Chapter 6
I don't sleep.
I lie on the bed staring at the ceiling while the fire crackles low, my mind replaying every word, every look, every lie Lucien Blackfang fed me dressed up as Mercy.
Stay alive.
As if survival is a favour he's granting me.
The bond hums restlessly, like it's pacing the length of my ribs. Every time I close my eyes, I feel him—right outside the door. Not moving. Not leaving.
Guarding.
The realisation crawls under my skin and stays there.
Near dawn, the door opens.
I sit up instantly, spine stiff, every muscle coiled.
Lucien steps inside like he owns the air itself. He looks unchanged—controlled, distant—but his eyes are darker, shadowed, like he hasn't slept either.
Good.
"You're awake," he says.
"I wasn't planning on dying in my sleep," I reply flatly.
A corner of his mouth tightens. Not a smile. Never that.
"Get dressed," he says. "We're setting boundaries."
I snort. "You mean rules."
"Yes."
"Let me guess," I say, swinging my legs off the bed. "I breathe when you allow it."
His gaze flicks to me. Sharp. "You'll breathe whenever you want. You'll speak when spoken to."
Anger flares. "I'm not one of your wolves."
"No," he agrees. "You're worse."
I stand, stepping into his space before I can stop myself. "Then why don't you just kill me?"
The room goes very still.
Lucien's jaw tightens. "Because Alpha law forbids it."
"That's not the real reason."
His eyes lock onto mine, steel-hard. "Careful."
"Because if I die," I continue, voice shaking with fury, "whatever this is between us dies too. And you're afraid of what happens then."
The bond surges—hot, volatile.
Lucien exhales slowly, visibly forcing himself to stay in control. "You talk too much."
"And you hide behind laws like they're shields."
He steps closer, his presence crashing into me like a wall. "Alpha law is the only thing keeping this pack from tearing you apart."
"So spell it out," I snap. "What laws justify keeping me trapped in your bedroom wing?"
"Three," he says immediately.
Of course he's already decided.
"One," he continues, "you do not leave this wing without my permission."
"Kidnapping," I mutter.
"Containment".
"Same thing."
"Two," he says, ignoring me, "you do not interact with pack members alone."
I laugh bitterly. "Afraid I'll corrupt them?"
"Afraid they'll hurt you."
That gives me pause. Just a fraction.
"And three?" I ask.
Lucien's eyes darken. "You do not touch me."
The words land heavier than the others.
Something ugly twists in my chest.
"Wasn't planning on it," I say coldly.
"Good." His gaze flicks to my arm. The partial mark glows faintly, visible even in the low light. "Because the bond reacts to contact. And if it escalates again—"
"What?" I challenge. "You'll reject me harder?"
His lips are thin. "There are punishments worse than rejection."
Fear whispers down my spine.
I straighten anyway. "Your laws don't own me."
"They do while you're under my roof."
"And if I break them?"
Lucien's voice drops. "Then you answer to me."
The bond tightens at that, sharp and unpleasant.
"Is this about control," I ask quietly, "or are you just scared?"
For a heartbeat, I think he won't answer.
Then he says, "Both."
The honesty hits harder than cruelty ever could.
A knock sounds at the door.
Lucien doesn't turn. "Enter."
Kael steps inside, stopping short when he sees me standing so close to Lucien. His gaze flicks between us, something unreadable flashing in his eyes.
"The council is demanding answers," Kael says carefully. "Magnus is furious."
"When isn't he?" Lucien replies.
"They felt the bond surge again," Kael adds. "And the pack noticed you stayed outside her door all night."
I stiffen.
Lucien's jaw tightens. "That's not their concern."
Kael hesitates. "Selene is already framing it as weakness."
My stomach drops.
Lucien's eyes flash. "She's overstepping."
"She's positioning herself," Kael corrects gently. His gaze flicks to me again—this time openly assessing. "They're afraid of her."
Lucien follows his look. "They should be."
I bristle. "I'm standing right here."
Kael's lips twitch, almost a smile. "Good."
Lucien shoots him a warning look. "Enough."
Kael bows his head slightly. "The council wants her presented again."
My heart lurches. "No."
Lucien doesn't answer immediately.
The bond pulses—tight, anxious.
Finally, he says, "Not today."
Relief hits me so hard my knees almost give out.
Kael nods. "That won't go over well."
"Let them choke on it."
Kael turns to leave, then pauses at the door. "For what it's worth," he says quietly, not looking at Lucien, "locking her away won't stop this."
Lucien's voice turns lethal. "Leave."
Kael leaves.
The silence that follows is thick and charged.
"You stayed outside my door," I say softly.
Lucien doesn't look at me. "That wasn't part of the rules."
"No," I agree. "It wasn't."
The bond hums—conflicted, almost… hopeful.
"I don't need your protection," I add quickly.
"I know."
"Then stop acting like I do."
Lucien finally meets my eyes. "Then stop acting like you're invincible."
We stare at each other, neither willing to back down.
Then, suddenly—
Pain explodes through my chest.
I gasp, staggering as the bond tightens violently, like it's being yanked from both ends at once. My vision blurs. Heat floods my veins, too fast, too strong.
Lucien swears, crossing the room in two strides. "What's happening?"
"I—I don't know," I choke.
The mark on my arm flares bright silver, light spilling across my skin like molten moonlight.
Lucien grips my shoulders instinctively.
The contact ignites everything.
The bond roars.
Power surges outward, rattling the windows, making the fire gutter violently. Lucien grits his teeth, eyes blazing as a matching glow flares at his collarbone.
"Stop fighting it," he growls.
"I'm not—!"
A sharp crack splits the air.
The fortress shudders.
Somewhere beyond the walls, wolves howl in alarm.
Lucien goes still.
Slowly, he looks down at our hands—still gripping me.
Then at the light flooding the room.
His voice is very quiet when he says,
"This isn't just a mate bond."
My breath comes in ragged gasps. "Then what is it?"
Lucien lifts his gaze to mine.
Something like fear flashes through his eyes.
"It's a claiming bond," he says.
"And it just activated."
The lights surge brighter.
The walls tremble.
And somewhere deep within the fortress, ancient wards begin to wake—
Responding not to the Alpha.
But to me.