Ashes and Scales: Remember Us, Mate

Chapter 3: Chosen Mate

AUTHOR’S POV

The filthy bastard had to die. A voice screamed in Zoraya's head as her claws dug into Keir's chest, eliciting a guttural scream from Keir's lips as his hands clasped Zoraya's arm to stop her merciless act, his eyes wide with terror.

But Zoraya's growl, a feral sound of frustration, soon drowned out his scream as she released his heart, her hand trembling with the weight of failure as she drew it away.

Her claws traced a line above his traumatized heart, almost as if driven by their own will, carving the severance mark in a desperate attempt to break the chains of fate that bound them. The cut was clean and swift as she severed the bond that should never have existed.

A jolt of energy rippled through both of them, like a shockwave ripping through their chests, leaving gasps of pain and shock in its wake. Keir’s scream turned to a choking gasp as blood spurted from his mouth.

The severed bond left him in a far worse state than before while Zoraya, also overcome by the intensity of the severance, collapsed beside him, her body convulsing with the impact.

Cian's hands were on her instantly, pulling her away from the scene, his voice a distant echo in the chaos, while his own mind swirled at what he had just witnessed. He saw what Zoraya had done. He saw how she carved the mark of severance on Keir's chest, severing their bond, and a smile spread across his lips despite the shock. Now she was his, and he could rest assured that no one would come to her rescue.

“Zoraya! Baby?” he called out, but Zoraya couldn't answer; she couldn't focus on anything other than the throbbing pain in her chest and the sight of the human crumpled on the floor as she was taken away.

Lukas, who had been watching in stunned silence, snapped into action as soon as Cian got Zoraya out of the way. He rushed to Keir's side, his eyes widening as he saw the blood pooling around his battered body, staining the floor a deep crimson.

"Stay still," Lukas ordered, his voice a rough bark, but Keir's body convulsed as he attempted to stand up and flee.

"I... have... to... go home," he choked through the blood, his eyes wide with terror, not only from the pain but also from the realization that he was expected to heal himself and couldn't.

But Lukas would not let him move as he ripped his shirt and frantically wrapped it around his chest to compress the wound. “Get back to work!” he shouted at the onlookers, his voice laced with desperation. “There’s nothing to see here!”

But the murmurs of horror had already spread, rippling through the room like a wave. People whispered, their voices filled with shock, as they glanced between Keir and the bloodied spot where Zoraya had stood moments before. The atmosphere was thick with tension.

Keir’s breathing became shallow, his body trembling as he felt his life slipping away. "Please... I have to go home," he whispered again, the world swirling around him in a blur of faces and voices as his vision dimmed.

Lukas did not waste a single second. He hoisted Keir over his shoulder, ignoring the trail of blood that followed them as he made his way toward the elevator. “Hold on, kid,” he muttered under his breath, his fear spiking as he realized how bad the situation was.

The moment the elevator doors closed behind them, Lukas scrambled for his phone, his fingers flying off the keyboard as he dialed for assistance.

The urgency in his voice was undeniable, the words coming out in a rushed, panicked stream as he tried to convey the severity of Keir’s condition.

But before he could finish, Keir’s body went limp, his consciousness slipping away, and Lukas had to end the call, barely catching him in time.

"Stay with me, kid," he muttered, his voice straining as he repositioned Keir's limp body in his arms, desperately attempting to support him. The elevator ride seemed to take forever.

Finally, it dinged, and the doors slid open to reveal the hospital floor. Lukas stumbled out, his heart racing as he saw Ethan sprint towards them. Ethan's expression was one of pure panic, his eyes wide with fear as he looked at Keir's blood-soaked body.

“What happened?” Ethan demanded, even though Lukas had just told him over the phone, shaking as he met Lukas' gaze, and Lukas repeated what had happened. The shock was visible on Ethan's face, but he did not waste time processing it. "Get him in here, now," he told Lukas, directing him to a nearby room.

They moved quickly, transferring Keir to the bed, his body limp and pale. Lukas muttered under his breath about how unprovoked the attack was, as Ethan hurried to lock the door behind them.

With the door secured, they worked together to remove the remnants of Keir's bloodied shirt, revealing the horrific wound beneath. Lukas' hands were still trembling as he assisted, his mind racing with the gravity of what had just occurred. He concluded that Keir must have looked at that young woman the wrong way because he could not understand why she would just attack him like that.

Ethan moved with frantic precision, hooking Keir up to the machines and monitoring his vitals as he began the delicate task of trying to save him.

“Is he going to survive this?” Lukas asked as he watched Ethan work but Ethan couldn't even look up, his focus entirely on the task at hand. "I will do everything I can," he said grimly, and Lukas nodded, knowing he could not stay.

