In one of the guest rooms–Nyra had been

helped in against her will after she’d been continuously bleeding– she lays perfectly still on the huge bed.

Something feels terribly wrong. Her wolf feels very distant, almost like how she felt when she was completely wolfless.

It doesn’t take up to half the royal oracle to come in. The familiar old woman from the Moonbond and awakening rite, presses a hand against her head as her big blue eyes close in deep concentration.

Around them, Nyra feels like the air grow thicker, like there’s an ancient power filling the room through the window.

Even her wolf reacts to the power.

"You tried to break the bond," the young woman with bright white hair, says quietly, though Luna selene hears it. "The ritual somehow backfired. Your already weak wolf has grown even weaker. The Goddess does not take kindly to such interference."

Weak?

But that’s not what the retired oracle had said.

She’d told her, the wolf was only dormant, and that the goddess has a reason for it, and they would all find out soon.

She almost opens her mouth to argue. To tell them her wolf isn’t weak, and how tired she is of them calling her that-- but then she remembers the warning.

"Do not let anyone know what really happened here." The old woman had told her, "the Goddess kept it private for a reason, and whatever is it, no one must know-- not even your mate."

She swallows the words, quietly listening to the Oracle and Luna speak.

Luna Selene’s expression darkens with deep concern. "What does this mean for her, Oracle?"

The oracle steps back slowly, looking worried. "Their bond is very unique. One of the most unique bonds I’ve seen in decades." The woman says. "And until its true purpose is fulfilled, trying to break the bond will only harm her further."

The Luna sighs. Not angry, just disappointed and understanding at the same time.

Like somehow, she understands why exactly Nyra had tried to break it in the first place.

"We’ll keep an eye on her.." she tells the Oracle.

Alpha Darius, who has been quietly observing from the door way the entire time, nods in agreement.

"Nyra," he says in a stern voice, "you heard her, no more attempts to break the bond no matter what happens."

Nyra mumbles something under her breath, refusing to respond. The bond is like a suffocating chain around her neck that won’t come off no matter how hard she tries.

Meanwhile she notes that Adrian and Anna are nowhere to be found.

---

Later that evening, after the others have left to continue through the rest of their activities, Nyra hears a knock at the door.

Before she can respond, Adrian-- handsome as ever-- slips in through the door.

Most of the wounds on his arms look like they’re almost completely healed, though his face still has some scratches.

Nyra is sitting alone by the edge of the bed, close to the windows watching a servant work on the Luna’s beautiful garden. She doesn’t turn to look at him, but his pheromones still somehow calm her down.

"Nyra," Adrian says softly, his voice cracking slightly as he approaches.

He thankfully stands a respectful distance away, "Please... can we just talk to you. Just for a moment?"

She doesn’t respond, but she also doesn’t tell him to leave. He takes her silence as permission, and continues.

"I know I don’t deserve to be here. I know I’ve hurt you more than anyone ever should. The things I said to Anna, the way I treated you for years...God, I was so cruel."

He runs a hand through his hair, "Truth is, I was scared of the bond, scared of changing, learning to love someone else-- before that night, u never imagined that the Goddess would choose somebody else."

"I also didn’t ask for this.."

"I know!" He responds, "and I’m not trying to make excuses. I’m just begging you-- to give me a chance to make this right."

Her traitorous wolf, though tired purrs with interest, hearing it’s Alpha beg. But Nyra quicky shuts it down.

"I can’t reverse everything I’ve ever done," he continues, "The bullying, the rejection, the horrible messages... I can’t erase any of it. But I will spend every single moment trying to make it up to you. Trying to become someone worthy of being your mate."

Nyra almost scoffs. What about Anna? What about the child she claimed to be carrying? Wasn’t that supposed to be his future now?

Does he really think she’s that gullible? That he’ll come in here and say a few words, and she’ll simply run back into his hands?

The last time she was easy with him, he mocked her for it.

Never again.

She turns to him looking irritated, "Adrian can you just leave--" the moment their eyes meet, her breath hitches, the last word dying in her throat.

His silver eyes are tired but intense, and it feels like she’s drowning in them.

For a moment it feels like the entire room around them has faded into oblivion-- and through the bond, somehow she catches a glimpse of his emotions in that moment.

Regret.

Self loathe.

And surpringly, adoration. Not for Anna, not for anyone else, but for her.

The feeling is so intense that she has to force her gaze away, her heartbeat racing.

Okay, what the hell was that!?

"You... felt that, didn’t you?" Adrian asks, looking at her. She looks so exhausted innocent, that his heart tightens with a feeling he can’t even explain, "..I sent my feelings through the bond. Did you feel it?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she says, refusing to meet his eyes again. They both know it’s a lie, because Adrian won’t be able to send his feelings, if Nyra didn’t leave the channel open.

He exhales loudly, but doesn’t give up. "Everything you felt... it was real. I meant every word."

Nyra chuckles bitterly, "Really? Because it didn’t seem like it when you said all those things about me, did it!?"

"I’m sorry-"

"Sorry doesn’t erase the humiliation." Her voice breaks. "Sorry doesn’t erase how you called me loose, how you degraded me behind my back." She finally meets his eyes again, "I hate you so much, Adrian, you have no idea!"

Adrian sighs, but doesn’t argue anymore. Instead he reaches for his pocket and pulls out an envelope.

It’s an invitation to join the arts contest, the one he’d forced the director to include her in last week. The new list had just come out yesterday.

Nyra looks down at it, recognizing the seal, but says nothing. She doesn’t even reach for it.

"You don’t have to forgive me right now." He says, "Just give me a chance to start fixing what I broke."

Adrian drops the envelope, and leaves quietly without another word, closing the door behind him.