The Bond Hurt
1600 Words
That’s what hit Mira first as she bolted from the ceremony. Not some vague ache in her heart—she could feel it tearing through her chest, raw and real, like something was digging inside her and dragging her backward—straight toward the place she’d just escaped. Back to him.
Mate.
That word wouldn't quit. The word echoed through her skull like a curse.
She shoved through the woods. Branches clawing at her, breath shallow and wild, pulse going crazy. The cold night air should've helped her wolf calm down, but it only made everything worse because her wolf wasn’t sleeping anymore.
Her wolf was fully awake now.
For years, she'd kept it buried—violent flashes she could barely control.
But tonight, it crawled beneath her skin, scratching at the mate bond tied to Kade Laurent.
She could still feel him. That terrified her most.
Even this far away, his presence stuck to her like heat on her neck.
Strong. Cold. Watching.
She staggered to the creek at the edge of their territory. Braced herself against a tree, lungs aching.
“Get it together,” she muttered.
The water sparkled under the moon—sharp, silver. But her eyes in the reflection? They flickered, too bright, almost glowing. Not normal wolf eyes.
Fear stirred in her gut. Not now. The bond was chipping away at her control. She squeezed her eyes shut, forced herself to breathe. In, out. Take control.
She’d spent her whole life doing just that. Control her feelings, control her wolf. Control the thing inside her no one could figure out.
A twig cracked behind her.
She spun.
“Kinda dangerous running off alone tonight.”
Relief flashed for half a second—then irritation. Luca.
Beta Luca stepped out from the shadows, hands open, calm as ever. Unlike most wolves, he didn’t act like he had something to prove. Quiet, steady, but dangerous if he had to be.
He studied her. “You shouldn’t be out here,” he said.
Mira almost laughed. “Funny. Everyone keeps saying that.”
Luca ignored her sarcasm. “Alpha Kade noticed you.”
Her stomach clenched.
“I noticed,” she told him.
Luca’s jaw tightened. “Mira—”
“No.”
She surprised herself with the edge in her voice. She turned away, hugging herself.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“That’s not really an option anymore.”
Quiet settled between them, broken only by the creek.
Luca stepped closer, voice low. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
She finally looked at him. “You already know.”
His face darkened.
“The mate bond?”
She nodded.
Saying it out loud just made it worse. Real.
Luca cursed under his breath. Mira almost laughed again. That seemed about right.
“Maybe it’s wrong,” she blurted. “Maybe the Moon Goddess got it mixed up.”
Luca eyed her. “You don’t believe that.”
No. She couldn’t.
The bond felt too deep, too fierce. She could sense Kade—like he was a heartbeat under her skin.
Luca rubbed his jaw. “Does he know?”
Images of Kade flashed in her mind—the way he'd looked at her, sharp and hungry, like he’d already claimed her. Fear trickled down her spine.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Luca went still.
“That’s bad.”
“You think?”
“Mira, listen to me.” He leaned in, voice even lower. “You need to stay away from him.”
She gave a tired laugh. “I plan to.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
But the bond jolted beneath her ribs, as if her body disagreed. Luca caught the pain flicker across her face.
“The bond’s already hitting you?” he asked.
Mira stayed quiet. That said enough.
His face tightened. “That fast…”
Neither said what everyone else would’ve. This wasn’t a normal mate bond. A normal wolf didn’t lose control at a ceremony, and a normal wolf’s power didn’t shake the air.
Mira swallowed. “What if he tells the Elders?”
Luca’s gaze sharpened. “He won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No,” Luca admitted, “but powerful men like Kade Laurent don’t share things they find interesting.”
Interesting. There it was again. She hated that word—because curiosity from ordinary wolves? Fine. Curiosity from Kade was dangerous. Like being marked by something that never, ever stopped once it started hunting.
Luca took a slow breath. “Be careful.”
“I’ve always been careful.”
“Not enough.”
That stung. Mira looked toward the dark trees, silent. Then—everything snapped, hard.
She gasped, fingers digging into the bark. The bond yanked at her ribs.
Luca stepped forward. “Mira?”
Her wolf surged beneath her skin.
Close. Kade was getting closer.
“Oh no,” she choked.
“Mira?”
“He’s here.”
