Bonded In Love

Chapter 5

Just like that, everything changed. I went from eagerly anticipating back-to-school shopping and reconnecting with my crew at the Loop—our go-to spot for browsing stores, sipping boba, and teasing Ren while he wrapped up his shift at his brother’s phone repair shop. He worked there part-time during the school year, full-time in the summer.

Now, instead of planning the next meet-up, I’m packing boxes, meeting with a realtor, withdrawing from my high school, and watching Mom resign from her job at the car insurance company where she’d worked for five years. I have to figure out how to break the news to my closest friends—the ones who feel more like family—that I’m leaving. That I may never see them again. The realization hits like a gut punch, the shock still reverberating through me, an unseen force shaking me to my core.

"Even if you stayed, it wouldn’t be the same," Darius’s words linger in my mind as I stare at my half-empty room, most of my belongings already sealed away in boxes.

"Every confrontation, every shift in emotion. Every full moon. Every cycle of your body—each one will strip away the illusion. It will reveal what you truly are."

"A werewolf." The last thought escapes my lips in a whisper.

If saying it out loud could make it feel more real—more manageable—then maybe I’d find some relief. But instead, I feel worse, completely rattled by how absurd all of this is. Mom, Darius, and I stayed up talking that night, ordering pizza and trying to process everything. He ended up crashing on the couch while Mom retreated to her room—staying separate, so I wouldn’t feel awkward.

That’s when he finally told us where we’d be living. Turns out, Mom barely knew anything either. She just agreed to move with him, didn’t even bother asking where. What was she thinking?

Darius, though—he’s well off. Beyond well off. His estate is massive, with an even bigger stretch of land surrounding it. He’s one of the most recognized figures in his...“territory,” as he calls it. His terminology still trips me up—“territory,” “tribe,” “pack”—and the way he refers to Mom as his “mate” like we’re wolves or something. Well, we are, but still.

He’s also incredibly charitable, regularly donating substantial amounts to the high school I’ll be attending—a private institution that only recently became co-ed. It used to be single-gender, but after extensive meetings and pressure from influential groups in the surrounding areas, the school board agreed to allow male, female, or whatever they want to identify as, students to coexist on campus. Something about preparing them for adulthood—their eventual choice to integrate into human society or remain within Canis Lupus territories.

I had to wear a uniform? Be surrounded by others like me? Enroll in one of the most prestigious schools in the nation—where admission is earned through a lottery system, stellar grades, or sheer influence?

And then, as if things weren’t strange enough, I had a stepbrother. Darius adopted him as a baby after a freak accident took his parents’ lives, honoring his promise as Ulric’s godfather to raise and care for him. Darius, I’m realizing, is an incredibly generous man. First, he takes in his friend’s child after tragedy strikes, then—after all these years of supposedly knowing my dad—he decides to step in again. They were supposedly good friends, though I find that hard to believe since I’ve never seen Darius before. And my dad? I’ve never known him as anything but a human father. No werewolf traits, no hints, nothing.

And now Darius has taken an interest in my mom and, in the process, adopted me into his world. One extremely generous guy, I think sarcastically.

I sigh. I shouldn’t be mad at him. The person I should really be mad at is my mother. She never told me any of this. Never warned me, never gave me a chance to process her relationship. I feel so… betrayed. Is that the right word? Cheated, maybe.

It’s like that childhood moment when you realize Santa isn’t real—but instead of some cheerful illusion unraveling, it’s your mom in a fake beard, stuffing a pillow under her sweater to make it look like she has a Santa belly. Only this isn’t some harmless deception. It’s something much worse.

What she kept from me is so much bigger. And the weight of it all is crushing.

Thinking about it now, my dad never said anything either. But I can’t be mad at him—he never got the chance.

I sit, staring at the life plan pinned to my wall, the one I spent years building. I was so proud of it once—so much so that I took a picture and posted it on social media. My friends liked it, even said it inspired them to create their own. But now? I just want to rip it down and shove it into the trash.

A soft knock at my door pulls me from my thoughts.

"Nyxie, hey." "Do you want me to grab any boxes for you?" Mom asks. Darius’s SUV can fit two small ones plus your luggage. The rest will go with the movers he hired." She steps farther into my room, scanning the space.

I glance at her briefly, then sighed.

"This room has seen so many colors and wallpaper," she murmurs, crossing her arms like she’s trying to comfort herself. "The first time we painted it—before you were born—I was… hmm, seven months pregnant with you?" She looks up, trying to recall.

"Your dad thought you’d be a boy." "I thought you were a girl." "We argued—not seriously—about what color to paint your nursery." A small laugh escapes her, but the warmth in her expression fades.

"Eventually, I just said, ‘Let’s pick a neutral color.’ I was tired. Heavy. My belly was huge, my feet were swollen—I just wanted the room painted." "I didn’t care anymore." "I just wanted it ready for when you arrived." She moved to sit beside me.

"He put our paint swatches down, came up behind me, and held my belly with those big hands and strong arms. Then, he leaned down, smelled me, and kissed my cheek." Her eyes glistened, a wave of emotion overtaking her.

"‘Nyx… or Nyxie,’" she says, mimicking his voice.

"Your mom is working so hard to bring you into this world, and here I am, arguing with her over paint colors. He sighed and I felt him shake his head. "I already feel like I need to be a better father and husband… Don’t pay attention to our bickering. It’s only because we love you so much and can’t wait to meet you. Forgive your father for frustrating your mother."

She laughs as she recalls his words, though tears slip down her cheeks.

"Your dad was one of a kind—so warm, so strong… so full of love," she says, reaching for my hand.

"Nyxie, I’m so sorry about all of this." "It’s hard for me too." "I didn’t expect it to happen this soon." Her gaze meets mine, searching for something—understanding, maybe.

But hearing her talk about the past, about my father, doesn’t bring me any comfort. If anything, it makes me feel worse. I’m surprised she can even open up like this—it must be Darius helping her finally process everything.

I pull my hand away.

"I have two boxes on my dresser. We can take those. I already put the luggage in his car," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. My eyes drifted back to the wall.

I stood up, grabbing my bag.

"Mom, I need to see my friends. I have to tell them I’m leaving—it’s only fair. I can’t just ghost them."

She watches me for a moment, her expression shifting from sadness to concern.

"Honey, I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"Mom, it’s fine. My scent has settled, and I feel normal—no headaches, no strange urges. "I’ll only be gone for an hour or two, and I’ll be back before we leave." My voice is quiet, steady.

She sighs.

"Alright. Keep your phone’s volume up, and call me right away if anything happens."

"Are you going to the Loop?" she asks.

I nod.

"Okay," she says simply, letting it go. I turned toward the door.

"Oh, honey." Her voice stops me just before I step out.

"Don’t forget—you need to be back before eight. That’s when we leave."

I pause, glancing at her. She’s still sitting on my bed, her back to me, staring at my board.

"Okay, Mom." My words come out softly, and then I step out, closing the door behind me.