The Unbreakable BOND

Chapter Two

Keaton's Pov

A silent knock came from the door, slicing through the silence of my room. I groaned, pushing my tired self up from the bed and cracking open the heavy door. One of the palace servants stood there. Immediately, she noticed my presence. She dipped her head and a hand over her heart. "Good day, Your Highness," she murmured. "The Alpha requires your presence."

I waved her off. Then I closed the door and went to get ready.

On my way to meet the Alpha, down the long hall. I heard a whisper of my name. "Keaton." I knew that voice. Even without turning , only one person called me that-Lena, my friend. I paused and turned around . And there she was, bright as ever.

Lena and I have been inseparable since we were kids. Lena was my anchor, always being there for me. A truly sweet, loving friend. When things got tough, she never left my side and was always there for me. Even when I felt completely alone, she was my comfort and warmth. I care about her a lot. But just as a good friend.

Lena stood by me through the toughest time, my family's darkest days. That was when my parents' tragedy hit. I was younger then. When my parents' bond shattered. My mother confessed to my father that she no longer felt connected to him. She wanted out. She wanted them to go their separate ways. It was so heartbreaking.

My father was shattered. For years, he became a ghost of himself, so weak. I feared I'd lose him too, watching helplessly as he became the ghost of the man I knew. He just lay there with his two eyes wide open, he wasn't responding to treatment. He was just like a living ghost. My once cheerful, lively father was gone and reduced to nothing.

The Ironclaw pack started to falter apart as well. Our enemies saw this as a chance to attack and prepared to strike. The pack was helpless; I was helpless.

Then, years passed and slowly my father came back. He started responding to treatment and, bit by bit, he became himself again.

Those years changed me. It changed everything. I vowed then that love was a dangerous weakness. One that would mess with your strength and would never allow myself to embrace. Since then, I swore and promised myself I would never end up like my father. If the goddess mistakenly gives me a mate, I would make sure to break the bond, no matter what.

Years passed. Then one day, my father came home with a woman. She was pregnant with his pup.

"Who is she?" I asked him.

He smiled, a big, happy smile. "She's your new mother," he said. "And the new Luna."

Anger surged through me. I couldn't believe it. I thought he was finally healing, getting better, and would never want to love again. But instead, he brought home another woman and still even claimed to love her so much.

I pressed him. "Why?" I asked. "Why would you do that?"

He looked at me and said "You won't get it. Not until you were there. I prayed you wouldn't suffer the same fate as me.

I just gave him an angry smirk, because that would and will never happen to me.

Lena's voice ripped through my thoughts. "Keaton!" she roared. Her voice was sharp, angry. She must have yelled my name a hundred times.

I managed a weak smile. "Hey, Lena. What's up?"

Her eyes narrowed. "What's up? Are you okay? I've been calling you forever! What have you been thinking?"

"Sorry," I mumbled. "Just... drifted off."

"Drifted off where?" she pressed, hands on her hips, her voice tight.

I groaned," A weary sound. "Lena, please. Give it a rest."

She playfully nudged my arm. "So, where are you off to?"

"On my way to The Alpha's quarter," I told her. "He sent for me."

"Oh, good! "Let's go together," her face brightened. "I've been so stuck at home," she explained. My father's at the palace and my mother's helping out at the clinic. She tried to make me go with her, but you know me. I hate hospitals. I can't stand the smell of those medicines.

"But you love a good fight," I teased, grinning.

"Oh, you bet", she shot back, with a proud grin on her face. "It's the one thing I'm happy I got from my dad."

Her father, Beta Davis, is one of Ironclaw's strongest warriors. He's my father's Beta and best friend, and he's been excellently carrying out a good job for ages now.

When we were kids, he always trained both of us. He'd make us fight each other. Sometimes I used to wonder why he pushed Lena so hard. I mean, she's a girl. But he always said the same thing. She needed to be ready for anything, always. I'd just nod.

"Hello? "Earth to Keaton!" Lena's voice cut through my thoughts again. She sounded annoyed again.

"Right. "Sorry, Lena," I said, a smile creeping back.

"So, the Alpha?" she prompted. "Let's get going."

"After you, my lady," I teased, giving a small bow hand to my chest.

She playfully punched my arm. "Come on, let's move."

We walked side by side then to the Alpha's quarters together, smiling and laughing all the way.

We reached the Alpha's office and Lena knocked on the door. A deep voice rumbled, "Come in." We stepped inside and Lena bowed, "Greetings to you Alpha Ironclaw and Beta Davis". While I just dipped my head.

My dad, Alpha Ironclaw, looked up from his stacks of files. He gave Lena a warm smile. "Come on, Lena. "We're just family here. "Drop the formalities," he said, still smiling.

Lena just returned his smile. "Yes, Your Highness," she replied.

My dad chuckled. "Thank goodness you're here. I called my son in to tell him that the Whispering Park had sent their acceptance letter. "We're heading there tomorrow to finalize the agreement."

"Good for them," I mumbled, barely audible next to Lena.

My father's gaze snapped at me. His voice turned serious. "You know, sometimes I forget you're even here," he said. You need to start learning how to contribute to talks. Not just when you feel it's necessary. You'll be Alpha one day. Your people will need to hear your voice, always." his usual lecture

I just smirked back at him. Lena nudged me hard, and I shot her a playful glare.

My dad watched us, a small smile on his face. "I wish you two were soulmates," he mused.

I glared right back at him. "No, thanks," I shot back. I value our friendship more. Soulmates? I'll pass. "Why would the goddess waste her time giving me one?" when I don't need or want one.

Lena elbowed my arm again, Harder. My father and Beta Davis just stared at us smiling.

"Ouch, Lena! That hurt!" I whined. They just kept staring at us, smiling.

My dad cleared his throat, breaking our attention. "If you two are done here," he said, "you can go." I have a mountain of files to tackle."

We both bowed and slipped out of his office, laughter lingering in the air.