All Chapters of BOUND BY FATE, TORN BY CHOICES : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Every inch of my body felt spent, sore, and completely satisfied in the most intoxicating way. A delicious ache thrummed through my muscles, a reminder of the passion that had consumed us last night. My skin still carried the phantom touch of Derek’s hands, his lips, the way he had claimed me so thoroughly, leaving no room for doubt about what we were to each other. There had been a tension in me before, an anxious, almost agitated state that made me feel like I was trapped inside my own skin. But now? That feeling was gone, replaced by a kind of relaxation that only Derek could bring. And yet, despite my body’s exhaustion, a restless energy lingered beneath my skin. It was a kind of agitation, like an unquenched thirst that only he could satisfy. My heart still beat too fast, my skin still tingled with awareness of him, even though our night together had already passed.Derek had used my body with a kind of raw, unchecked desire that set me ablaze, bending me to his will, taking wha

DEREK As I walked through the village, I heard Selene’s voice behind me, her tone laced with amusement.“Well, it’s being said that she was in the village looking really cozy with a tall, sexy man,” she taunted, her tone dripping with faux innocence. “So, just how confident are you that she’s on the same page as you?”I clenched my jaw, my footsteps heavy against the hardwood floor. I had already heard the whispers, felt the weight of unwanted eyes on me as pack members exchanged knowing looks. The rumors about Ava and Seth had spread like wildfire, each retelling twisting the knife a little deeper.“Leave me alone, Selene,” I growled, but she only quickened her pace, keeping stride with me.“How can she not want you?” she pressed, her voice curling around the edges of my patience like a snake coiling around its prey. “You and her don’t bear a mark yet, and she’s flaunting around with another man. How’s that going to look when you two come out as mates—if you do? Won’t it be the same

DEREK The sunlight filtering in through the windows of the room cast a soft glow on the worn wooden table, its surface slightly scarred from years of use. Seth leaned back in his chair, his fingers tracing the edge of his phone with a casual air that didn’t quite match the tension in the air. He looked up at me, his eyes steady but guarded, as if he knew what was coming next."You said you’ve been keeping tabs on these warlocks," I said, my voice low, cutting through the quiet. I wasn’t in the mood for games. My mind raced with thoughts of the dangers ahead—warlocks, witches, powers that I could barely comprehend—and yet, Seth was just sitting there like it was a regular Tuesday.Seth nodded, his gaze turning distant for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully before speaking. "Yeah, but it’s not as simple as knowing where they are. They can vanish without a trace, one place one minute, and then somewhere else entirely the next. We have a witch back home who tracks them. She ke

DEREK The tension in the air was suffocating. The entire pack stood gathered beneath the raised porch, eyes flickering between me, Ava, and Selene. A storm was brewing, one I could feel deep in my bones.I stepped forward, my gaze locking onto Selene. My voice came out as a growl, low and commanding. “Watch your tongue, Selene.”She didn’t flinch. Instead, she slowly turned her head, her eyes cutting from Ava—whom she had been smirking at—back to me. A wicked gleam flickered in her gaze, a satisfaction that set my teeth on edge. “Oh? So we’re not allowed to speak now?” Her voice rang out, carrying across the gathered wolves. “First, you tell us how to think and feel about this whole mess, and if we don’t fall in line, we’re cast out. And now, we can’t even speak?” She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head as her arms crossed over her chest. “Is that how this works now? Are we all meant to walk with our heads bowed, never questioning anything? Maybe you’d like us to stop breathing

AVABlake poked his head around the door, his familiar smirk easing some of the tension in my chest. “You got everything, sis?”I exhaled, glancing at the half-packed bag on my bed. “I think so? Honestly, I’ve never packed before. Never left here. I don’t even know what’s necessary to bring.” I ran my fingers over the worn fabric of a sweater I’d barely worn. How did you prepare for a journey when you didn’t even know what you’d be at the end of it?Blake stepped inside, his towering frame casting a shadow over my bag. “Want me to grab anything else from home?” His voice was light, but I could hear the unspoken weight in his words. Was it even home anymore? Was anything still the same?I shook my head. “No. This’ll do.” Zipping up my bag, I hesitated before asking, “What’s happening downstairs?”I had heard raised voices earlier—voices I knew all too well. I had stayed upstairs, unwilling to walk into the storm brewing between Derek and Seth.Blake leaned against the doorframe. “Your