Bonded In Love

Chapter 7

We walk in silence, our steps steady, his hand still entwined with mine. My eyes are swollen from crying, a faint sting lingering as I wipe away the last of my tears. I feel like a mess—overwhelmed, emotional. Maybe it's just that time of the month, or maybe it’s more than that. The new werewolf traits seem to heighten everything, amplifying every sensation.

Though night has fallen, my vision remains sharp, as if the world is bathed in daylight. I notice Ren’s heartbeat—it’s fast, erratic. Sweat beads on his skin. Something isn’t right. Then again, we are walking quickly, and the air is thick with humidity. He says nothing. A brief glance down at me, then his focus shifts back to the path ahead, leading us home.

"Alright," he murmurs, his voice barely cutting through the stillness of my neighborhood. The night feels impossibly quiet as we stand near my mailbox, the faint glow of a single streetlight casting long shadows between us.

"We’re here." His gaze drifts toward my house, and he exhales slowly. "I had no idea..." "Why am I only finding out now?" The words are hushed, but the weight behind them is undeniable.

I kept my eyes trained on the ground, unable to meet his. I already knew what I'd see—disappointment? Frustration? Sadness? I don’t need to look. His voice carries the emotions clearly enough: sorrow, disbelief.

"Nyxie," he breathes my name, and all I can manage is a quiet, unsteady apology. "I’m sorry."

His fingers gently lift my chin, urging me to meet his gaze. "No, I’m sorry," he murmurs, his hold lingering as sadness pools in his eyes. My breath catches—his expression, the raw ache in it, makes my chest tighten.

"I wish I didn’t..." He starts but trails off, silencing whatever thought weighs heavily on him. His hand falls away, and instead, he leans forward, pressing his forehead towards mine, his eyes closing as if bracing himself.

"I’m going to miss you… so much," he whispers, and his words unravel me all over again. He pulls me into another embrace, strong and grounding, yet laced with unspoken grief.

"Promise," he says at last, his voice thick with emotion. "Promise you’ll keep the group chat—don’t stop texting, don’t stop calling, even if we can’t visit." His cheek rests against the top of my head. "Okay?"

I nod. Darius doesn’t have to know. At the very least, I can keep them close in that way.

He pulls back slightly, and instinctively, my gaze lifts to meet his. He’s so close—his expression intense yet uncertain, as if torn between hesitation and impulse. I lean in, and he mirrors the motion, his lips edging closer to mine.

“Nyx,” he exhales, barely above a whisper.

Then, the door creaks open.

Darius steps out, nodding in our direction. Ren stiffens, turning toward him, his posture shifting. "That your mom’s new fiancé?" he asks, his voice quiet but tinged with something bitter.

"Yeah," is all I manage.

Perfect timing.

Ren looks back at me, his lips curving into the faintest smile before it vanishes just as quickly. "I guess this is goodbye then," he says, barely audible.

I shake my head. No. It can't be.

His warmth lingers as he presses a kiss to my forehead, then, without another word, he turns and walks away.

I watched him go, his steps carrying him farther away. A few yards ahead, I suddenly called out.

"Ren!"

I sprinted forward, desperate to catch up. "Darius can give you a ride back!" I shouted after him.

He turns, walking backward, his expression calm yet firm. "No, I'm good."

"Tell your mom hi for me!" His voice carries across the quiet night. "Don't forget to text or call—we're still your friends, right?"

I slowed to a stop, standing still as tears began to blur my vision.

"Always!" I call out, my voice cracking with emotion.

A soft smile tugs at his lips before he waves, then turns, jogging toward his car, still parked at the plaza where he works part-time, where this moment will linger in my mind.

"Always," I whisper to myself, the tears finally spilling over.

Two hours later, I sat in the back seat of Darius’s luxurious SUV, gazing out into the night. My mom had paced the house endlessly earlier, as if she might wear the floor thin with her steps. She was lost in memories—this place had been ours since I was born. Leaving was hard for both of us.

Now, we’re farther from home than I’ve ever been. Sure, I’ve flown with her to visit family before, but I’ve never driven this far. And this time, we’re not flying—we’re taking a boat. The thought unsettles me. I have no idea what to expect.

“Nini, honey, look!” My mom exclaims, tapping her window excitedly.

I blinked away the sleep pulling at me, lifting my gaze. Outside, the water stretches endlessly beneath the moonlight, its surface shimmering as the waves gently kiss the shore. We’re crossing a high bridge, suspended over the dark expanse.

Farther ahead, massive ships loom—cruise-sized, towering against the night sky. Are we… going on a cruise?

"We’re close," Darius says calmly. "We don’t usually get sea sick, but just in case, I brought some pills to help." His voice is warm, reassuring, and I catch the way he affectionately holds my mother’s hand.

In the span of a few moments, it hits me—Darius isn’t just rich. He’s next-level rich.

We don’t even step out of the car. Around us, only a handful of vehicles are being loaded for transport, each one an expensive, high-end brand. But instead of disembarking like everyone else, we simply drive straight into the cruise ship itself.

Once inside, a staff member in a crisp cruise line uniform waits for us. We finally step out, and in an instant, more attendants appear, swiftly gathering our luggage and loading it onto a cart.

Darius is handed a key to our suite, along with a welcome basket—luxurious bath essentials, Swiss chocolate, and other high-end treats. Without hesitation, he passes it to my mom before gesturing for us to follow another attendant.

As we make our way toward our suite, the sheer scale of it all sets in. This isn’t just a ship—it’s a floating resort, teeming with endless amenities and possibilities.

I’ve never been on a cruise before. And from the looks of it, this is going to be an experience unlike any other.

We live surrounded by water, but I’ve always preferred a pool—somewhere I can see the bottom, where nothing lurks beneath.

Darius mentions there are three on board, along with plenty of other luxuries. We’ll only be here for the next day and a half. Then, our first stop—our new home—a vast island that doesn’t appear on any map. Or maybe it does, just not in a way the world acknowledges.

Velkan Isle. A land of werewolves and other mystical beings.

I’ve never heard of it in geography class. How can a place like this exist, hidden from the rest of the world?

I retreat to my room—it’s warm, inviting, perfectly cozy. But exhaustion weighs on me, both physically and emotionally. It’s hard to embrace the wonder of this new experience when everything feels so overwhelming.

Darius and my mom have their own room. The entire suite is a two-bedroom, two-bath setup with a living room, a balcony, and even office space. It’s excessive, almost over the top.

I wander through my own room, taking in the space, before stopping by the window to gaze at the night sky.

“How do you like it?” Darius’s deep voice is gentle as he speaks.

“It’s nice,” I said quietly, turning to face him with a small smile. “Thank you." "I’m still processing all of this—it’s a lot.”

He scratches his head, looking a bit sheepish. “Sorry, I tend to go overboard." "I know you’re probably not used to this… luxury.” His smile is warm, reassuring.

Then, his tone shifts, softening. “Your father—he was a humble man. Frugal, but kind.”

I glance around, avoiding the subject. I don’t want to talk about him right now—not when I’m already feeling so vulnerable.

Darius seemed to pick up on it and clear his throat. “Right, well—I’ll let you settle in and get changed. We’ll have dinner downstairs.”

I blinked at him, surprised. “It’s late… I’m not really hungry.”

But just as the words leave my mouth, my stomach betrays me with a loud grumble.

Darius chuckles. “I’ll see you in the living room in thirty minutes.”

I sigh, nodding.

Okay. I’m starving.