BROKEN MATE BOND

A TEST OF PRIDE

Zevaris and Simba lay motionless on the cold, marble floor, their senses dulled, oblivious to the world around them. The ornate hall of the Moonclaw Palace echoed with the faint drip of water from the grand fountains, yet neither of them noticed. Time seemed suspended until a sharp voice cut through the stillness.

“Make them wake up!” Alpha Drake of the Moonclaw Pack spat, his tone sharp, laced with anger.

“Okay, Alpha,” replied Lorenzo, Drake’s loyal head guard, his voice calm yet obedient.

Lorenzo had served Drake faithfully for years. He had once been his father’s personal guard, and even after the old Alpha’s death, Lorenzo remained steadfast—not merely a protector, but Drake’s most trusted friend. They had grown together, trained together, and shared battles that had shaped their bond into one of unbreakable loyalty.

He approached Zevaris and Simba, nudging them repeatedly with the butt of his gun. “Stand up,” he ordered firmly, his sharp gaze daring any resistance.

After several attempts, the two finally stirred, muscles stiff from unconsciousness, and slowly forced themselves to their feet. The world around them remained hazy, as if reality itself had not fully returned. Shadows stretched long along the palace walls, and the distant clink of armored guards felt distant and surreal. Bit by bit, their vision cleared.

“Alpha Zevaris,” Drake’s voice rang out, calm yet dripping with sarcasm. “To what do I owe this… uninvited visit? I received word from an anonymous caller that a spy was coming. I never imagined it would be you. So tell me—what are you doing here?”

Zevaris squared his shoulders, masking the fury that burned inside him with an air of cold pride. “As you can see, we are not spies,” he said, his voice steady. “Let us go.”

Drake chuckled darkly, the sound echoing off the polished walls. “You come into my territory unannounced and expect me to believe you are innocent? How do you expect me to take that seriously?”

Zevaris’s gaze was icy. “Believe what you want. I do not care. Just release us, and I will forget this intrusion ever happened.”

“Release you?” Drake rose from his seat, moving closer, each step deliberate. Soon, their faces were inches apart. “Why should I? You know… this is the perfect opportunity to repay you for all that you’ve done to others.”

His smirk was mocking, fueling the fire of rage that flared within Zevaris. The Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack clenched his fists tightly, ready to strike, his muscles tense, every nerve alive with anticipation.

“I am not a spy. That is all,” Zevaris growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Drake’s smile widened, a predator savoring the moment. “All these years, all the battles for power, and I never thought I’d see the day when Zevaris, the almighty Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack, would stand before me like this. Truly… thank you for this gift.”

He returned to his seat with satisfaction evident in every measured movement.

Long ago, the Moonclaw Pack and the Bloodfang Pack had not been enemies. Once, they had fought side by side, their fathers united against rival packs to defend their territories. Generations before, their ancestors had shared blood oaths, discovering lands together, dividing them peacefully, and supporting each other without hesitation. No one could have imagined that unity would crumble into division, jealousy, and hatred.

Yet Zevaris’s ambition and greed had poisoned the bond. His lust for dominance shattered the peace their forefathers had meticulously built. Standing now in the Moonclaw Palace, humiliated and restrained, Zevaris’s heart burned with a vengeance that he silently vowed to unleash upon his enemies.

Far from the Moonclaw Palace, Kaelen was weaving her own dark plans at the Bloodfang Palace. She moved silently through the corridors, the soft click of her heels barely audible against the polished floors. In her chamber, she retrieved a syringe and a tiny vial of poison, preparing to end Selene’s life with clinical precision, leaving no trace of suspicion.

Just as she approached the unconscious Selene, her phone rang. “What the hell? Why now?” she hissed, snatching it from the table.

Outside the door, Mrs. Brown, the palace’s eldest and most perceptive cleaner, lingered silently. Years of experience had taught her to sense danger, and she had long suspected Kaelen’s treacherous intentions. Now, her sharp eyes fixed on the scene, she listened closely to every word.

“Why are you calling me?” Kaelen snapped into the phone.

“Just letting you know they’ve been caught. Now give me the money we agreed upon,” the caller demanded.

“I will,” Kaelen muttered. “Just ensure they do not return with the Tree of Life.”

“They won’t. I promise,” the voice said before hanging up.

Mrs. Brown, hearing only fragments, was alarmed but quiet. The suspicion in her chest grew stronger; she silently vowed to watch Kaelen’s every move and expose her schemes.

Kaelen tucked her phone away and bent toward Selene, ready to resume her deadly task, when Mrs. Brown stepped into the room.

