Chained by Bond

Chapter 9

She heard the whispers everywhere, similar to how it was when she was at the rogue pack. The rogue Alpha is Silver’s mate. The whispers followed her like a shadow as she made her way to her father’s room.

The door creaked as she opened it and stepped inside. He was lying on the bed, with pillows supporting his back, as he was not strong enough to sit by himself yet. His eye seemed heavy as he watched her make her way into the room.

“Close the door behind you.”

She didn’t say a word as she walked back to bolt the door, her heart pounding.

“Have a seat.”

She obeyed quietly, taking a seat and bringing it to the edge of his bed.

“Why did you not tell me about the mate bond?” His voice was still low from weakness, but you could hear the authority in it.

Silver’s face hardened, remembering the feeling of shame from the moment that they met. “Because there was nothing to tell, Father.”

“What do you mean by there was nothing to tell Silver? He is the mate ordained to you by the moon goddess. That is not something you dismiss out of sheer personal wishes.” His brows furrowed at her response.

“He rejected me, Father. I was humiliated, and I still had to beg him to come to the rescue of our people. So please, forgive me if I would rather lick my wounds quietly than share the fact that my own mate rejected me at first glance.” She shook with anger, her nails digging into her palm.

The Alpha clenched his jaw at her outburst and relaxed himself as he spoke to her. “You should still have told me, I am your father. Why would you be embarrassed to tell me that? You are my daughter.”

Silver kept her head fixed to the ground, he voice thick with tears. “What would you have done, Father. Forced him to accept me? That’s not a bond. And I don’t blame him for not wanting me, I am a wolf without a wolf. How am I supposed to lead the pack without my wolf? I am more of a burden to them than a leader. And now, we have found out that the reason Drogo attacked our pack is because he wants me, and our people are suffering for it.

The Alpha’s heart broke as he watched her break down. “You will get your wolf; it’s about patience. You are of my blood, don’t you worry. And the moon goddess does not make mistakes. You are meant for each other. You will both see it soon.

Silver continued shaking her head, sobbing uncontrollably. Her father’s expression softened, pain cutting through his entire body as he attempted to pull her closer to him. “My silvermoon, I see you, how you carry so much on your shoulders, you should not have to do this yet. I apologize for putting you in such a tough position. You are doing great, and I am proud of you, and I know your mother would be too.”

She was soon gathering herself as she wiped her face, guilt soon settling on her chest. “I just did not want to trouble you after the state I met you in. You are already in so much pain, and I did not want to add to it. You have nearly died for this pack, Father. I could not bear to be the cause of more heartbreak for you.”

At that moment, he was not an alpha, but a father. He held her face in his hands as he wiped the tears from her face. “Now listen to me, Silvermoon. You are my pride, never a source of shame. Wolf or no wolf. Mate or not. You are of my blood and flesh. You are enough, and I have complete faith in you.”

A smile escaped from her lips as she whispered. ‘What do I do now, father? With Arthur, with Drogo?

The Alpha face hardened at the mention of Arthur. “You fight and prove yourself, not for him but for yourself. Be the kind of leader you would want, and if Arthur is worthy of you, he will bleed to stand beside you. And if he doesn’t, he would have to deal with what he lost.”

Arthur paced, back and forth the length of the room, barely sleeping since Drogo revealed his intentions about silver, his hands in a fist and his jaw clenched tightly. His wolf had been restless, wanting to be next to her to be sure that she’s safe, but Arthur would not let himself. Drogo’s words from last night haunted him.

He stopped suddenly and punched a hole through the wall of the room, his wolf peeping out and snarling. The thud rattled the entire room, causing matt to flinch a bit.

“Damn him, damn Drogo,” he growled, his voice laced with fury. “She must be terrified. Without a wolf, she more vulnerable than ever, and the bastard is aware of that. She’s defenseless, Matt. I did not know that.” His voice cracked, not hiding what pride he was trying to hide, as he pulled at his hair.

Matt sat forward on his chair, his elbows propped on his knees, studying Arthur with a confused look. “I do not understand what is happening. You said you did not care for her,” he asked him softly, “but you are so bothered about her safety and Drogo wanting her. You have been pacing all night. You rejected her Arthur.”

Arthur turned to look at him, and something that resembled regret flashed across his face. He ran his hand through his hair, gathering a bunch at the top. “I do not care for her. Drogo cannot have her. She does not belong to him.”

