All Chapters of BOUND BY BLOOD AND REVANGE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Alderon’s gaze locks onto mine, and the world tilts.I hear the sound of my own breathing, sharp and uneven. The forest feels smaller, the shadows pressing in around us. The scent of damp earth and pine is drowned out by him—his presence, his power.He isn’t surprised.He isn’t angry.He’s amused.“Going somewhere?” His voice is low, a dangerous purr that sends a shiver down my spine.I tighten my grip on Serena, instinct screaming at me to run. But it’s too late. He’s already here.“Move.” I force the word out, steady, unwavering.Alderon tilts his head, his gold eyes glinting. “Or what?”My stomach twists. There is no or what. There never was.Behind him, the wolves appear.They step out of the darkness—hulking figures with glowing eyes, their bodies tense, waiting for a command. His pack.I grab Serena’s wrist. “Run.”She hesitates. Too long.Alderon moves.Fast.Before I can react, before I can even think—he’s on me.A blur of black, a rush of air, and I’m weightless.Then—pain.I

Alderon is gone, but his presence suffocates the room like a lingering ghost.I should be thinking about escape. But I can’t.Not when my mind is filled with Derek.Not when my body is frozen with the horrifying certainty that Alderon is doing something to him.Something unspeakable.I try to shove the thoughts away, but they dig into my skull like claws.And then—A scream.I jolt. My heart slams against my ribs.Derek.Another scream rips through the walls, splintering the air with agony. Raw. Unfiltered. Inhuman.It feels like my own flesh is being torn open.He’s close. Too close.Alderon planned this.He put him there on purpose.To make sure I heard every second of his suffering.I wrench against my chains, metal cutting into my skin. My wrists burn, but I don’t stop.I can’t stop.I slam my shoulder against the wall. Against the iron shackles.It’s useless.Another scream. This one is different—hoarse, broken.Like Derek is running out of strength.Like he’s starting to give up

The corridors stretch endlessly, dimly lit by flickering torches. Shadows dance along the damp stone walls, closing in, suffocating. Each step I take is an act of defiance, though my body protests. My wrists burn, my legs threaten to give out, but I keep moving.Because I won’t let Alderon break me.Caleb walks beside me, silent as ever. His presence looms, but I don’t acknowledge him. He’s nothing more than a leash, dragging me toward the inevitable.Toward him.The double doors ahead are massive, carved with ancient symbols. The insignia of the Alpha King. Of Alderon.My stomach twists as Caleb reaches for the handle.“Wait.” My voice is hoarse. “Tell me if Derek’s alive.”Caleb stills. For the first time, his expression flickers with something—hesitation? Guilt?But he doesn’t answer.The doors swing open.And Alderon is waiting.He stands by the fireplace, his broad frame bathed in golden light. His coat is gone, leaving only his black shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong for

A soft knock pulls me from sleep. I blink, my body heavy, my limbs sore. The space beside me is empty—Alderon is gone. Wrapping the blanket around my chest, I clear my throat. “Come in.” The door creaks open, and Eva steps inside, carrying fresh clothes. Her posture is relaxed, different from the first day we met, but there’s something unreadable in her gaze. She sets the clothes on the bed before walking toward the basin, pouring warm water into the tub. “The Alpha has asked me to prepare you,” she says gently. “There’s going to be an execution today, and he wants you to be there.” I freeze. An execution? My heart pounds against my ribs. A lump lodges itself in my throat. “Why?” My voice comes out hoarse. Eva lowers her gaze. “He didn’t say.” But I already know. Maybe this is a warning. A reminder of what happens to those who defy him. Maybe this is his way of showing me the consequences of running away again. I swallow hard, my fingers tightening around the blanket. “

The door creaks open, and Eva steps in, balancing a tray in her hands. The scent of warm stew fills the air, but my stomach twists at the thought of eating.“Luna,” she murmurs, cautiously placing the tray on the small table beside the bed. “You have to eat.”I glare at her, my eyes red and swollen. My throat is raw from the silent sobs I refused to let escape. I don’t answer. I can’t.Eva hesitates, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her dress. Then, with a small sigh, she says, “I’m sorry for your loss.”The words unravel me.A sharp sob breaks past my lips, and before I can stop myself, the tears spill over, hot and relentless. I press my hands over my face, willing myself to stop, but it’s no use.Derek is gone.Dead.And it’s because of me.If he had never met me—never tried to help me—he would still be alive.Eva shifts awkwardly, watching me crumble. When she speaks again, her voice is steady, almost too firm.“My lady, if you ask me, he deserved to die. I hope he goes to he