All Chapters of Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

A week went by in a blur for Lucille as she let herself feel at home with the Crescent Moon Pack. Life had been blissful; she managed to go on runs with Serena and Tristan, and her wolf had never been happier. Zach had been busy with pack affairs, especially as tension grew from Joseph’s unsettling silence. She knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t just go away quietly, and the thought of him scheming kept gnawing at her mind, filling her with a constant sense of worry.She sat in the living room with Serena and Nora, waiting for the men to emerge from their meeting. Tristan had spent the week preparing everything he needed to return and bring back their friends, who were still waiting at the safe house. Supplies, like food and clothing, had been gathered. With so many wolves needing to travel from one territory to another, subtlety and diligence would be essential to ensure the mission's success. "Are you sure you're all right to stay here?" Nora asked Serena."Of course. Tristan

She was in the forest again, the ground shrouded in a thick mist, and all around her stretched an endless expanse of birch trees, their pale trunks fading into the fog. There were no landmarks, nothing to help her mark where she was or how far she’d travelled. By now, Lucille had learnt to simply start walking. Last time, she’d headed south and hadn’t gotten far, so this time, she walked eastward, bracing herself, knowing it would appear again soon. These dreams had been haunting her night after night, each one the same. She’d awaken in the forest, and then the wolf would come. No matter how hard she tried to outrun it, it always caught her in the end. But she refused to give up, determined that if she could just find a way to face and defeat it, the dreams would finally leave her be.About ten minutes into her path, a familiar howl echoed through the trees, a haunting, spine-chilling sound in the distance. It was here, and it was coming for her. Lucille quickened her pace, fighting t

Lucille sat nervously on the worn, floral-patterned sofa in Rita’s cozy home, her eyes wandering over the various trinkets and charms that cluttered the small space. Sunlight filtered through the lace curtains, casting delicate patterns on the walls lined with shelves full of jars and ancient tomes. In the adjoining kitchen, Rita busied herself with making a pot of tea, the soft clinking of porcelain and the hum of boiling water filling the silence. Lucille’s fingers fidgeted in her lap as she considered slipping out before Rita returned, unsure why she had come here in the first place.That morning, Zach had risen early for training exercises, leaving Lucille restless. Sitting with Nora and Serena in the dining room had only intensified her anxiety until she could no longer bear it. She’d set off for a walk to clear her mind, but her feet had inexplicably led her back to Rita’s doorstep. She’d promised herself that if Rita wasn’t home, she would turn around and forget the impulse alt

They all sat in Zach's office, the atmosphere tense as Zach, Bo, Cole, and Serena hunched over a large map spread across the desk. The map was detailed, annotated with landmarks and routes, and Serena pointed to a secluded spot marked with a subtle ‘X’.“The safe house is about an hour away from Joseph’s pack by car,” Serena explained, her voice steady but laced with anxiety. “We moved everyone there the day before Tristan broke Lucille and me out.”Bo frowned, tracing the route with his finger. “Does Joseph know about this place?”Serena shook her head, strands of her hair catching the light. “No. It was a secret hideout Tristan and I used when we first discovered we were mates. He didn’t want Joseph to force me into the pack bond, so we’d meet there in secret, to talk and plan our future.” A soft, wistful smile briefly lit her face, memories of stolen moments flickering behind her eyes.Nora, seated on a chaise longue behind them, interjected with a note of curiosity. “Why didn’t yo

After finding clothes that fit, Cole and Lucille set about searching the house, sifting through the disarray in hopes of uncovering any clues. The dim light filtering through dirt-streaked windows cast elongated shadows, making the already tense atmosphere feel stifling. Lucille’s fingers trembled as she pulled open drawers and shifted papers, the metallic clink of cutlery against wood echoing like a taunt.A quiet rage simmered within her, each movement stoking the fire. The image of Jennifer’s lifeless body replayed in her mind, sharp and unrelenting. Another girl she couldn’t save. Jennifer’s face merged with those of Millie and Heather, all of them lost, all of them victims she hadn’t been able to protect. The guilt gnawed at her, raw and unforgiving.If only she had obeyed Joseph. If she hadn’t let Tristan whisk her away from the torment Cacey inflicted on her, perhaps Joseph wouldn’t have targeted the others. The truth was suffocating: Jennifer’s death was a message meant for he