Chapter 5
The Chains Within
Nora~
"Nora... Nora!"
I jolted awake at the sound of Lara's voice echoing in my mind.
"Lara?" I whispered, my throat dry. Her growl was low and filled with frustration, vibrating through my chest like a drumbeat.
"Those stupid Alphas put me to sleep!" she snarled, her voice laced with fury. "What happened while I was out? Why do I feel... different?"
Her anger burned through me, and I stayed silent, unwilling to answer. I knew what she was asking, but saying the truth out loud would only make the weight of it heavier. The bond had been completed. There was no escaping now.
"Don't tell me—" Lara's growl cut off sharply as if she already knew.
I pushed her voice to the back of my mind, refusing to deal with her accusations just yet. Standing up, I glanced around the room. I was alone. Maybe this was my chance.
The pain in my legs reminded me of everything as I stood shakily and walked to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would drown the thoughts swirling in my head.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face looked the same, but my eyes told another story. They were tired, defeated.
How did I let this happen?
"I can't believe you let them bond with us," Lara growled again, louder this time. "How could you?"
Her anger mirrored my own, but I wasn't ready to face it. "Not now, Lara," I whispered aloud, gripping the edge of the sink so tightly my knuckles turned white.
I hated them. I hated Killian and Keal for what they had done to me, for taking my freedom, for making me feel like this. But deep down, I hated myself more for not stopping it.
A sudden warmth at my waist startled me, and I looked up sharply to see Keal standing behind me, his hand resting lightly against me. I froze, my heart pounding as our eyes met in the mirror.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft, almost hesitant.
I turned to face him and felt my breath hitch. He was standing close—too close—and the only thing covering him was a towel slung low around his waist.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice faltering. I tried to step back, but my back hit the wall behind me.
"I live here," he said simply, his lips curving into a faint smile. His face was calm, but his blue eyes carried an intensity that made it hard to breathe.
"I was just leaving," I muttered, trying to sidestep him, but before I could, his hand caught mine, pulling me back toward him.
My chest collided with his, and I stared up at him, frozen. For a moment, neither of us moved. I could feel his warmth, his strength, and it made my head spin.
"Let go," I whispered, though my voice sounded weak even to me.
Lara stirred in my mind, her emotions mirroring mine. "Don't fall for it, Nora," she growled. "Don't let him break you."
Keal tilted his head, his eyes scanning my face as if searching for something. "I was about to take a bath," he said, his voice low. "But since you're here, why don't we share? It'll be quicker that way."
I opened my mouth to say no, but the word never came. My voice betrayed me. "Yes," I whispered.
Keal's lips curved into a smile, a genuine one this time, and it caught me off guard.
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Later, I stood in front of the training grounds, my body stiff with nerves. The sounds of warriors sparring filled the air, the clash of swords and the grunts of exertion echoing in my ears.
I turned to leave, but Killian's hand grabbed my arm, pulling me forward.
Immediately, the warriors stopped what they were doing, their eyes shifting to us. I looked up at Killian in confusion.
"Why are we here?" I asked, my voice low.
Killian smirked but didn't answer right away. Instead, he released my arm and stepped forward, addressing the group.
"My Luna will be joining your training," he announced, his voice commanding. "Teach her well. She'll need to know every skill to survive. And consider this her punishment for what she did to Keal. Be grateful I didn't throw her in the basement."
I bit my lip, forcing myself to stay silent.
Killian turned to his Beta, Grey, and added, "Make sure she's fine. And I don't want to see a single scratch on her."
Without another word, Killian turned and left, Keal following behind him. I stood there, feeling exposed as the warriors' eyes bore into me.
"Let's see what she's made of," one of them muttered, earning a few chuckles.
A woman approached me, her expression hard and unfriendly. She seemed older than me, but her sharp features and toned build made her look fierce.
"You must be the lucky Luna," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
I crossed my arms, glaring at her. "And who are you?"
"My name is Alex," she replied. "I'm a Gamma, an advisor, and a warrior for the Bloodfang pack. And you? You're just lucky the Alphas decided to take pity on you. After what you did to Alpha Keal, I can't imagine why they didn't reject you outright."
Her words stung, but I refused to let her see it. "I'm your Luna," I said, stepping closer. "Aren't you supposed to show some respect?"
Alex chuckled and turned to the other warriors. "Let's give our Luna a warm welcome," she said mockingly.
The group cheered, and before I could react, Alex tossed a sword at my feet.
"Pick it up, Luna," she said, smirking. "Show us how strong you really are."
I stared at the sword, then back at her. The challenge in her eyes was unmistakable. My fingers curled into fists as I bent down and picked it up.
At that moment, I knew one thing for certain: this wasn't training.
This was a nightmare.
And I was about to step into hell.
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