20| Broken Bond

CEDAR BLAKE

“Speak or leave!” Adonis growled again, stepping in front of his brother.

“I need the antidote for wolfsbane poisoning.” I swallowed my pride and spoke, just like Adonai wanted.

This wasn’t about me anymore. This was about Deklan, the one who, for reasons I still don’t understand, had saved my life. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to him. When he became this important to me, I don’t know. But I do know I need to save him. I owe myself that.

Kayla, the pack’s doctor, said he wouldn’t survive past sunrise. The goddess must’ve guided me, because I remembered the one Luna who brews the antidote, moonveil. It's the only known cure, made from silver root and dragon’s bile.

“Your mother brews it,” I said quickly as they exchanged confused looks. “My mother told me. The antidote was locked away in your father’s chamber after he—”

“You mean after your father slaughtered him!” Adonai barked, cutting me off.

I flinched but pushed through. “We don’t have to do this, Adonai. If anyone should be angry, it should be me! My father was accused and executed without even being heard. Do you really believe he killed the alpha, stuffed his head in a car, and came back celebrating about defeating the rogue wolves? The elders knew the truth. They’ve silenced the good ones, and no one dares to speak against them.”

My fists clenched. I had to calm down before I lost control again. If I triggered the powers I barely understood, I wouldn’t stand a chance at surviving their rot if I don't get consumed by it as well. With one twin already hating me, I wouldn’t survive if things got out of hand.

And I didn’t have time to mess this up. Dominus could return any minute, and I hadn’t disabled the dashcam in my room. If he discovered his archenemy was under his roof, I’d be served up like a pork sandwich to the pack.

“My father told me everything, and I believed him,” I added, lowering my voice. “A private investigator has been digging for the truth too. Just give me time and I’ll show you who the real monster is in this pack.”

They stared at me like I was the one who had created wolfsbane itself. 

Adonis, the calm and calculated one, leaned against his desk, his eyes unreadable. He was the first to hate me…still did, I’m sure. But he never let emotions slip. He showed only what he wanted you to see. That made him dangerous.

And Adonai? He was reckless, sarcastic, always playing deadly games. I never imagined he’d be the more rigid one right now.

“Maybe you’re right,” Adonis said slowly, “but why should we believe a word you’ve said?”

“Because I’m in a contract marriage with Dominus,” I said, lifting my chin. “Because I’m bound by powers I can’t control. And tomorrow at sunset, the blood-binding ritual is scheduled. Tonight, I plan to run.”

Adonis’s eyes widened, his mouth twitching into a smirk. “Contract Luna. I knew something was off.”

“I’ve been honest with you now,” I said with a sigh. “There’s no more reason to lie. Please. Help me get the Moonveil.”

Adonai still looked unsure. “Why do you need it so badly? How do we know this isn’t a setup? Dominus has every reason to use you.”

“I swear on my parents’ graves, he has no idea I came here. I had to sneak out of his estate in disguise with a servant's help. And look at the time, isn’t that proof enough? This is personal. It’s urgent.”

Adonis combed a hand through his hair. “I know where it’s hidden. I can get it without anyone noticing.”

“You would? Thank you! Can we leave now?” I took a hopeful step forward.

“Not so fast, Cedar.” Adonai's tone stopped me cold. He walked over slowly, and Adonis followed.

“I like the sound of that,” Adonis said, chuckling.

“What…why?” I asked, heart thudding.

“If we’re going to help you,” Adonai said, his hand brushing my cheek, “it’ll be on one condition.”

“You’ll be ours,” Adonis added, voice low as he leaned in, playing with a strand of my hair.

“You’ll belong to us.”

“We’ll mark you.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“You’ll reject every other man.”

Their voices blurred in my ears. Deklan’s face flashed in my mind. He didn’t deserve to die, not like this. He saved me. I…I owed him my life. 

And I want him to kiss me again. I need him.

I also want to be free from Dominus. If anyone could stand up to him, it was the twins. If I played this right, maybe I could escape and survive.

“This contract with Dominus,” Adonai said, bringing me back to the moment, “is a trap. He’s using it to keep you close until he gets what he wants. He’s scaring you with all his threats and dominance so that he can get what he wants.”

I knew that too. But walking away wasn’t that easy. Dominus would find me. He could kill me.

“And don’t trust his nephew either,” Adonis added as if he could read my mind. “He’s only using you to hurt Dominus. You’re a pawn to both of them. Don’t fall for it twice.”

Likewise, you two! I wanted to shout it aloud. They wanted to own me too. To brag that they tamed Cedar Blake, took her from the most feared alpha. They wanted to flaunt me like a trophy, to say no one else could touch what was theirs.

I was a game piece in their power struggle.

But I was also out of time. I have to save Deklan. I have to escape Dominus.

And I can't outsmart the twins. I am hooked and they're never going to let me escape this time, not after I had humiliated them in front of the council with a public rejection and acceptance of Dominus. 

I only did it to survive. I thought it would buy me time, maybe even protection. But now? The twins looked at me like wounded beasts, licking their pride. And I could feel it, there was something the Elders wanted from me too. Something they hadn’t said out loud yet. 

Maybe, just maybe, I could still outsmart the twins. 

Before I could finish that thought, a sharp knock came to the door. We all froze in place, barely breathing. A second later, Nikko’s voice came from behind it.

“Dominus Naruto and Elder Jeremy Harold just arrived, and they want to have a word with you both, your graces.”

Adonis’s head whipped toward me.

Adonai cursed under his breath. “Shit.”

My stomach dropped. They still doubted me.

Dominus. Is. Here. And he wasn’t alone.

And if he found me here, he'd kill me.

And worst of all, I hadn’t even gotten the antidote for Deklan. He would die. And I might die before him…