THE MATING BOND

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or beneath me seemed not to show me mercy. My heart pounded loudly

ough the silence, pulling me out of my tho

My mind raced as I tried to process what he had just said. Marriage? I wasn't ready for

to mine. "This is not a negotiation, Elsie," he growled. His face was a mask of authority, and I knew better

mbling, "I'm not ready for marriage. I want to explore

, sending me sprawling to the floor. Pain radiates through my face, and tears welled u

" he hissed, his anger simmering just below the sur

e settling into a blurry focus. I felt a mixture of anger, frustration, and helplessness, but I knew b

spirit remained unbroken. "I understand, Uncle," I sai

u will marry Ethan, the son of my friend from our neighboring pack. It is

tranger, someone I have not chosen for myself, was suffocating. I had alwa

his voice low and dangerous. "On the day of your marriage, you will be a symbol of o

h a heavy heart. "I won't bri

had taken such a sudden and dark turn. As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling th

of my parents, who had been the Alpha and Luna of the Enchanted pack. They had ru

I could still taste salty tears as I clung to my parents, knowing they couldn't protect me anymore. In the

secure his grip on power. I knew Ethan, the manipulative son of my uncle's friend, only too well. He wa

eeks L

pack's territory was nothing but darkness. My heart ached as I looked out at the sprawl

hosen for me, its lace and pearls feeling like chains that threatened to suffocate me

Mia, who had been my confidante and source of support since m

this?" Mia whispered and ga

"What choice do I have, Mia? Uncle made it cle

ting comfort. "We can find a way out of th

ou don't understand, Mia. I can't risk bringing sha

my predicament. "Then we'll make sure you're safe, no matt

, and he had eyes that saw and ears that heard in every corner of the pack. Was I ready to oblige his decision? But then, the

r of my eye. It was Mia, signaling me to follow her. With a sinking feeling in my gut, I und

arefully. Mia led me to a hidden path that would take me beyond the pack's territo

ith every step, I felt a glimmer of hope, a flicker of freedom, and the promise of a future where I could choose my own destiny. Soon, Mia turned to me. "I'll stop here, Elsie. Take good care of yourself please. Look fo