BREAKING
833 Words
By the time Kaelen realized something was wrong—
It was already too late.
The bond snapped awake like a live wire in his chest.
Hot.
Violent.
Demanding.
He froze mid-step in the corridor, breath catching as something pulled at him—hard, insistent, impossible to ignore.
Lucien.
Kaelen’s wolf surged instantly.
Find him.
Now.
Kaelen didn’t think.
He moved.
Fast.
Through the dim stone halls of Noctra, past startled hybrids and flickering lantern light, guided by nothing but instinct and that burning thread in his chest.
The closer he got—
The worse it became.
Heat flooded through him.
Not his.
Lucien’s.
Kaelen clenched his jaw.
“…Damn it.”
He reached the door at the end of the corridor without knocking.
Pushed it open.
Inside—
The air hit him first.
Thick.
Heavy.
Suffocating with the sharp, intoxicating scent of Omega heat.
Kaelen’s control nearly snapped on the spot.
Lucien stood near the far wall, one hand braced against the stone, head lowered slightly as his breathing came uneven.
His composure—
Gone.
Completely.
Kaelen stepped inside slowly, forcing the door shut behind him.
“You said to stay away,” he muttered.
Lucien let out a quiet, strained laugh.
“I also said it would get worse.”
Kaelen’s eyes darkened.
“You should have told me it would be like this.”
Lucien lifted his head slightly.
His crimson eyes were darker now.
Unsteady.
“You would not have listened.”
Kaelen didn’t deny it.
The bond pulsed again.
Stronger.
Pulling him forward.
Lucien noticed immediately.
“Don’t.”
Kaelen stopped.
Barely.
Every muscle in his body locked as his instincts roared to life.
Protect.
Stay.
Claim—
He shut that thought down instantly.
Lucien straightened slightly, though it looked like it took effort.
“This is exactly why I told you to leave.”
Kaelen’s voice dropped.
“And leave you like this?”
Lucien’s lips curved faintly, but there was no humor in it.
“Yes.”
Kaelen shook his head.
“Not happening.”
The air between them tightened.
Every second stretched.
Every breath felt heavier.
Lucien’s control slipped another fraction.
His fingers pressed harder against the wall.
“Kaelen.”
The warning was softer now.
Less command.
More… plea.
Kaelen took one step closer.
The bond surged.
Lucien inhaled sharply.
“Stop.”
Kaelen froze again.
But this time—
He didn’t step back.
“I’m not leaving,” he said quietly.
Lucien closed his eyes briefly.
“That is a mistake.”
“Probably.”
Another pulse of heat crashed through the room.
Stronger.
Lucien’s breath hitched.
His control finally cracked.
Just enough.
Kaelen saw it.
And his wolf reacted instantly.
He crossed the distance before he could stop himself.
Lucien’s back hit the wall.
Kaelen’s hand braced against the stone beside his head, trapping him there without quite touching him.
Too close.
Far too close.
The bond snapped tight between them.
Both of them felt it.
Lucien’s voice came quieter now.
Unsteady in a way Kaelen had never heard before.
“You need to move.”
Kaelen shook his head slowly.
“No.”
Lucien’s eyes flashed.
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
Kaelen leaned in just slightly.
“Then make me.”
The words hung between them.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Lucien’s breath caught.
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then the bond surged again.
Hard.
Lucien’s hand shot up, grabbing Kaelen’s arm.
Not pushing him away.
Holding him there.
That was the moment everything shifted.
Kaelen’s control snapped.
Not completely.
But enough.
His voice dropped, rougher now.
“You said it would get worse.”
Lucien met his gaze, something raw flickering in his eyes.
“It will.”
Kaelen didn’t move away.
“Then we deal with it.”
Lucien let out a shaky breath.
“You don’t understand—”
“Then explain.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Charged.
Lucien’s grip tightened slightly on his arm.
“If you stay,” he said quietly, “the bond will push.”
Kaelen didn’t look away.
“I know.”
“It won’t stop.”
“I know.”
Lucien’s voice dropped even further.
“You might lose control.”
Kaelen’s eyes flashed gold for a split second.
“Then I’ll fight it.”
Lucien searched his face.
For doubt.
For hesitation.
He didn’t find it.
The tension between them softened—
Just slightly.
Lucien exhaled slowly.
“…You’re stubborn.”
Kaelen almost smiled.
“I’ve been told.”
Another wave of heat passed through the bond.
This time—
Kaelen didn’t step back.
And Lucien didn’t tell him to.
They stayed like that.
Close.
Too close.
Breathing the same air.
Feeling the same pull.
But not crossing the line.
Not yet.
Kaelen lowered his voice.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Lucien’s grip loosened just slightly.
His eyes softened—
Just for a second.
“…I know.”
The bond settled.
Not calm.
Not safe.
But… steadier.
Balanced between them.
For now.
- Writer
