Soul Bonded

Do whatever it takes

Levi

Sebastian and I roll Sophie onto her left side, allowing Mark to slip the soft blanket Michael handed him underneath her body. We then roll Sophie onto her back, and I attempt to wrap her up. Mark’s Lycan is having none of it and growls, causing Sebastian to curse under his breath.

Mark’s is the most aggressive and unpredictable of all Lycans I know. Archer listens to no one, and no one can command him. It’s the same with Mythius, Mark’s Dragon, and even my grandfather, Leviathan, has a hard time trying to control Mythius, and he’s the creator!

“Mark, you need to go slowly. You could hurt her further if you don’t.”

I see the moment it happens, Mythius pushing Mark back, eyes now midnight blue, and he snarls at Sebastian.

‘Don't treat us as if we're stupid!’ He snaps before Mark forces back control, tears falling from his eyes unashamedly.

I wish I could have saved my nephew this pain, but I wasn’t fast enough. I have searched for Mark’s mate for months. I heard her whispering in the wind one evening, calling for help. I followed the sound but lost it too soon. I have searched far and wide but never caught a sign again. I knew what would happen when I arrived here, but all I could do was go with it.

I look at Sophie just for a moment. I am the grandson of a God, and I don’t think even I could bring her back from this.

As gently as possible, Mark lifts Sophie into his arms. Michael, Sebastian, and I follow Mark out of that hell hole.

The moment I step outside the house and breathe in the fresh air, it’s as if a wall has been lifted off my lungs!

“You found her,” Blaze states, but Mark doesn’t look at him.

Mark walks with purpose to the car. It’s clear that all Mark wants to do is get Sophie back to Knight Castle before her life slips away. I can only pray that something can be done. Mythius won’t survive losing his mate again.

Mythius used to belong to my sister-in-law's uncle before his life was cut short. Maila, Sophie’s Dragon, was reborn, as was Mythius. Sophie got Maila, and Mark got Mythius. Mythius remembers his previous life, but I don’t know if Maila will. However, Mythius and Maila were once Soul Bonded and will always be drawn to one another, regardless of how many times they are reborn.

I hear Michael and Sebastian filling their dads in on the state we found Sophie. But Mark seems to be in a world of his own.

“Mark?” Mark doesn’t answer his father, which pis.ses Blaze off.

“Mark!” Thane yells, using his Alpha King aura.

Mark has no choice but to obey, which is why he turns to face his father and uncle. “What?”

My nephew is fighting his Dragon as hard as he can. It shines in his eyes. Mythius wants out, and he wants to tear the world apart. He doesn’t even care if that means hurting his father. I won’t let that happen. I will stop Mythius if I have to.

‘Calm down, Mythius.’

‘I can’t.’ He growls painfully in my head. ‘I have to save Maila!’

‘I know you do, but you must remain calm. You will be no good to your mate shackled.’

He growls again but doesn’t reply.

Calming a Dragon as powerful as Mythius would require locking him away. That is not what Mythius needs right now.

“Did you not hear me calling your name? I asked you what you thought you were doing. Where do you think you’re taking the girl? Hand her to Christian; she needs medical attention.”

Christian, a Warrior, makes to take Sophie from Mark, and this time, he can’t hold Mythius back.

‘Touch her, and I will tear you apart!’

“Mythius!” Thane roars, using his Alpha King tone.

The trouble is that it won’t work on Mythius. Thane is not Mythius’ king; my father is, so a Lycan command will not work.

“What’s gotten into you?” Blaze hisses.

Mythius looks at Sophie through Mark’s eyes, still sleeping in their arms. The girl is entirely covered by the blanket, all but her feet. Her little feet are free for all to see, bruised and filthy. Even her face is hidden from prying eyes, though I can see a little of her face from where I’m standing beside Mark.

Mythius looks at Blaze. ‘You will all do well to back off. Our mate stays with us!’

“Mate?” Thane looks at Sebastian, who nods his head. “For the love of... Get in the damn cars so we can get the hell out of here already. As for you,” He points at Mythius. “Once Mark takes control, we’ll be having words.”

Mythius snorts before turning away.

I decided to ride back to Lykos with Mark. It’s not easy for a man my size to be stuck in a car, especially when Mark is almost as big as I am. We dwarf the damn thing, but I didn’t want to be too far from my nephew right now. I need to keep Mythius in check.