“I have to go,” he said, his voice low as he backed towards the door. "I need to get back out there and keep my ear to the ground. There were people watching when everything went down. I don’t know if they noticed... if they saw he didn’t heal like he was supposed to.”

Ethan finally looked up and nodded in understanding. Both he and Lukas were humans, but Keir didn’t know that about them. It was an unspoken rule among all humans not to reveal themselves to anyone. It was safer that way, and Keir's experience was every human disguised as a wolf's worst nightmare.

Lukas' heart was still racing with adrenaline, the fear of exposure clawing at him as he prepared to leave, his mind reeling with the possibilities of what could have happened if he had not been there on time. Keir would have bled out on that floor while everyone watched.

…

AN HOUR LATER.

Zoraya stepped out of the bathroom, her hands trembling as she held on to the towel. The events that had just occurred had left her shaken to the core, and the steamy air from her shower did little to warm her cold bones.

Cian rushed over to her side, his eyes wide with concern. Without saying anything, he took another towel and began gently drying her hair, his movements delicate as if he were handling something fragile.

He guided her to the bed in his office, which was equipped with a bedroom and lounge area for those long nights when work demanded more than just his attention.

Zoraya’s shivering worsened as she sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes distant, her mind replaying the moment over and over. Cian noticed her trembling and quickly moved to grab a bottle of whiskey from the nearby bar. He poured her a generous shot, the amber liquid swirling as he handed it to her.

Her hands were still shaking as she accepted the drink, bringing it to her lips and taking a large gulp. The warmth of the alcohol spread through her chest, but like the shower, it did little to alleviate the chill that had settled in her bones.

Cian sat beside her, taking her hand and holding it in his. He had seen everything and figured out why it happened, but he still needed to hear it from her. “What happened?” he asked softly and watched as Zoraya’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, the wheels turning in her head as she tried to find the right words. After a moment, she whispered, “Nothing... I didn’t like the way he was looking at me.”

Cian nodded, not pressing her further despite knowing she wasn't being honest. It didn’t matter if she told him or not. It didn’t change anything. He placed a soft kiss on the side of her head, his lips lingering against her damp hair. But when she added, “I want him fired,” his attention snapped back to her face.

She had broken their bond; it was over, and firing him was unnecessary. But he did not care; if that was what she wanted, she would get it, so he made the call. He did not even know what his name was. Based on his attire, all he knew was that he worked for the IT department, so he gave HR his description and made it clear that he needed it done immediately.

"Thank you," Zoraya said softly, resting her head against his chest as he ended the call and Cian wrapped his arm around her, bringing her closer, while his other hand gently stroked her back in a soothing motion.

He pressed another kiss against her head, murmuring, "You know I would do anything for you." At his words, Zoraya looked up, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of gratitude and something deeper. The vulnerability she rarely showed was on full display, and Cian couldn’t resist. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss, and Zoraya found so much comfort in his arms that her breath hitched as Cian drew back, and the words slipped from her mouth before she could stop.

“Please don’t,” she whispered. “I need you.” The desperation in her voice matched the longing in her eyes, and Cian leaned in again, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

Without wasting a second, she climbed onto his lap, her towel slipping off and pooling around them as she pressed herself against him. Her hands roamed his chest, trailing down to the zipper of his pants. She deftly opened it, her fingers brushing against him, but just as she moved to undo his belt, Cian grasped her wrist, stopping her movements.

Their eyes met, Zoraya’s filled with confusion and a hint of frustration, but before she could ask what was wrong, he flipped her onto the bed, his weight pressing her down as he reclaimed her mouth with a fierce passion.

The sudden dominance sent a thrill through her, and her hands fumbled with his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against hers. She managed to peel it off, tossing it aside as their bodies moved together, the heat between them building once more.

Her hands found their way to his belt once again, fumbling with the buckle as she tried to free him, her need for him intensifying with each passing second. But just as she thought she would finally have him, Cian grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, his grip firm yet gentle. A pang of disappointment coursed through her—she knew what this meant. Once again, he wouldn't take her fully, wouldn't make her his.

But those thoughts were quickly forgotten as Cian's head sank between her thighs, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. He began to pleasure her with his skill that always left her gasping for air, her body arching off the bed as waves of sensation crashed over her.

She writhed beneath him, her breathy moans filling the room as his tongue worked its magic, driving her closer and closer to the edge.

Her frustration melted away, replaced by pure, unadulterated pleasure as Cian brought her to the brink. When she finally tumbled over the edge, her climax was so intense that it sent shockwaves through her body that left her trembling. In that moment, she felt the sense of liberation that should have come when she severed her bond with the filthy human the gods dared to humiliate her with.

But it was Cian who gave it to her, who made her feel truly alive. He was her mate, her chosen mate, and she’d defy the gods a thousand times over to be his.