Nora's POV
The Bonding House steals my breath the moment I see it.
It's massive—three stories of pale stone and huge windows that glow with warm light. Gardens surround it, perfectly maintained. Guards patrol the perimeter, watching everything.
Beautiful. Isolated. Inescapable.
A prison dressed up as a palace.
This way, miss. A neutral guard opens my door, offering his hand like I'm someone important instead of an orphan who just escaped one cage for another.
I take it because my legs are shaking too hard to trust them.
Inside is even worse—or better, I can't decide which. Polished floors that reflect the chandelier light. Furniture that looks too expensive to touch. Everything is clean and perfect and nothing like anywhere I've ever lived.
Miss Ashwood. A woman appears, older with kind eyes and healer's hands. I'm Dr. Helena, Silverclaw's head physician. Alpha Dane sent me to examine you.
Of course he did. Because I'm too valuable to let die now.
She leads me to a room on the second floor, and I stop breathing.
The bedroom is three times bigger than Lyanna's entire house. A massive bed dominates the center, piled with more pillows than one person could ever need. There's a bathroom attached—my own bathroom with a tub deep enough to drown in.
This is mine? My voice cracks.
All yours, Helena says gently. Now, let's take a look at those injuries.
I want to say I'm fine, but the lie dies when she helps me remove my torn shirt. Her sharp intake of breath tells me everything.
Moon Goddess, she whispers. How long has this been happening?
Twenty years. The truth comes out flat and emotionless. Give or take.
Her hands are gentle as she examines belt marks on my back, bruises on my ribs, scars that never healed right. She doesn't speak, but I see tears in her eyes.
You're severely malnourished, she finally says. Dehydrated. Several partially healed fractures that set wrong. Vitamin deficiencies. Signs of long-term abuse and neglect. She meets my eyes. We'll fix that. I promise.
Something in her voice makes me believe her.
She treats my wounds with supplies that don't sting, wraps my ribs properly, gives me pills for pain and infection. Then she calls for food.
Real food. Not scraps or leftovers, but fresh bread, roasted chicken, vegetables that smell amazing. My stomach cramps just looking at it.
Small amounts, Helena warns. Your body isn't used to proper meals. We'll increase portions gradually.
I eat slowly, and every bite tastes like heaven.
After food comes a bath. Helena shows me how everything works—hot water that comes from a tap, soap that actually lathers, towels soft enough to cry into.
Take your time, she says. I'll leave clothes on the bed.
Alone finally, I sink into water hot enough to ease the ache in my muscles. Steam rises around me, and for the first time in seven days, I feel almost human.
I scrub away dirt, blood, and Lyanna's house until the water turns gray. Then I drain it and fill the tub again because I can. Because nobody's here to tell me I'm wasting resources or taking too long.
When I finally get out, there are clothes waiting—soft pants and a shirt that actually fit. No borrowed rags. No hand-me-downs two sizes wrong.
I dry my hair and look in the mirror.
The girl staring back is a stranger.
Without dirt and bruises hiding her features, she's... pretty. Honey-brown eyes that catch the light. Dark auburn hair that shines when clean. Cheekbones that show now that her face isn't swollen.
I'm beautiful.
The thought feels wrong and right at the same time.
Much better! Mira bursts through the door without knocking, making me jump. She looks around the room and whistles. Fancy. Both alphas really went all out.
Both? I ask.
Oh yeah. Kael demanded the best security. Dane insisted on medical care and comfort. They actually agreed on something—you get everything. She plops on the bed. This mattress is amazing. Can I live here too?
Despite everything, I almost smile. How did you get here?
Alpha Dane assigned me as your companion. Officially, I'm here to help you adjust. Unofficially, I think both alphas know you need someone who won't try to manipulate you. She grins. That's me. Brutally honest and terrible at politics.
I sit beside her, exhaustion hitting all at once. Mira, what am I supposed to do? Twenty-three days to choose which alpha lives and which one dies?
Yeah, about that. She turns serious. You're bonded to twin alphas who've hated each other for twenty years. You have to choose which one you want as your mate. And you're trapped in this mansion while they both try to convince you they're the right choice.
I know all that.
But here's what you don't know—they're REALLY committed to winning. Both of them have scheduled courting visits starting tomorrow. Kael gets mornings. Dane gets afternoons. They negotiated for three hours about who gets which time slot.
My stomach drops. Tomorrow?
Yep. And there are rules. You can't leave the Bonding House without alpha permission—both alphas have to agree. Guards patrol twenty-four seven. The Council checks in weekly to track your decision. She counts on her fingers. Oh, and if you try to run, both bonds will cause you so much pain you'll collapse before you get a mile.
So I'm a prisoner.
A very pampered prisoner, Mira corrects. But yeah, basically.
I stand and walk to the window. The view shows endless forest, no roads, no escape. Guards patrol below with weapons and determination.
So, Mira says cheerfully, you're bonded to twin alphas who hate each other, you have twenty-three days to choose which one dies, and you're trapped in a mansion while they fight over you. How are you NOT panicking?
I open my mouth to answer—
The twin bonds EXPLODE in my chest.
Pain rips through me, so intense I gasp and grab the window frame for support. Both threads flare violently, pulling in opposite directions like they're trying to tear me in half.
Through Kael's bond: fierce possessiveness and the need to see me NOW.
Through Dane's bond: calculating determination and the same urgent need.
What's wrong? Mira jumps up.
I look out the window and freeze.
Two figures approach the Bonding House from different directions. Kael walks from the north, his stride purposeful and predatory. Dane approaches from the south, moving with liquid grace.
They're both coming.
Tonight.
Not tomorrow like Mira said. Right now.
I thought you said they start tomorrow, I whisper.
Mira looks out the window and her eyes go wide. I did. Those idiots agreed to start courting tomorrow. Why are they—oh no.
What?
They felt your emotions through the bond. When you were hurt, starving, trapped with Lyanna—they felt all of it but couldn't get to you. Now you're finally safe, finally here, and they need to SEE you're okay. She grabs my shoulders. Nora, they're not here to court you tonight. They're here because their wolves won't rest until they confirm their mate is alive and protected.
Through the bonds, I feel them getting closer. Feel their wolves demanding, their control slipping.
I'm not ready, I breathe.
Too bad, Mira says. Because in about thirty seconds, both alphas are going to walk through that door, and you're going to be trapped in a room with two apex predators who've been going insane for seven days worrying about you.
My heart pounds. The bonds pull tighter.
Footsteps sound in the hallway. Two sets. Coming from opposite directions.
The door bursts open.
Kael stands in the doorway, his eyes blazing silver. Dane appears from the other entrance, his eyes glowing gold.
They see me. Really see me—clean, fed, safe.
The relief that floods through both bonds is overwhelming.
Then they see each other.
The temperature in the room drops.
What are you doing here? they say simultaneously, then glare.
I came to check on our mate, Kael growls.
So did I, Dane says smoothly. Courting starts tomorrow, brother. You're early.
Don't call me that. And you're just as early.
They're going to fight. Right here. Right now. Over me.
And I'm trapped between them with nowhere to run.