As Sebastian drives us back to Knight Castle, Mythius pulls back, allowing Mark to take control. I watch through the rearview mirror as Mark looks down at Sophie, her head resting on his lap and her hand in his left hand.

It hurts my heart to realize that if Sophie survives this, she could reject Mark. She’s been through so much; the last thing she’ll want is a mate. Her mind will be fu.cked up, and it could take years for Sophie to so much as look another person in the eye. It could be even worse if Maila can’t be reached.

Where will that leave Mark?

Gods, how did Sophie even end up living with Lycans when she was a Dragon?

I don’t know the ins and outs yet, but someone will. If it's the last thing I do, I’ll figure out how this young woman came to be with these people.

I could compel Sophie to forget what happened in that house, but I know that wouldn’t be fair. No matter what reason I would be doing it for, Mark wouldn’t thank me for it. My nephew is the most honest man I know. He wouldn’t want to trick his mate in any way. Mark will want Sophie to want him because she wants him, not because I altered her mind.

‘Be strong, Mark. Things look bleak right now, but nothing is set in stone. Help Sophie heal, then be her friend. Don’t push anything, and she will come to you in time.’

‘As much as I want to believe you, Levi, I don’t. How will Sophie ever recover from this?’

‘I don’t know, bud. But I will be right by your side.’

“How are you holding up?”

Mark looks at Sebastian through the mirror and shrugs.

Mark stares out of the window as the world passes by. The poor guy is in shock.

‘I don’t know how to handle this, Levi. I’m a strong man, independent to a fault, and I never rely on anyone.’

‘I know that.’

‘But right now, I need my family to hold me up and help me through this. I can’t do it on my own, and I’m not going to pretend that I can.’

‘You are not alone, Mark, and you never will be.’

‘Thank you.’

He doesn’t need to thank me. Mark and I have been through some tough times in our lives, but we’ve always been there for one another. Nothing could ever change that.

Before I know it, we’re pulling up outside the castle. I help Mark lift Sophie out of the car as carefully as possible. I am no threat to Mark because I have a mate, and that’s the only reason Mark is allowing this. Once Sophie is secure in Mark’s arms, he runs with the speed of his Lycan to get to the infirmary.

I take a deep breath. I’ll find Mark shortly, but I need a moment. As soon as I walk into the castle, Onyx will scent Aurora and force me to find her. It’s been so long since I saw my little mate. Being apart from the other half of my soul hasn't been easy. I missed her 18th birthday, the day Aurora spoke about from the moment she could talk. That would have been the day her Lycan recognized me as her mate.

I let Aurora down so much over the past eighteen months. I wouldn’t blame her if she couldn’t forgive me, but I have my reasons. I need to tell Aurora what those reasons were and why I did what I did. I only hope she can forgive me.

I get to the infirmary, not once passing Aurora on the way. Her scent is all over the castle, but that’s because she lives here. However, the scent isn’t fresh, meaning she’s not home. I don’t know if that’s a blessing or a curse right now.

I find Mark sitting alone in the waiting area. His mom, dad, aunts, uncles, grandparents, some of his siblings, and Sebastian are here, but none are near Mark. I take it from that Mark wanted to be alone. Everyone has showered and changed. Not that I can blame them; the smell of that house was enough to melt your nose! I could do with a shower myself, and I will go soon, but I can tell Mark hasn’t moved. He’s still in the same clothes, and he looks terrible.

“Mark?” He looks at his grandfather, his dad’s father. “I know right now you must be all kinds of confused and scared. But it’s going to be hours before we get any news. Why don’t you go shower and get out of those clothes? We’ll stay here and watch over your mate.”

Mark says nothing while getting out of his seat and walking away. I follow Mark because the smell is suddenly strong in my nostrils. Mark enters his room and closes the door behind him without a word. I sigh and go to the guest room opposite. I say guest room, this is my room. Lyric gave it to me when I was a little boy. I always stay in this room whenever I’m here. I have clothes and anything I could need – thankfully.

After scrubbing my hair and body four times, I climb out of the shower and brush my teeth several times. But fu.ck, I can still smell and taste that God-awful place!

