ieran B

rd; his gaze did all the speaking. Cold, sharp, and piercing, like it coul

indifferent, like I was nothing more than a

e sharp and unforgiving-high cheekbones, a strong, chiseled jawline dusted with stubble, and a jagged scar slashing across h

cing, like shards of ice buried deep in a winter forest. They held no warmt

ke pine after a storm, laced with someth

stir

fierce but I shoved her down

n carved from stone. Then his jaw flexed, and when he finally opened

r shifting from mine, as if I wasn't e

nd me; his tone dismis

ther a glance. Instead, he stepped forward, his boots thud

the ceremonial hall." He ord

dn't need to yell but the way he s

, as if his words had pulled invis

with every touch. With trembling fingers, I combed through my tangled hair, crying a

can do this," I said to my

other's old white gown she wore at her wedding. The fabric was faded with time

cool against my skin, the fain

oor. Each creak of the stairs sounded louder than the last as I descended, the

l was already pack

rely hidden curiosity. The whispers were like background noise, soft enough

that

mute

erything at the same time. My feet were numb against the

saw him.

was holding himself together with nothing but sheer pride. His face was the

eyes met mine

or a s

shift. His gaze landed

is face. Pain? Regret? No. It was gone too fast to be ei

t look

rt more than if he'd

er step, until I reached the altar,

osing, exuding an aura that scared everyone

tall, almost as broad as Kieran, with sharp blue eyes and an easy smirk that didn't reach

ed the door, their postures

emony. As I looked into Kieran's eyes, her voice fad

, the bl

, making a swift slice across his palm, like he couldn't wa

as I made the cu

felt a sharp pull, something unfamiliar li

ate

in my mind, her voice

d back. He'll

mute Luna for a

rough him. His jaw clenched tighter and for the briefest

the bond had stitched itsel

flexing his fingers as

flatly, turning away

d. The room erupted into polite applause, but it

again, his breath

're useful fo

y unraveling, stitched together by a bond I didn

ok back once as

ither

leek black SUVs, with the Bla

of one without a word. Tobias, his

" he sai

ind me. Tobias joined us, while the res

tense silence befo

th a half-hearted smirk, "is this a

straigh

ied again, tapping his fin

ftly in the ba

urrowing slightly. He turned to

en glance back.

d, the weight of Kiera

fting in his seat. "We

at the cold landscape blurring

ed, revealing dark stone buildings nestled under an overcast sky. Wolves stood in cluste

s curling in disdain. "The mute Luna?

rves better," a

how them who deserves what." But I stayed still, my face bl

ride steady and unaffected, as if th

hoed down the long hallway, mine barely a whisper against the polished floors.

m," he said flatl

e-just a bed, a dresser, and a small window that barely let

nd distant. "Mira will be assigned as your attendant

om the corner of my eye. His face

briefly, like I was nothing more than an obligation. "You're to attend

ed, but I rem

g," he added, his tone da

curiosity sparking,

something flickered in his eyes-an emotion too quick to

lara," he murmured. "You're here

e door shutting

und of wounded pride. "He'

g over the faint pulse on my wrist. The bond hu

mute. Stil

me, I felt something

elt

a dangerous edge

ate