Matt sighed, shaking his head with a smile on his lips. “ And she belongs to you? Huh?”

Arthur avoided his gaze and did not respond.

“She does not have a wolf to protect her, no instinct and no power to fight him off. And she’d need someone to stand between her and Drogo. Are you willing to admit that it’s you?” He tilted his head at Arthur.

Arthur swallowed loudly, torn between pride and the truth that was clawing at him on the inside. His wolf wanted her, badly and God help whoever touched her. “ Drogo will not have her. I will make sure of it.”

Matt gave hima look with his hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “The sooner you stopped lying to yourself, the better. She may not have her own wolf, but she has you.”

Arthur stiffened at Matt’s statement, he wanted to say something to deny it, to say she did not mean anything to him, like his wolf did not crave her. But all he could see was Drogo’s claws running down her pale face, frightened and his fist clenched, with his knuckles turning white.

The door creaked open slowly and both of them looked at eachother confused. Someone stepped in without knocking or being invited in. He stood tall, eyes sharp and full of suspicion His gaze immediately fell on Arhtur, studying him like he was trying to figure out something beyond the physical.

“Who the hell are you?” Arthur snarled, his temper was becoming shorter, with his wolf rising so fast Matt had to grab his arm to stop him from lunging.

Ronan did not flinch just stared at him with his lips curling into a smile contempt. “I could ask the same. I am a memer of the Hollow moon pack.” His tone coming off flat on purpose.

He stepped further into the room, pullin out one of the chairs and helping himself as both Arthur and Matt watched him. “ I see you and i see Drogo and i can not help but wonder whose side you are really on.”

Matt stepped closer to him. “Hey kid, watch your mouth.”

Ronan’s face tightened at being called kid and composed himself immediately. “I am Ronan, a friend of Silver’s. I am here to help.”

Arthur looked at him with irritation the moment he heard him mention silver. His wolf snarled inwardly. He moved closer to him, his eyes blazing. “ If you’re here to help, then get to talking, or get the hell out of here.”

Ronan smirked, but there was no warmth in it. “You need me.”

Matt sighed, foreshadowing the rivalry that bound to start between a childhood crush and a mate.

Silver opened the door and stepped into the room. The moment Arthur turned and saw her, his chest tightened and heart was beating wildly in his chest. The mate bond pulled at him so hard, that he could not resist. His eyes locked with hers and something unspoken passed between them. His wolf was literally clawing to release itself, but he forced it down. “Silver.” His whispered barely audible. His body took a half step to her before he stopped himself, his muscles taut and his wolf wanting to close the distance between them.

The tension between them was so palpable and Ronan hated it.

He stood up, his jaw clenched and forced a smile at her. “Silver”. She tore her gaze away from Arthur and returned the smile to Ronan walking to him.

The room felt smaller than it was and the tension was high. Matt cleared his throat, causing everyone to look at him. “We have to know why he wants her, and then how to stop him.”

Arthur was quiet and just sat at the edge of the room brooding at the proximity between silver and Ronan. He broke his silence, “She needs a guard to watch over her, 24/7. She can not be by herself, at all.”

Silver was about to speak, but Ronan beat her to it. “I can do that.”

Arthur gave him a death stare, visibly upset by that. “No.” He said without an explanation.

“What do you mean no?” He sat up straight. “It only makes sense it’s me, i have knownher longer, and she would feel safer with me.”

“I said no. i do not owe you an explanation.” Arthur responded, dismissing him.

“Can you not talk about me like i’m not in the room?” Silver said, diverting the attention to her. “You could have asked me about it instead of throwing it around like i did not have a say.” She said holding Arthur’s gaze.

He just stared at her without saying anything.

She rolled her eyes and continued. “I am fine with Ronan.”

Matt looked over to Arthur as he tensed up but remained quiet.

Silver shifted, her voice finally breaking through the thick air. “We cannot just fight him like he’s another wolf, he has witch power, dark maigc. He’ll use anyone, anything, to get what he wants. If we’re not careful, more people will get hurt because of me.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, as she looked between Arthur and Matt.

Ronan reached for her hand instinctively, but Arthur’s body went rigid at the sight. He stood up immediately.

“We do not attack, we let him come to us. As long as she’s within this walls. He cannot reach her.” Arthur said, standing up and leaving the room immediately. Silver watched him leave and looked over to matt but he avoided her gaze.