After combing out my shoulder-length blond hair and tying it in a man bun, I grab some clothes. I pull on dark jeans and a black muscle-hugging shirt. I pair them with black biker boots and spray plenty of deodorant and aftershave.

I run into Mark on the way out of my room. He’s showered and changed into jeans and a T-shirt. His short hair is dry, which makes me chuckle. Mark’s hair is never wet for long, the Dragon in him runs hotter than most.

“I need to get back. I've been gone no more than twenty-five minutes, yet it feels like hours.”

“Come on, let’s go.”

We arrive at the infirmary in minutes. Mark is anxious, and his anxiety is pushing against me like a bolder.

“Any news yet?”

Blaze shakes his head. “Nothing. Try to be patient, Mark.”

Mark rolls his eyes and turns away from Blaze.

It’s easy for Blaze to say, ‘Be patient,’ but it’s not his mate lying in that room, having Gods only know what being done to her!

It’s a further two hours that feel like fifty before Stefano, a doctor here, comes to the waiting room, wearing scrubs and gloves and removing the protective hat from his head. He sighs, and my gut drops to the floor.

This can’t be good.

“Your Majesties,” Stefano bows to Thane and Lyric, then everyone else. He looks at Mark. “This isn’t going to be easy to hear, Mark. But I have to be honest with you,”

“Okay.” Mark folds his arms across his chest as everyone else gets out of their seats, standing behind him in support.

“There’s no easy way to say this, Mark. Sophie has been through so much torture and se.xual abuse that her body is in shock. There are marks, especially on her back, that are dangerously infected.

“I can no longer detect Sophie’s animal side. All of the wolfsbane and silver poisoning have either sent her Dragon into Status Sleep, or it killed her.”

I close my eyes for a second and shake my head.

No shifter should ever lose their animal. For a Dragon to leave their human, the trauma must have been of the most horrific kind. If Sophie survives this, I don't know how she will cope. Losing one’s Dragon can be as bad as losing one’s mate. It can drive you mad or even cause you to commit suicide, and for a Dragon, suicide is not an easy feat.

“Is she going to be okay?”

Stefano looks at Mark and shakes his head. “I’m afraid the damage is too extensive. Sophie’s body cannot take anymore, and her organs are failing. There’s nothing we can do, Mark, I’m sorry.”

“That’s bullshit!” Mark yells while grabbing the front of Stefano’s white coat.

“Mark!” I yell, causing Mark to growl and release Stefano. “Look at me.” I take his face between my hands. “Let’s you and me go see your mate. Let me look into her mind and see if there’s anything I can do to help. But you do not give up. Do you hear me?”

Mark lets go of a little sob before pressing his forehead to mine. ‘Help me help her. Please, Levi. I don’t want to go through losing her.’

‘I’m going to help you, Mark. I promise.’

Stefano is none too happy about Mark and I entering Sophie’s room. But one look from Thane and the id.iot backed down.

Mark takes a shuddering breath upon seeing Sophie in that bed. She looks so small, and my heart aches for all she’s been through.

“All the medicine, machinery, and Doctors in the world cannot save her, Mark.” I can see that now.

“What am I going to do, Levi?”

“There is one way you can save Sophie, Mark.”

Mark turns his head away from Sophie and looks at me. “How?”

“I think you know how, Mark.”

‘A Dragon’s mark.’

“That’s right, Mythius.”

Mark growls. “You want me to force my mark on my mate? Without her permission?”

“Mark. I know you would never force this on Sophie if she were awake. But the point is, she’s not awake, and she will die if you don’t do this. The choice is yours, Mark, but you must make it now.”

“I would do anything to save Sophie.” A tear falls from Mark’s eye, and my heart breaks for him. I’ve put him in an impossible position, but it’s the only way.

“Don’t be scared, Mark. I know you’re scared, but everything will be okay.”

“You promise?”

I clasp his shoulder. “I promise. Are you ready?”

Mark takes a deep breath and nods his head. What I am suggesting Mark do is frowned upon. Sophie would be left to die if she were in Dragon country. However, I am not that man. I will not leave this woman to die when I know how to save her.

The punishment for such, however, remains to be seen.

AN: So, this is your first glimpse of adult Levi! I think I'm going to have fun watching him evolve ;) If you like the chapter, please comment! Thank you for reading x