly all daylight. It was peacefully quiet—no sounds within the house, as if everything had fallen into a deep slumber. She looked down at her hand, noticing the cannula, currently unattached to anything, then turned her gaze to the man lying beside her. He was fully dres

Zach stood outside his bedroom, practically panting as he tried to regain control of himself and the overwhelming urge to go back in there and show Lucille exactly how much he enjoyed watching her. She was driving him mad—it was infuriatingly hot! The moon had barely begun to grace the sky, and already he was beginning to realise he was in over his head. If she kept this up, it wouldn’t be long before his own resolve broke. He rubbed his face, uncertain of his next move. He’d assured her that there was no need to lock her up, yet the idea of sitting in that room all night while she looked and smelled like that… it was pure torture.He’d tried researching the moon curse, hoping to find a cure or at least a way to manage Lucille’s heightened aura. But all he’d found were legends and frightening tales. Most of the stories painted the moon curse as a myth—a terrifying bedtime story to keep children in line. They described werewolves as ordinary people who, under the full moon’s light, bec

Something inside him urged him to wake up, and when he opened his eyes, he noticed that Lucille was no longer asleep beside him. Scanning the room haphazardly, he ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath, “Shit!” Without even thinking to put on some clothes, he dashed out of his room, following her scent as it led him through his home to the back door, which had been left ajar.Bo, Cole! Lucille got out. I want you to go and see— He stopped mid-link as he spotted her across the field, just standing there beneath the moonlight.Zach? Zach? Is everything alright? I’m on my way over there, Bo called through the link.It’s alright; I found her, he responded, his eyes fixated on her and the way she appeared so beautiful in that moment. Her long chestnut hair flowed gently in the breeze, the bed sheet loosely wrapped around her body. With her chin tilted up to the sky and her eyes closed, she looked every bit like a goddess on earth.She didn’t run away? Cole asked.No, she’s j

Rita’s home sat right on the outskirts of town, standing alone atop a small hill beside a quaint river. Lucille hadn’t known what to expect as they approached the witch’s doorstep; Joseph had distrusted witches deeply, forbidding any from coming near him—or her. Yet, despite her lack of expectations, when they stepped inside the cottage, Lucille was taken aback by how homely and, well, normal the place seemed.The room she’d been shown into was small and open-plan, connecting two spaces seamlessly. One side held a cosy living area with two cushioned sofas divided by a beautifully crafted wooden coffee table. The other held a dining area, with a table set against the wall and seats arranged on either side. Lucille settled onto one of the sofas beside Zach, though she made sure to sit as far at the other end as possible. Even after last night, the proximity to him hadn’t dulled the tingling sensation she felt whenever they were together. If anything, it seemed more intense, if that was