THE LURE OF THE BOND

The creature lunged, its glowing eyes locked onto me, a predatory snarl ripping through the air. My feet were frozen to the ground, terror rooting me in place as it closed the distance in a heartbeat.

Cassian roared, his colossal black wolf spinning toward me, but he was too far. My pulse raced as I raised my arms, a futile instinct to shield myself.

The creature leapt and stopped midair, crashing to the ground with a bone-shattering thud.

I blinked in confusion, my body trembling, as a faint, golden energy pulsed in the air around me. The creature whimpered, struggling to rise, but something invisible seemed to hold it down.

“What the hell…” I whispered, backing away.

Cassian didn’t hesitate. He lunged, tearing into the attacker with a ferocity that made me flinch. Theo was at his side a moment later, the two of them moving with lethal precision to drive back the others.

But I wasn’t watching the fight anymore. My attention was locked on my hands, trembling as they faintly glowed with the same golden hue.

What had I done?

The sound of growls and snapping jaws snapped me back to reality. Cassian had shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving as he stood over the last attacker, pinning them to the ground with one hand.

“You have three seconds to tell me who sent you,” he growled, his voice colder than I’d ever heard.

The creature, now in its human form, spat blood onto the floor and glared up at him. “You know who sent me. The council won’t let you keep her. She’s too powerful too dangerous.”

Cassian’s grip tightened, his knuckles turning white. “She’s none of their concern.”

“Isn’t she?” The man smirked, his gaze shifting to me. “You think they’ll let a rogue like you keep someone like her? She’s more than just a bond, Cassian. She’s the key.”

Before I could ask what he meant, Cassian moved faster than I could process. A sickening crack echoed through the room as the man’s body went limp.

“Cassian!” I shouted, my voice trembling with shock.

Theo turned on him, his eyes blazing with fury. “What the hell are you doing? He could’ve told us more!”

“He told us enough,” Cassian snapped, turning to face him. “The council knows, and they’ll come for her. That’s all we need to know.”

“The council?” I echoed, my voice shaking. “What is going on? What do they want with me?”

Cassian turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “I’ll explain everything, but not here. It’s not safe.”

Theo stepped between us, his golden eyes narrowing. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”

“I don’t think you’re in a position to stop me,” Cassian said coldly, his stance rigid.

The tension between them was suffocating, and I could feel the pull of the bond between Cassian and me growing stronger, an invisible thread tightening with every second.

“I’m not going anywhere with either of you,” I said, my voice stronger than I expected. “Not until someone tells me what’s going on.”

Cassian sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “Sienna, this bond—what we have—makes you a target. The council doesn’t care about you; they care about controlling you.”

Theo scoffed. “And you’re so much better? You want her for yourself, Cassian. Don’t act like you’re some kind of savior.”

“That’s enough!” I snapped, stepping forward. Both men froze, their gazes locked on me. “I don’t trust either of you, but right now, I want answers. And if neither of you can give me that, I’ll find them myself.”

Theo reached for me, his touch tentative. “Sienna, I know you’re scared, but you can’t trust him. He’s dangerous. He’s...”

“I don’t need you to tell me what to do, Theo,” I said, cutting him off. “Not after what you did.”

His face fell, guilt flickering in his eyes, but I didn’t let him speak.

Cassian smirked, his gaze sliding to Theo. “Looks like you’re not the knight in shining armor you thought you were.”

“Enough,” I said again, my voice firm. “If this council is coming for me, I need to know why. And I need to know now.”

Cassian’s expression shifted, the teasing edge falling away. “The bond you created with me isn’t normal. It’s… stronger, more powerful. They see you as a threat or as a weapon.”

“A weapon?” My voice wavered. “I don’t even know what I did.”

“That doesn’t matter to them,” Cassian said, his voice heavy. “They’ll use you, control you, or destroy you if they think you’re too dangerous to handle.”

Theo stepped closer, his gaze imploring. “That’s why you need to come with me. My pack can protect you. We’ll figure this out together.”

“You had your chance to protect her,” Cassian growled. “And you failed.”

Before Theo could respond, a low, ominous howl echoed in the distance. Cassian’s eyes darkened, and Theo stiffened beside me.

“They’re here,” Cassian muttered, his body already shifting into a defensive stance.

“Who?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“The council’s hunters,” Cassian said grimly. “And they won’t stop until they have you.”