Luca went rigid. Footsteps sounded. Not rushed—just confident.
Alpha Kade Laurent slipped into the clearing, darkness parting for him. Up close, he looked even sharper. Black shirt stretched over broad shoulders, moonlight gleaming on his jaw. His eyes hooked onto Mira, not even glancing at Luca.
The mate bond slammed her so hard her knees nearly buckled.
Of course, Kade saw it.
His gaze darkened—curious, possessive, almost hungry.
Luca shifted closer to Mira, protectively. Kade’s eyes snapped to him. The air changed—cold, crushing.
“Careful, Beta,” Kade said softly.
Luca held his ground. “She’s part of my pack.”
“And?” Kade asked, calm but dangerous.
Tension spiked. Mira tried to cut it. “Stop.”
Neither moved.
Kade stepped closer, eyes back on Mira. “You ran.”
“You noticed.”
“Yes.”
His honesty rattled her. Most people lied around power. Kade didn’t bother.
He studied her face. “You’re afraid of me.”
She crossed her arms, tighter. “Shouldn’t I be?”
Something flickered behind his eyes. Not guilt, not kindness—just recognition.
“That depends,” he said.
Terrifying answer.
Luca cut in, sharp: “Alpha Kade, this conversation should happen later.”
Kade ignored him. His entire focus pinned Mira.
“The bond hurts you,” he said suddenly.
She froze. He could see that, too?
Kade stepped in again. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her wolf leaned closer.
Mate.
God, it made her sick.
“I’m fine,” she lied.
“No. You’re not.” His voice softened. “You’re shaking.”
She looked down. Hands trembling. Dammit. Kade noticed everything.
That felt dangerous.
“You should stay away from me,” she said, quiet.
He actually looked surprised. “Why?”
Because you ruin everything. Because powerful men crush weaker people. Because this bond feels like drowning.
But she just said, “I’m not what you think I am.”
Heavy silence.
Kade watched, waiting. Luca stepped in before she could answer.
“That’s enough for tonight.”
Kade’s gaze slid to him. “You seem protective.”
Luca didn’t blink. “She’s under Black Hollow protection.”
“Interesting.”
There it was again.
Mira hated it—all that focus, putting the puzzle pieces together, and she was the center.
Kade shifted back to her. “Your wolf acted strange tonight.”
Ice ran through her veins. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“That’s a lie.”
He was blunt, cold, spot-on. Mira’s pulse thudded.
The silence stretched until Kade tilted his head. “You’re hiding something.”
Her chest squeezed. Luca moved again, protective. Kade noticed. He seemed to catch everything, making any lie dangerous.
Mira steadied herself. “It’s none of your business.”
Nobody moved.
Then Kade smiled. Slow. Not warm at all—the kind of smile a predator gives when something gets interesting enough to chase.
“That sounds like a challenge.”
Fear raced down Mira’s spine.
Because of all the rotten truths, one hit her hardest: Resistance didn’t bother Kade Laurent. He liked it.
The mate bond throbbed, hungry, possessive. Kade’s eyes flickered; he felt it, too. His gaze dropped to her throat, watching her pulse.
A dangerous look flashed across his face.
Mira stepped back.
Bad move.
His wolf reacted, and the pressure slammed into the clearing—so sharp even the trees groaned around them.
Luca swore under his breath.
Kade stilled, almost like he wasn’t expecting to lose control. That scared Mira most. The bond was getting to him, too.
His eyes locked with hers. Suddenly, the air between them was way too thin.
“You should go,” Mira whispered.
Kade held her gaze, then finally said, “You’re right.”
Relief punched through her—way too fast.
Then he added, “But this isn’t over.”
Her stomach dropped.
He stepped back, eyes still on her. Then vanished into the woods.
Gone.
But his presence clung to the clearing, heavy. Luca studied her.
“You’re in trouble.”
She laughed, weak. “I noticed.”
“No.” Luca’s voice dropped. “You don’t get it.”
Mira met his eyes—and for the first time all night, Luca actually looked scared.
“Alpha Kade Laurent doesn’t chase things unless he means to keep them.”
The mate bond pulsed beneath her ribs again, possessive, permanent.
Suddenly Mira realized the terrible truth—the rejection she feared hadn’t happened.
Something worse was coming.
- Writer
