Bound by the Alpha

Chapter Three

The moment Damian left, the air in the room felt lighter, but inside me, the storm he’d stirred still raged. My hands trembled as I pressed them to my chest, trying to steady the frantic rhythm of my heart.

How could this be happening?

Of all the people in the world, why did the Moon Goddess have to tie me to him?

I couldn’t stay here.

I had to find a way out.

For the next hour, I paced my room, my mind spinning with possibilities. Running wasn’t exactly an option—not with the Reed estate surrounded by miles of dense forest and Damian controlling every exit. If I tried to escape, he would find me.

But that didn’t mean I shouldn’t try.

The bond between us was suffocating. Every second I stayed, I felt it pulling tighter around me, unraveling everything I was.

I grabbed a bag and stuffed in whatever I could—clothes, cash, my phone. My hands trembled as I tiptoed to the door and cracked it open.

The hallway was empty.

This was my chance.

I slipped out, keeping my steps light as I moved toward the grand staircase. My fingers gripped the railing, and I winced at the memory of which steps creaked, carefully avoiding them. Every sound, every shift in the air, had me on edge, waiting for the moment Damian would appear.

But nothing.

I reached the front doors. My hand hovered over the handle.

Almost there.

A deep voice shattered the silence.

“Going somewhere, little omega?”

My body went rigid.

Slowly, I turned.

Damian stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed over his broad chest, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim light. His expression was unreadable, but I felt the weight of settle over me, pinning me in place.

Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stand tall. “I—”

“Don’t.” His voice was sharp, cutting through whatever weak excuse I’d been about to offer. He descended the stairs slowly, each step deliberate, measured—like a predator closing in on prey. “Don’t lie to me.”

I clenched my fists. “I need space, Damian. I can’t do this.”

His jaw tightened, but his face remained eerily calm. “Can’t do what?”

I gestured between us, desperate for him to understand. “This. Us. This bond.”

Something dark flickered in his gaze. “And you think running will change that?”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “I have to try.”

In an instant, he was in front of me, his sheer presence forcing me to tilt my head to meet his gaze.

“Go ahead,” he said, stepping aside and gesturing toward the door. “Walk out, Lyra. But know this—you won’t get far.”

His confidence sent a chill through me.

I hesitated, fingers tightening around the strap of my bag.

Damian smirked, leaning in just enough for his breath to ghost over my skin. “You feel it, don’t you?” His voice was low, insidious. “The pull. The ache when you’re away from me.”

I hated that he was right.

Every step away from him felt like something inside me was being torn apart. The bond wasn’t just emotional—it was physical and visceral. And the further I got, the more unbearable it would become.

Still, I willed myself to move.

But my body wouldn’t obey.

His fingers brushed my cheek—soft, almost tender. “See?” His voice was barely a whisper. “You can’t even bring yourself to leave.”

Tears burned in my eyes. “This isn’t fair.”

Damian exhaled slowly, and for a moment, something in his gaze softened. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the cold, unyielding man I knew too well.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, silver key.

“You want space?” His voice was quiet, unreadable. “Fine.”

I frowned. “What are you—?”

Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist and snapped a cold metal cuff around it.

My breath hitched. “What the hell—?”

Damian his wrist, revealing a matching cuff. A thin, glowing thread of energy pulsed between them, binding us together.

My stomach dropped.

“A mate tether,” he murmured. “A little trick to make sure you don’t run.”

I yanked at the cuff, my pulse spiking in pure panic. “Damian, take this off. Now.”

He tilted his head, watching me struggle. “No.”

Rage burned through me. I slammed my fists against his chest, but he didn’t even flinch.

“You bastard,” I hissed.

Damian caught my wrists effortlessly, his grip firm but not cruel. His golden eyes locked onto mine, steady, unwavering.

“I told you,” he murmured, his voice dangerous in its certainty.

His fingers tilted my chin up, forcing me to see the truth in his gaze.

“You. Are. Mine.”

My breath came in ragged gasps, my body betraying me. The bond pulsed between us, searing through me and resolving, leaving me shaking.

I hated him.

I hated that some part of me still wanted him anyway.

His lips brushed against my forehead—a soft, possessive touch that sent shivers down my spine.

“You’ll understand soon enough,” he whispered.

And then he was gone.

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my wrist still tethered to his.

The glow of the bond flickered in the darkness, a silent reminder that no matter how much I fought it…

I was his.

For better or worse.

And I had no idea how to escape.