THE FORBIDDEN BOND

Chapter 4

Evelyn’s POV

I ran towards where my parents lay on the ground, battered and bloody. My heart pounding in my chest as though it threatened to come out. My vision blurred with tears.

“Dad, Mom, are you okay?” I asked, looking them over my shoulder, shaking, tears rolling down my eyes as I kneeled beside them.

My father's gaze roamed over my body, probably searching for injuries; relief washed over his face at seeing me unharmed, managing a weak smile. “We'll be fine, Barakat. Don't worry about us,” he replied, his voice weak and filled with pain.

My mother stared at me, tears flowing freely from her eyes as she looked up at me. Sadness and pain were written all over her face, and maybe regret, but I wonder why she would be feeling that way. “Thank goodness you're safe, Barakat,” she said, her voice filled with pain.

I focused all my attention on my parents, trying to assess their injuries so that I had forgotten the male standing behind me.

“Tsk tsk, who do we have here?” he said, a smirk plastered on his face as he stepped closer.

Startled by his sudden appearance and the sound of his deep yet soothing voice, I turned to face him only to be met with the most beautiful set of blue eyes I have ever seen. He had midnight black hair that flowed to his shoulders. He had a perfectly shaped jawline that would rival that of any Greek god. His lips—oh, his lips—that had me clenching my thighs look so full I couldn’t help but wonder all the sinful things it could do to me.

What the f**k I thought. My parents are bleeding to death, and here I am ogling the very stranger responsible for it. Shaking my head to clear the lust-filled thoughts I was having, “What do you want? Why are you doing this to us?” I demanded in anger, my voice sharp and loud, cutting through the night and gaining the attention of those nearby.

The tension in the clearing was noticeable as everyone stood frozen, their eyes fixed on me and the man before me, waiting for his response to my outburst.

He, however, looked at me calmly, almost with a bored expression, his eyes steady and piercing. “I want justice,” he replied calmly, his tone void of emotion.

“Justice! How does attacking my family and people bring you justice?” I asked, raising my hands in frustration.

“I want to kill your parents just like Daddy dearest and his people killed mine,” he said, this time his tone filled with anger as he fixed his hate-filled gaze on my father.

I stood, mouth open, as I stared up at him in shock. My brain is trying to process what he just said but not quite understanding it. “No way! My dad would never do that.” I said after getting over the initial shock.

“Your dad's the reason my parents are gone. He and the others led the group that attacked my pack.” He said the anger was still reflecting in his eyes.

I turned towards my father, goosebumps appearing on my body. “Is what he’s saying the truth, Dad?” I asked, voice trembling.

My father, breathless and struggling to speak, looked at me desperately. “I didn’t do anything, Evelyn. You have to believe me.”

My head is shunned as I struggle to come to terms with what is happening. “I... I don't know. This can't be true.” I replied, holding my head in frustration.

“They all have to pay the price for what they did.” The male said venomously as he grabbed my father by the throat, ready to deliver the final blow.

Realizing what was about to happen, I shouted in panic. “Wait! Stop, please!” I begged, my voice filled with urgency, my heart pounding.

He paused and stared at me with a raised eyebrow as he waited for me to continue.

“Please... I'm begging you. Spare my parents.” I cried out, “I can’t lose them; they are all I have.”. I said, my voice trembling with fear as tears streamed down my face.

The whole place was filled with silence as we awaited his response. And then, unexpectedly, a low chuckle rumbled from deep within his throat. The sound was dark and malicious, echoing through the clearing.

“You ask for mercy, even after what your kind did to mine,” he responded, shaking his head. “After all the pains and suffering they caused me and my pack.”

I stared at him without fear, my heart filled with determination and hope. “Yes, I do. I’m sorry for the pain you went through, but killing them won’t bring them back,” I replied softly, hoping I could get to him.

He chuckled again; this time it was filled with amusement. “You're right, killing them won’t bring my parents back, but at least I would get satisfaction from it,” he replied, staring down at me.

“Please,” I whispered, staring at him with a tear-stained face.

The silence that followed was suffocating. I winced in pain as I heard the thump from where he threw my father on the ground. “There's a price for mercy,” he said, staring into my eyes.

My eyes widened in panic, and my heart filled with uncertainty. “What do you mean?” I asked softly.

He stepped closer, his presence commanding. From the way he carried himself and from the aura around him, I was sure he was a high-ranking wolf, an Alpha to be precise. “If I spare them, you must follow me to my pack and become my slave,” he replied.

Gasps filled the air as his pack members exchanged surprised glances, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Whispers rippled through their ranks.

My heart raced as I locked my gaze on his. The weight of his request settled in.

“Follow you to your pack?” I asked, fear and surprise evident in my voice and features.

“Yes. Their lives for yours,” he replied nonchalantly. “You must become a part of my world.”

My mind raced, the weight of the decision pressing upon me.

“But my parents... they mean everything to me,” I replied, unsure what to do. “I can’t leave them alone.”. I looked at him pleadingly.

“And my family meant everything to me. This is my offer. A life for a life,” he said, gesturing at my parents.

“Don’t do it,” my mother spoke up from beside my father, who still lay bloodied and weak on the ground, too weak to say anything.

I turned to Alpha Nathan, my voice trembling as I asked, “If I go with you, do I have your word that you will spare them?”

“You have my word,” he replied, staring intensely at me.

I turned my gaze to my parents, kneeling beside them as I hugged them tightly but carefully to avoid their injuries. “It will be okay,” I said as our tears mixed.

“It’s time to go,” I heard him say as I pulled apart from my parents and got up following the men. My heart felt torn between my love for my parents and the potential for a different future.

Following them through the way they came, I glanced back at my parents one more time and couldn’t help but wonder if this was the last time I would see them.