Taming the Mad Lycan King

Shattered Mate Bond

ARIA POV

Two months had passed since Bram's return, and ever since, he had showered me with affection, gifts, and attention. I made sure everyone in town saw us together.

I walked over to my sister and wrapped my arms around her. "Happy birthday, Kaia. You know I love you so much," I said softly. She hugged me back, but something about her felt distant. My mother had spared no expense for her celebration. Decorations filled the hall, servants moved everywhere, and guests from neighboring packs crowded the room.

The party continued, and not long after, Bram finally arrived. "My sweet Aria," he said, taking my hand and kissing my forehead. "Beautiful as always." He let out a hard laugh.

"So, where's the birthday girl?" he asked. I pointed across the room. "Over there." His gaze found Kaia. "Perfect. I have a gift for her. Give me five minutes." I nodded and agreed.

"Don't take too long." He grinned before disappearing into the crowd. Soon, my friends dragged me into conversations and laughter. Time slipped away.

When I finally looked around again, Bram still hadn't returned. A strange feeling settled in my stomach. Moving through the crowd searching for him wasn't easy.

Then I found him. He stood near the corridor with Kaia. Both of them were speaking quietly.

"You'd better do it tonight," Kaia said sharply, "or I swear I'll get rid of it before it's even born." Kaia brushed past me without another word, unlike her.

"Bram?" I asked. "Is everything okay?" He turned toward me with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's fine." He kissed me again, this time on my lips. Before I could ask further questions, my father's voice boomed across the hall. He raised a glass and tapped a knife against it. "Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you all for coming to celebrate my precious daughter, Kaia!"

The crowd applauded. "I'm especially honored that representatives from the western Lycan kingdom sent their regards, even though they couldn't attend." A faint smirk tugged at my lips. My father never missed an opportunity to associate himself with powerful people.

"Now!" he announced. "Let's cut the cake!" The crowd cheered. Kaia stepped forward, glowing with excitement. I cheered along, and the cake was cut.

My eyes drifted toward Bram. He stood beside me, unusually quiet. Then Kaia turned toward the crowd. "Oh! Bram has something he wants to say." I frowned. Bram looked stalled. Then slowly, he stepped forward.

A strange sense of dread crawled through me. He took a deep breath. "Kaia and I are..." He hesitated. I leaned forward. Friends? Business partners? What could make him this nervous? Then he spoke. "I have chosen Kaia as my Luna." The room went quiet. "And I have chosen her as my bride." Then the crowd erupted into applause. Cheers. Congratulations. I looked around in confusion. My parents were smiling. Clapping. They seemed proud.

For a moment, I couldn't understand the words. My mind simply refused to process them. Then my eyes moved towards Kaia. She was beaming when Bram made the announcement. Speechless, my eyes found Bram; his eyes seemed glued to mine.

My wolf Astra whimpered. No...

Our mate bond exploded with pain. A sharp burning sensation spread through my chest. I placed my hands on my chest, hoping to ease the pain.

The world tilted. The walls seemed to blur. The laughter sounded distant, like I was in a glass bottle. I raised my hand and pressed it over my mouth. I thought I was going to be sick. "Aria!" Bram shouted. I turned and ran. Within minutes, the gossip came like a tsunami.

"Aria!" His voice followed me. So did his footsteps. My body kept going until I reached one of the balconies overlooking the estate grounds. The cool night air struck my face. I gripped the railing. My entire body trembled. My whole body tried to gasp for air. Tears soaked my dress. The stars above only made me cry harder.

"Aria." Bram's voice broke behind me. A fresh wave of pain pierced my chest. "Please forgive me." I laughed bitterly. Forgive him?

"Aria, please. Just listen to me." He reached for my arm. I pulled away immediately. "Bram, how could you?" My voice cracked. "My sister? In front of everyone?" He lowered his head. "Why?" I cried. "Answer me!"

He ran both hands down his face. "It just happened." I laughed again. The sound was broken."It just happened?"

"Aria, please. Tell me what you want. Anything. I'll do anything for you; you can do anything to me; you can bite, you can stab me. Anything, Aria, I will accept."

My answer came instantly. "Leave her." He went silent, his face frozen. My eyes closed. More tears slipped down my cheeks. "Your silence is the loudest answer." I turned away from him and stared into the darkness.

Then he finally spoke. "She's carrying my heir." The words hit harder than any blade. For a moment, I was pleading for air as I felt a sharp, piercing feeling at the back of my chest. Inside me, my wolf Astra fell silent. Completely silent. "Do you love her?" I asked quietly. Another pause. Then: "I love you both." Something inside me shattered. Not my heart. Not my pride. Our mate bond was completely broken. Before I could respond, another voice interrupted.

"Bram, baby. The guests are waiting." Kaia. I watched her approach. Bram looked between us. Torn. Then Kaia slipped her arm through his. "Bram, go back inside. I'll talk to her."

After a moment, he nodded. He looked at me one last time before leaving. The second he disappeared, Kaia smiled. A smile that made my stomach twist.

"Aria, sis." She placed a hand on my shoulder. I shoved it away. "Don't touch me, Kaia. Why? You're the last person in the world I thought would hurt me."

Her smile widened. "Aria, you forgot. You stole Bram from me, and all I did was take him back. I met Bram before you, I told you about him, remember, but you went behind my back years ago and formed a bond with him."

My mind couldn't believe the words that came out of Kaia's mouth. Because some of it was true. Father had pushed me toward Bram before either of us understood what we were choosing. We were just sixteen, barely old enough to know what a bond even meant. I had told myself for years that it didn't matter how it started, only that it was real. But hearing it said out loud, called exactly what it was, the guilt I'd buried for years cracked open right next to the anger.

"I would have died before I let you marry him." My tone was firm, but Kaia laughed softly.

Then her eyes drifted toward the edge of the balcony, lingering there a beat too long. I understood. She wanted to see me jump.

My blood ran cold. I didn't move. She looked back at me, almost disappointed. "Empty threats," she said, like she'd expected more from me. Then she leaned closer. "He chose me." A cruel smile spread across her face. "And he'll keep choosing me in no time; our mate bond will be formed."

Then she walked out. I headed back to my room.

I told myself I would move on, but I saw my pillow soaked with tears. Memories flashed. I didn't know how I fell asleep. I never believed the day would come that I would cry myself to sleep as the night wore on.