Braila’s Chains - Trapped Between Them.

Weapons Don't Cry.

Today, he wears white trousers and a black turtleneck. Over that, he has a black leather overcoat that fits him perfectly. Small earrings sparkle on his ears, showing off several piercings and a little one on lower lip.

“No, nothing serious.” I shook my head and picked up the menu beside me. “I heard you were training in the field when I came by.”

“Yeah,” he nodded, brushing it off.

“Your sister told me you didn’t want to go to the mating ceremony tonight. Is that true?”

He leaned forward, fingers laced together, elbows resting on the table. He lowered his jaw onto his hands, eyes drifting away for a moment.

“Yeah,” he finally said. “I’m just not into it, Uncle.”

“Why?” I asked softly.

Then his gaze found mine again, those piercing gray eyes that never lied.

“Fated mates are a pain in the ass,” he said, blunt and tired. “Who wants to deal with that?”

I let out a breath. Half a laugh. Half a sigh.

“You sound like you’ve already lived through it.”

Ezra tilted his head, his eyes still on mine. “Maybe I have… in someone else’s story.”

I didn’t speak right away. I knew that look on his face. “You don’t have to be afraid of love, Ezra,” I breathed. “The feeling is beautiful.”

He scoffed tiredly. “It’s not love I’m afraid of, Uncle. It’s the chaos that comes with it. The bonds. Pain. The promises that turn into chains.”

I looked down for a moment. He wasn’t wrong. Not completely.

“You know,” I said, keeping my voice low, “someone I once met said the same thing before she met her mate. She thought fate was cruel. But he made her laugh. She forgot about fate after that.”

Ezra didn’t smile. But something in his expression softened.

“You think that’s what I need? Someone to make me laugh?”

“No,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I think you need someone who makes you feel like you're not running anymore.”

The sounds of the cafe filled the silence between us, soft clinks of plates, gentle hum of voices.

Then Ezra whispered, almost to himself. “I don’t think that person exists for me.”

I reached out and placed a hand over his. “Maybe not now. Soon. You just have to stay open long enough to see them when they come.”

He didn’t pull away. He just nodded, barely. Ezra wanted to believe me but didn’t know how. Ezra stayed quiet for a while, just staring at the table like it held all the answers he didn’t want.

Finally, he said, “What if I mess it up?” His voice cracked.

Just slightly.

I leaned back, watching him closely. “Everyone messes up, Ezra. The ones who matter won’t leave because of it. You are 21. You've got a long way ahead of you.”

He swallowed hard.

“I’ve already done things I regret. Don’t want to hurt someone... or worse, hold them back. I don’t want to be someone’s curse.”

My chest tightened. He was young. But life had already weighed him down. Sometimes I wonder what he has seen in that household that made him this way.

“You are not a curse,” I said, firm this time. “You’re just scared. And that’s okay. But don’t let fear be louder than your heart.”

Ezra blinked slowly and looked away. Then he spoke so quietly I almost missed it.

“There’s this girl…” He began. “She’s quiet. Doesn’t talk much. But when she looks at me… it’s like she sees everything I’m hiding. She doesn’t flinch…” He breathed out. “I don’t even know her name.”

I smiled gently. He looked up at me, eyes still a little unsure.

“What if she’s already someone else’s mate?”

I shrugged. “Then the Moon Goddess is about to regret her choices.”

That finally made Ezra laugh.

“Why do you always keep my son to yourself?” I saw Gifford walking up to us, hands buried in his coat pockets. “You are only his uncle, not his father.”

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, standing just behind Ezra, head tilted slightly. “What’s up, Ezra?”

Ezra didn’t look at him. He just rubbed his forehead, tired.

“How did you find me?” he asked.

“Followed you.” Gifford replied. “Nope. Just figured you’d come here.” He shrugged.

Ezra sighed.

“I heard the wolves you trained with got badly hurt.” Gifford’s voice lowered. “Why would you do that to them? They’re your people, Ezra. Your—”

“Family,” Ezra cut in, finally turning to face him. “Isn’t that what you always said?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t say—”

“Didn’t you tell me to tighten my skills?” Ezra’s eyes were cold now. “That’s what I did. I trained. I pushed. Just like you do.”

“Ezra…” Gifford warned.

“Dad,” Ezra snapped back, eyes blazing. “Don’t act like I became this way on my own.” Ezra growled.

Gifford’s jaw tightened. He stepped closer.

“You think I wanted this for you?” he snapped. “You think I enjoy watching my son turn into a weapon?”

Ezra’s laugh got cold. “Hah! No, you just built me into one, and then walked away when it was done.”

That hit Gifford. He didn’t back down. “I trained you to survive!” he shouted. “To protect your people. To protect yourself!”

“I don’t give a damn.” Ezra shot back.

There was a long silence.

Gifford ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. “You think I don’t care? You think I don’t lie awake every night, wondering if I ruined you?”

“That’s your problem, Dad. Not mine.” He stood up from the chair along with his coat. “Uncle,” he called while facing his father. “Thanks for the talk. But I wouldn’t be attending the mating ceremony tonight. I rather be alone than have a f*****g mate.” Without that, Ezra brushed past Gifford and stormed out of the cafe.

Gifford heaved a deep sigh and sat down on the same chair Ezra was on and stayed in the same position Ezra was in while he was talking to me about mates.

I chuckled. “Like father, like son.”

“I don’t think so,” he murmured. “People say he looks like me a lot, but my kid hates me. No matter what I do to get on his good side, he still fuckin’ throws a tantrum. He’s only 21. And he acts like this. What happens when he gets older?!”

“You know this is your fault, you know?”

“Seriously.” He raised a brow. “My fault? I’m closer to my daughter—”

“That’s because you hide her from the worst version of yourself. Ezra is just like you. Stubborn. You guys are good for each other. He probably beat up his fellow fighters to get on your nerves.”

“You are not f*****g helping, Damon.”

“I told you to cut off your escapades with Layla, but you refused. The second Ezra saw Braila in terrible pain because of the bond between you and his mother, it changed him.”