Misguided Wolves

21. Shattered Bonds

Kate woke to an empty bed, the furs cold where Elliott should have been. She told herself he hadn’t wanted to disturb her and slept elsewhere, but a flicker of worry sparked—hoping he hadn’t gone to his old room, where the baby gifts (leather booties, rattles, a blanket) were hidden for tonight’s reveal. Pushing aside the unease, she rose, her excitement for sharing their pup’s news tempered by lingering nausea. She drew a steaming bath, the scent of lavender from the cottage’s woven curtains mingling with the herbal tea Hova had given her, its earthy warmth easing her stomach. She lingered in the tub, savoring the calm, determined to make the evening perfect.

Dressing with care, Kate chose a light purple gown, its high neck and sleeveless cut elegant yet simple, the knee-length skirt rippling like a gentle stream. The bodice shimmered with intricate silver embroidery, catching the morning light like Vargr’s runes. She swept her chestnut hair into a high ponytail, a few strands framing her face, and applied light makeup—a touch of rose on her lips, a soft glow on her cheeks. She adorned herself with a platinum bracelet and tanzanite earrings, their deep violet facets glinting like the prophecy’s promise. Satisfied, she hurried to the castle’s kitchen to find Kyle, her heart fluttering with anticipation for their meal.

In the bustling kitchen, Kate and Kyle spent the afternoon crafting a Vargr tree cake, a layered dessert spun slowly before a crackling fire, each layer brushed with batter and baked golden brown, forming rings like ancient heartwood. They drizzled amber honey icing over the top, its sweet scent mingling with the fire’s warmth. For dinner, they prepared a crisp salad with wild greens, warm braided bread, and roasted rabbit glazed with rosemary, its savory aroma filling the air. Kate’s hands trembled with excitement as she arranged the plates, envisioning Elliott’s joy at her news.

“All set?” Kyle asked, wiping flour from his hands, his grin mirroring her enthusiasm.

“Perfect,” Kate replied, her voice bright with nerves. “You set up the room. I’ll find Elliott.”

Kyle nodded, promising to arrange the gifts and meal in Elliott’s old room. Kate practically skipped to the castle entrance, her heart soaring, only to freeze at the sight of Elliott. He stood in tattered shorts, his broad shoulders slumped, dark bags under his piercing blue eyes betraying sleeplessness. His cedarwood-mint scent was faint, tinged with something raw and broken. Kate’s brows knitted with concern. “Elliott, are you okay? What happened?”

He stood silent, his blue eyes swirling with unreadable emotion, locking onto hers with an intensity that stole her breath. She stepped forward, reaching for his hand, but he flinched, his arm shooting out to stop her. The warmth in his gaze vanished, replaced by a cold, emotionless mask. “I, Elliott Griffin, second prince of Vargr, reject you, Kate Rohan, crown princess of Fror, as my mate.”

The words pierced Kate like a blade through her heart. She staggered, searching his blue eyes for the man who’d teased her with silk ribbons and rose oil just yesterday. But there was nothing—no trace of warmth, no flicker of regret.

“Accept it!” he barked, his voice sharp as a whip.

“Is this really what you want?” she whispered, her voice cracking, tears welling. “What happened?”

“Yes!” he roared. “Now accept it!”

Kate’s chest heaved, her vision blurring as she fought to hold herself together. She took a deep breath, forcing the words out. “I, Kate Rohan, accept your rejection…”

Pain unlike anything she’d known erupted within her, a searing void where their mate bond had been. Her knees buckled, but she bit down hard, refusing to let him see her break. “You got what you wanted,” she said through clenched teeth, her voice steady despite the agony. “Now go.”

Sadness flickered in Elliott’s blue eyes, his hand twitching as if to reach for her. But he stopped himself, bolting through the entrance, shifting into his gray wolf mid-stride, his cedarwood scent fading into the wind. Kate collapsed to the stone floor, clutching her abdomen as a sharp, twisting pain gripped her. Her vision darkened, Ara’s voice crying her name and Kyle’s panicked shout about blood the last things she heard before oblivion claimed her.

