Breaking the Bond

I love you

Natalie looked between Lexi and Ryan. Her mouth open forming an almost circle shape, clearly in shock. Lexi was too caught up in trying to smother her own feelings to take in everything. Trying to convince herself that she didn’t want Ryan. He had been nothing but mean. Trapping her. She would never fall for her captor. Yet the bond made her heart melt and the pain soared through her again. It reminded her of the sea. The waves would crash down on her, as a painful reminder that her soul mate belonged to another and then the bond would wash the pain away, only for another wave to come tumbling in.

She was being kept alive, not rejected until they work out how to break the bond. Natalie continued to look at Lexi with disgust.

“You're going to leave me for that....after everything”. Lexi heard Natalie choke out what seemed like a sob but it came across too forced for Lexi. May be the jealously Lexi was feeling made her imagine Natalie's weird behaviour. Everything seemed so staged.

“I thought you said you already told Natalie", Tom looked at both werewolves confused.

“No. Tom. I think I’d remember my mate telling me he found his fated mated and the bond was still very much alive”. Natalie sobbed.

“Tom. Enough”. Ryan growled.

“But you said Ryan….”

“It must have slipped my mind, with everything going on. I’m sorry Natalie, we will sort this out. You have nothing to worry about. I love you”. Ryan continued to stare anywhere but at Lexi, his voice void of emotion.

Tom looked skeptical. Something was wrong. Ryan had told Tom word for word about the conversation with Natalie. He done it the same night he came home from the pack, after the k********g. Told Nat that he found his fated love. That he actually loved Lexi. Not because of the bond but because of her courage, bravery and the kindness she had shown by trying to save him. Tom hadn’t dreamt it. It was why he believed Ryan when he said he would figure it out, that he would never hurt Lexi, that he would break the bond to keep her safe. Even when Ryan had been unbelievably nasty to Lexi, Tom believed it was all part of his big plan. Now he’s starting to doubt the Alpha. He looked over Natalie. He had never really liked the she-wolf, she was selfish but he never told anyone, she was his brother mate and Luna, he just tried to steer clear of her, never really speaking unless it was about business. That had worked out for both parties. Something was off with her. It all seemed very theatrical.

“I have Jada looking into this”.

“Into what Ryan! This is ridiculous. We are mated. Yet you can feel the bond with...” she waved a hand over to Lexi. Tom growled. Natalie and Ryan stared at him.

“Owen and Jada will find out why this has happened and we are looking into breaking the bond”.

“With me?!” Natalie started to wail. Lexi almost pitied the girl. Part of her wanted to comfort the crying wolf, she shook her head reprimanding herself. Nat loved Ryan, Lexi was sure by Natalie’s reaction. They had mated and now Lexi had come along, a fated mate, everything was up in the air. Wolves would give up everything for their soulmate. Any hope, even if it was small, that Ryan might have chosen Lexi disappeared when she heard him.

“No love. To break the bond between me and Lexi. I love you”. Ryan didn’t even look at Lexi, hadn't even bothered since they walked in the office. She was thankful. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her heart tear in two. She dug her nails into her hands and hoped that she could concentrate on that pain. Even after she drew blood with her nails, the pain in her chest was far worse. It started to scold her.

“Lexi”. Tom's soft voice made her jump as he placed his large hand over her fisted ones. A low growl came from somewhere in the room. Lexi couldn’t stand the contact; part of her didn’t want the comfort. She knew that that reprieve made the harsh reality even more painful. She smirked and pulled away from Tom. Tom looked down at her, hurt.

“How do we know she isn’t some witch. Hhhmmm? I bet she’s put a spell on you Ryan. That traitorous b***h. That’s the only explanation”. Natalie march in front of Lexi, accusing her. Lexi didn’t even flinch, she was starting to feel numb.

“NATALIE”. Ryan's Alpha growl was a stark warning to everyone in the room that he was the one in charge.

