Chapter 22: Fractured Bond
Alexander's voice was low and controlled, like the calm before a storm as he stared down at Elena's unconscious form. Her chest barely rose and fell, her skin a ghostly pale under the dim light of the room. Blood coated her hands and streaked across her face, evidence of the chaos she had unleashed, the power she barely controlled. He should have been more careful—should have known she would be a target the moment he stepped away.
Guilt burned hot in his chest, warring with the anger that seethed just beneath his skin. He shouldn't have left her alone. Not even for a second.
"How could I have been so fucking stupid?" Alexander's growl was low, dangerous, and reverberated through the empty room as his eyes stayed fixed on Elena. Aiden shifted uneasily behind him, clearly uncomfortable in the presence of such unrestrained fury.
"We didn't know the attack would come so soon," Aiden offered, his tone careful. "No one expected them to breach our defenses, not when we've kept this territory secure for so long."
"That's no excuse," Alexander snarled, his voice snapping like a whip. He moved closer, brushing a strand of dark hair from Elena's blood-smeared face. Her lips were parted slightly, her expression soft despite the turmoil that had just transpired. It was as if she were caught between worlds—trapped in some dark void beyond his reach. And the thought of her slipping further away terrified him more than any enemy could.
"She transformed, Aiden. Shifted into something more than a wolf, something primal," Alexander said, his eyes never leaving her. He could still see the raw, savage power that had radiated from her in those last, chaotic moments—the way she had torn through their enemies like they were nothing but paper, her rage a living, breathing entity that consumed everything in its path. He should have been there to guide her, to help her control it. Instead, he had left her alone to face that darkness.
"And she killed someone," Aiden reminded softly. "Her first kill."
Alexander's entire body stiffened at the words. He knew exactly what it meant. The first taste of blood could break a wolf—especially one as untrained and unstable as Elena. If they didn't bring her back, if they didn't ground her… they could lose her to the madness forever.
Aiden took a hesitant step forward, lowering his voice. "If you're going to save her, you need to act now, Alexander. Whatever darkness she's facing, she can't fight it alone."
"I know that," he snapped, but his anger was directed inward. His wolf prowled restlessly, growling in frustration. It hated seeing its mate like this—so fragile, so lost. The urge to protect her, to fight for her, was almost unbearable.
But he couldn't just rip into the darkness that held her. This wasn't a battle he could win with teeth and claws. It required something else—something more intimate, more dangerous.
He had to reach her.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Alexander closed his eyes and focused, feeling the familiar, fierce pull of their bond thrumming in his chest. It was weak, flickering like a candle in a storm, but it was still there—still holding on. He latched onto that thread of connection, pouring every ounce of strength, every bit of his power, into it.
"Elena," he whispered, his voice rough with desperation. "I'm right here, love. Come back to me."
There was no response—just the steady, hollow beat of silence. But he didn't give up. He pushed harder, reaching deeper into the bond, letting his power flow through the link between them. Images flooded his mind—memories of her laughter, the way her eyes flashed with stubborn determination, the feel of her skin under his hands. He sent it all to her, each memory a beacon in the darkness, calling her back.
For a moment, there was nothing. And then—a flicker. A faint pulse of awareness.
"Elena," he repeated, his voice stronger now. "You're not alone. I'm here. Just… follow my voice."
The bond shivered, trembling with something fragile and uncertain. And then, slowly, she began to stir. Her fingers twitched, a low, pained whimper escaping her lips as if she were fighting her way back from some terrible place.
"Yes, that's it. Come on, love," he urged softly, his tone a mix of command and plea. "Come back to me."
With a sudden, gasping breath, Elena's eyes flew open, wide and wild, glowing with the remnants of her transformation. Her gaze locked onto his, and for a heartbeat, he saw the predator lurking there—the beast that had taken over, the creature that craved blood and destruction. But then recognition flared, and the glow dimmed, her human side reasserting itself.
"Alexander?" Her voice was raw, broken, but it was her. She blinked slowly, confusion and pain etched across her