****

Elliott’s heart burned with regret the moment the rejection left his lips. Kate’s face—her wide, tear-filled eyes, her trembling lips—seared into his mind, a wound deeper than any blade. He’d wanted to explain, to take back the words when she asked if it was what he wanted, but the pain of the cabin’s betrayal and Sol’s ultimatum choked him. He’d yelled at her to accept, needing to flee the suffocating guilt. To his horror, she stood tall, her voice steady as she accepted his rejection, each word a fresh cut to his soul.

The mate bond’s severance was a fire in his chest, a raw, burning ache that nearly brought him to his knees. He wanted to hold her, to beg forgiveness, but the pain silenced him. Her quiet, stern command to leave sent another wave of agony through him. He burst through the doors, shifting into Leo’s form, and sprinted into the woods. In a clearing, he unleashed a howl of absolute sorrow, the sound echoing through Vargr’s ancient trees.

Overwhelmed, Elliott retreated, letting Leo take full control as he buried himself in the recesses of his mind, shutting out the world.

****

Kate woke to the soft glow of a clinic room, Ara and Kyle clutching her hands, their faces etched with exhaustion and worry. Ara’s violet eyes snapped to hers, and she shook Kyle awake, shouting for the doctor. “You’re awake!” Kyle gasped, his voice breaking. “Thank Fenrir!”

They looked haggard, as if they hadn’t slept in days. Confusion clouded Kate’s mind. “What happened?” she croaked, her throat dry. “Where’s Elliott?”

Ara and Kyle exchanged a worried glance. Ara spoke first, her voice gentle. “Sweetie, what’s the last thing you remember?”

Kate’s memories surged back—Elliott’s cold rejection, the pain of the broken bond. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the emptiness crashed over her, a hollow ache where love had been. Then panic seized her. “What about the baby?”

Kyle’s face crumpled, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m so sorry, Kate. The stress from… what happened… it caused you to miscarry. We almost lost you too.”

A doctor approached, her expression sympathetic. “You hemorrhaged heavily and were in a deep sleep for three days. Your wolf’s strength saved you, but you must rest for several more days before traveling.”

Numbness swallowed Kate. No mate. No pup. She had nothing left to give, no tears to shed. Her eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion pulling her back into a dreamless sleep.

She woke again to raised voices—Sumner and Deborah arguing with Kyle and Ara. Deborah’s sharp gaze landed on Kate, her voice dripping with venom. “We’ve packed your things. You’re not to step foot in the castle again. You have until tomorrow to leave Vargr’s territory.”

Kate stared, stunned, unable to muster a response. Elliott hadn’t even faced her himself—he must truly despise her. Kyle argued fiercely, but his words blurred in her mind. What had she done to deserve this? Just days ago, she’d been planning a future with her mate and their pup, her heart full of love and hope. Now, she was banished, broken, and alone, with no answers.

“Kyle,” she said quietly, her voice hollow. “Get my horse ready. I want to leave today. Don’t pack much—most of it’s from him. Just the essentials.”

Kyle’s eyes widened, his face mirroring her devastation. “Kate, you need rest. You can’t travel yet. And you’ll need protection.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “Ara will scout from the air. We’ll go to Logi, stay there a while, then head to Fror.”

Kyle hesitated, pain in his eyes, but nodded. He prepared their horses, insisting on joining her. The doctor, though disapproving, gave instructions for monitoring Kate’s condition—watch for dizziness, excessive fatigue, or renewed bleeding. Kyle helped Kate onto her horse, her movements slow, her body weak. As they rode away, Vargr’s spires faded behind them, along with Elliott and the life she’d dreamed of. Kate felt shattered, a wound too deep to heal, but she steeled herself. She would grow, move on, and leave the pain of mates behind.