“The plan is that Lexi is here as my guest and shall be treated with civility. Jada will search the history books and Owen will find a safe way to break the bond. Nothing else will change. I will still be Alpha. Natalie, my love, you will still be my Luna. This cannot leave this room. We have a traitor among us. I want to make sure that he is dealt with quietly. Only us, Carole, Owen, Jada and my beta will know Lexi’s true identity. Once the bond is broken, the weakness will be eliminated. Now. I will show Lexi to her room”. Natalie smirked at Ryan’s words. Tom looked at his brother in confusion. His heart ached, Ryan’s words churned. ‘Weakness will be eliminated’. What did that even mean?

“I don’t want to stay here....” Her was so small. So weak and little that even Tom who sat beside her had difficulty hearing her.

“What?!” Ryan finally looked at Lexi. Shock plastered his face. She looked so pale, her skin almost translucent. Dark circles had formed around her heavy eyes. She looked like she was knocking on deaths door and something exploded deep inside him. Pain. He absentmindedly walked to Lexi, placing a soft hand on her head.

“Lexi? Are you ok?” She looked up at him. Her lip quivered at his softness.

“How could you ask me that?” Something had also snapped inside Lexi. She looked back down to her feet. “How could you do this to me, why would the moon goddess do this to me?” Fat tears rolled down her face. “Why won’t you just let me go?” The room became eerily quiet. Lexi had started to think that maybe death would be better. What if they never find a way to break the bond? What if she is trapped her forever? What if the scorching pain never stops? She just wanted to be alone. Why had the fates been so cruel? She must have done something monstrous in her past life to be in this one.

“Look at her. Such an actress. Ryan. Are you sure you're feeling the bond with this human? Could be just sympathy for something so pathetic?” Ryan removed his hand.

“Sorry love. It is the bond making me want to comfort her”. Lexi almost retched.

“Ryan. There's no need to be so cruel”. Tom was disgusted with his Alpha and Luna. Couldn’t they see the pain Lexi was in. Tom wondered why Ryan couldn’t feel it. From everything they are taught, everything they know, Ryan should be able to feel Lexi's pain. Feel the need to protect her, do whatever it takes to stop the pain. Tom swung his arm around Lexi. Tom noticed the slight twitch in Ryan's jaw muscle but ignored his brother who was being an ass.

“Come on Little Star. I'll show you to your room. Then we can grab some food”.

“Don’t you have somewhere to go, Tom? Michael won’t be happy if you stand him up”. Natalie stood by Ryan stroking her arm. He looked at Lexi and Tom who sat on the sofa. A dark expression on his face.

“Michael will understand if I don’t go, Nat. Think Lexi needs me more”. He stroked his little stars face.

“Its Luna, sweetheart”. Natalie replied in a sickly sweet voice.

“Hopefully not for long”. Tom whispered into Lexis ear but she just couldn’t hear anything, she was already too lost.

“No. Tom you will go as planned. Cannot risk suspicion”. Ryan gave his Alpha command and Tom desperately wanted to fit it but Ryan let out his dark powerful aura and Tom didn’t dare argue.

Natalie left the room in a huff as Tom glared at her. “Ryan. Are you sure about this. The moon goddess gave you a fated mate. You want to break the bond with Lexi? Are you 100% sure it's the right call”. Tom sounded desperate. Ryan grew angry. Lexi sat there oblivious to the whole conversation. She looked so lost. Consumed in pain and despair.

“Pl...please let me go?” Lexi finally looked up at the two wolves that were now face to face. Arguing. “Please. I cant....I cant do this... not again”. She started to breath heavily. Her chest constricted her lung capacity. She couldn’t catch her breath. She couldn’t breathe.

“Little star?” Tom ran to her side. “Just deep breaths. You’re having a panic attack. Look at me...Lexi!”

She couldn’t look, she couldn’t see. All she could focus on was restricting pressure in her chest. White spots started to dance in front of her eyes. Blind panic consumed her. She was back in a cell where she didn’t know what horrors awaited her. The monster, he was close, he was in the room. His face had changed but his plan had not. Eliminate the weakness. Lexi had heard Ryan loud and clear. He planned on eventually killing her, sudden realisation of her demise hit her like a ton of bricks, she had to run.