“What are you doing here? Too old to notice a room is occupied?” Kaelen barked, her voice sharp.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Mrs. Brown said politely. “I just need to clean.”

Kaelen hastily hid the poison beneath the bed and tossed the syringe aside. Mrs. Brown’s sharp eyes caught the glint of metal on the floor. She picked it up carefully.

“And what’s this doing here?” she asked, her tone suspicious.

Kaelen stammered, regaining her composure quickly. “Are you questioning my methods? Do your work and leave the rest to me.”

She leaned closer to Selene, whispering venomously, “Consider yourself lucky this fool interrupted me. Otherwise, you would be dead.”

Fuming, Kaelen stormed out, her plan thwarted for the moment.

Back at the Moonclaw Palace, the massive gates towered above Zevaris and Simba, flanked by masked guards in black. The two alphas awaited Drake’s judgment, the tension in the air thick enough to choke.

“Alpha Zevaris,” Simba whispered, urgency in his voice. “We should humble ourselves. This is their territory. They could do anything.”

“I will not beg,” Zevaris snapped, his pride flaring. “They dare not harm me.”

“Alpha, I am not afraid,” Simba said, “but it is wise to follow their rules. They govern here, not us.”

Zevaris’s arrogance hardened. Even as his pride refused to yield, his mind plotted ways to turn this moment to their advantage.

“Release us!” Zevaris commanded, pride radiating from every syllable.

Drake’s calm reply was measured. “I will release you… but only if you tell me why you are here. I could have released you earlier, but your stubbornness is… distasteful.”

Simba leaned closer. “Alpha, the longer we wait, the closer Selene comes to death.”

Zevaris’s anger wavered for only a heartbeat as the reminder struck deep. Still, pride would not allow him to plead. “You should beg them, not me,” he muttered.

Simba sighed. Then, stepping forward, he addressed Drake. “Alpha Drake, we are ready to speak.”

Drake’s smirk widened. “Finally. Tell me, why are you in my territory? Our packs are not allies, so why would you—Zevaris of all people—dare to enter?”

“The Tree of Life,” Simba said boldly. “We came for its leaves.”

The hall fell silent. Then, laughter erupted from the gathered Moonclaw warriors.

Zevaris’s rage flared, his claws itching to strike. “They mock us?!” he roared, ready to transform, but Simba held him back. “Alpha, calm yourself. We are outnumbered.”

Zevaris froze, fury coiling tighter within him. “And why do you laugh? Am I a joke to you?” he thundered.

Drake leaned forward, amusement in his eyes. “The Tree of Life? That’s laughable. What makes you think I would grant it to you?”

“The Tree of Life belongs to everyone,” Zevaris argued, his voice sharp.

“But it grows in my land,” Drake countered smoothly.

Laughter erupted again.

“You’re lucky your land bore the tree when our ancestors planted it,” Zevaris said bitterly.

“Oh? So now they are our ancestors?” Drake mocked. “I thought you claimed we shared no bloodline.”

“This tree belongs to my ancestors. I decide who receives its gift,” Drake declared, his tone final.

Simba stepped forward. “Please, allow me to explain. A friend in our palace is dying. The only cure is water from the Tree of Life.”

Drake raised a brow. “I never thought Zevaris cared about saving lives. Who is this friend?”

“That information is personal,” Simba replied firmly.

Drake leaned back, considering. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “You expect me to be ruthless like Zevaris, but I am not. My kingdom is known for kindness and respect for life. I will not let a feud prevent me from saving an innocent.”

He stood tall. “I will help you. But only this once. Next time, if you enter my land unannounced, mercy will not follow.”

Turning to his guard, he ordered, “Lorenzo, take them to the garden.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Lorenzo said, leading the way.

The Tree of Life stood tall and radiant, its green leaves glowing with a subtle, magical light. A short cage surrounded it, enough space for a person to stand safely inside. Lorenzo shifted into his massive brown wolf form, scaled the tree with ease, and shifted back to human at the top. Carefully, he plucked the leaves one by one, filling a large basket before descending and handing it to Zevaris.

Hope surged through Zevaris’s chest. Selene could still be saved.

They turned toward the gate, their wolves restless, urging them onward. But a piercing cry froze them in their tracks.

“Alpha Zevaris!”

The voice cut sharp, desperate, echoing through the hall.

Zevaris froze, every muscle taut. His wolf growled deep within, uneasy and alert. Even the leaves in his grip seemed to tremble, sensing the weight of the call.

He scanned the shadows, heart hammering, yet no figure emerged.

Friend… or foe?

Silence fell over the hall. All eyes turned to him, waiting.

And then—darkness.