Bound to my Awakening

The Threshold

"In the cellar, now!" Liam hissed, shoving me toward the small trapdoor under the floor rug. "Do not come out, no matter what you hear."

"Liam, wait…"

"Hide!" he snapped, slamming the hatch shut above me.

I scrambled into the damp dark, holding my breath just as heavy boots thudded onto the porch.

The front door splintered inward with a deafening c***k.

"Who the hell are you, and what do you want?" Liam demanded, his voice tight with fear.

"I'm looking for someone," a deep, command-laden voice echoed from above, rattling the floorboards.

"There's no one here but me," Liam lied instantly. "I live here with my parents."

" Oh, I see. I suppose the fresh earth and the scattered drums are your doing?," the stranger said, looking around.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

"You reek of fear, and that's quite unusual for someone not hiding anything" the Alpha stated flatly.

"Where is the girl?"

"I don't know who you're talking about!"

A terrifying silence fell over the room.

“Okay then, Martin put a bullet in his head and pull up the floorboards.”

"He's useless," the Alpha instructed casually.

"Yes, my Lord," he replied. The metallic click of a firearm echoed down into the dark.

"No! Stop!" I screamed, kicking the trapdoor open and bursting out of the cellar.

I threw myself between Liam and the guard, gasping as my eyes locked onto the tall, broad figure commanding the room.

Draven froze. The moment our eyes met, a violent, suffocating shockwave slammed straight into my chest. Liquid fire surged through my veins, making my knees buckle. The fated bond snapped into place with terrifying, suffocating force.

Draven’s pupils dilated until gold consumed his eyes. His chest heaved as he took in my face. "It's you..."

"Take me!" I begged, fighting the dizzying, magnetic pull dragging me toward him. "Take me, but leave him alive! He has nothing to do with this!"

"Kaela, no!" Liam screamed, grabbing my wrist to yank me back. "Get behind me!"

"No, Liam!" I cried, trying to shake him off. "I can't let him kill you!"

Draven’s gaze dropped to where Liam’s fingers gripped my skin. A low, thunderous growl vibrated in his throat, pure apex malice flooding the air.

"Get your filthy human hands off my mate," Draven snarled, stepping forward as the room's pressure doubled.

"Your what?!" Liam shouted, stepping right into Draven's path. "She's not yours!"

"Take the human. Tie him up, toss him in the closet, and if he breathes near her scent again, break his jaw."

"Get off me!" Liam thrashed violently as two heavy guards tackled him to the floorboards. "Kaela! Run!"

"Liam!" I screamed, lunging to help him, but Draven moved like a shadow, his arm wrapping around my waist like an iron band.

The moment his skin touched mine, a wave of intoxicating heat crashed through my body, trying to force my wolf to yield.

"Let me go!" I shrieked, driving my elbows into his ribs and kicking at his legs. "You tyrant! Let me go!"

"Stop fighting me," Draven growled against my ear, his voice a possessive rumble that sent traitorous shivers down my spine. He pinned my wrists behind my back with one hand, hauling my flush against his chest.

"You reek of him. Every inch of your skin smells like a human, and it's taking everything in me not to tear his throat out right now."

"He saved my life!" I spat, twisting furiously in his grip as he dragged me toward the shattered door. "You're a monster! I'll never submit to you! Never!"

"You don't have a choice, little rogue," Draven whispered, his grip unyielding as he carried me onto the porch. "The Moon Goddess chained your soul to mine. You belong in my bed, not in a human's barn."

"Don't touch her, you bastard!" Liam screamed from inside, his voice muffled as guards pinned him down.

"Kaela! I'll find you! I promise!"

"Liam!" I screamed back, tears burning my eyes as Draven hauled me down the steps toward the waiting black SUV.

"Save your breath for the estate," Draven said coldly, shoving me into the leather backseat and sliding in right behind me, trapping me against the door. "Your old life is over, Kaela. You're mine now.”