Chapter 3
Hellbound By Two Alphas
Nora~
Two days later...
I stood in front of the altar, bound in chains, my wrists and ankles shackled to prevent any attempt at escape. The wedding dress I wore felt suffocating, a cruel reminder of the day I'd tried to run. The day I had stabbed Keal. Yet here I was again, reliving the nightmare, only this time, I had no freedom to fight back.
My heart sank as I glanced around. The entire pack had gathered, their gazes heavy with judgment. Some whispered, their words sharp and cutting.
"She should be grateful to have them as her mates."
"An omega like her? She doesn't deserve them."
"She's nothing but trouble."
I bit back a bitter laugh, my hands curling into fists. Grateful? If only they knew the hell I'd endured, the cruelty that lay beneath their perfect Alphas. If only they could see the scars hidden beneath this pristine white dress.
Killian's hand wrapped possessively around my waist, pulling me from my thoughts. His touch burned my skin, and I stiffened as he leaned in close.
"Don't mess this up," he whispered, his voice low and threatening.
I glared at him but said nothing, turning my gaze to Keal, who stood on my other side. He didn't even look at me. His expression was blank, cold, but I knew better. Keal was no saint. His rage, when unleashed, could rival Killian's.
The elder stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the three of us. His presence silenced the whispers, the weight of the ceremony pressing down on me like a noose tightening around my neck.
"Today," the elder began, "we have gathered to witness the union of the Bloodfang Alphas and their Luna. Alpha Killian, Alpha Keal, do you accept Nora as your mate and Luna, and vow to seal the bond of your fates?"
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for their answers.
"Yes," Killian said without hesitation, his voice steady and resolute.
I gritted my teeth, his answer like a knife twisting in my gut.
The elder turned to Keal, and for a moment, I dared to hope he might refuse. But then, he spoke.
"Yes."
The word was soft but final, and whatever hope I'd clung to shattered.
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The elder's gaze shifted to me, his eyes stern but expectant.
"And you, Nora," he said, his voice echoing in the stillness. "Do you accept the Bloodfang Alphas as your mates and vow to seal the bond forever?"
My throat tightened, and I felt the weight of every eye in the room bearing down on me. I glanced at Killian, whose dark eyes held a challenge. His expression made it clear: refusal was not an option.
Then I looked at Keal. He wouldn't even meet my gaze, not since I'd told him I didn't want them in the basement. He was cold, distant, as if my words had cut him in a way he didn't want to show.
Lara, I called out to my wolf, my last hope. What do I do?
But Lara was silent, her voice muted, just as it had been since the chains were placed on me.
I glanced down at the shackles around my wrists, the murmurs of the pack filling the silence.
"She has no choice."
"She's too weak to say no."
"Do you think she'll try to run again?"
The words pierced through me, and I knew they were right. I had no choice. I was bound, caged, and powerless.
"Yes," I whispered, the word barely audible.
The smirk that spread across Killian's face made my stomach churn.
"Now that the bond has been accepted," the elder declared, "I pronounce you Alphas and Luna. You may now seal the bond with a kiss."
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My eyes widened in shock. A kiss?
I hadn't expected this. My heart raced as Killian turned to me, his smirk growing.
"What are you waiting for?" he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "Afraid to kiss your Alpha?"
I glared at him, every fiber of my being screaming to fight, to resist. But before I could respond, he pulled me toward him, his lips crashing onto mine.
I froze, my body stiffening at the contact. Something inside me stirred, a strange, unwelcome warmth spreading through my chest. No. I couldn't let this happen. If I let the bond deepen, I'd lose the last shred of freedom I had left.
I wrenched away, glaring up at him as he chuckled, his smirk never wavering.
"Not so bad after all, is it?" he mocked.
Anger bubbled inside me, but before I could respond, I stumbled back, bumping into Keal. I turned to him, my chest heaving, only to find his icy blue eyes locked onto mine for the first time.
The intensity in his gaze made my breath catch. He hadn't looked at me like this before—not with anger, but something softer, something I didn't understand.
"Keal," I whispered, but he didn't say a word.
Slowly, he leaned down, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss so gentle it left me stunned. Unlike Killian's, his touch wasn't rough or demanding. It was... tender.
I should have fought him, pulled away, but I didn't. I couldn't. My body betrayed me, frozen under the weight of his touch.
When he finally pulled back, he didn't say a word. He simply turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, confused and shaken.
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"No, Nora," I whispered to myself, my voice trembling. "You hate them. You don't want this. Remember that."
But the bond was already working its way into my mind, into my heart, and I hated it.
I was lifted suddenly, and I gasped, realizing I was in Killian's arms. He held me like a bride, his grip firm but not unkind.
The pack parted as he carried me forward, their cheers ringing in my ears. I tried to look away, to focus on anything but him, but my eyes kept drifting back to his face.
Why couldn't I stop looking at him? Why did my hatred feel so... conflicted?
Killian glanced down at me, catching me staring. A knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
"I think someone can't wait to start the last seal," he teased, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
I stiffened, his meaning clear.
"I can't wait to have you in my bed," he added, his words sending a shiver down my spine.
Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
As he carried me away, I battled the storm of emotions raging inside me—fear, anger, and something else I couldn't name.
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