Chapter 709 Bond of Love and Lust II
Seraphine’s wrist emitted a red light to Voren’s wrist, a crimson thread that pulsed with warmth and connection, burning bright against the darkness of the night.
But several other red lights emitted from her wrist, connecting to six more. Ravyn, Jasper, Oren, Dante, Flex, and Cage. The threads stretched across the pack ground like the strings of some cosmic puppet master, each one glowing with equal intensity, each one pulling at her soul with greedy fingers.
It seemed to everyone that Seven was really a special number for her. Voren’s situation was worse.
Aside from his bond with Seraphine, which seemed to be the strongest, several red lights emitted from his wrist to twenty other she-wolves.
The threads multiplied, spreading outward like a spider’s web, each one connecting to a different woman. Athaliah, Tallulah, Daisy, Joyce, Mayo, Luna Isa, and many others Voren did not even know by name, meaning they were from other packs.
His heart was only warmed by the fact that his pack members were rather disciplined, and none of them wished for him. They had always wished for him and Seraphine to be together. A small mercy in the chaos.
Corvine was bonded with Liah, but there was a red light around his wrist, linking him to Jasmine, Tallulah, and Emery. The threads tangled together, a messy knot of desire and obligation that seemed impossible to untangle.
Athaliah hadn’t mentioned anyone during the Full Moon Festival, only wishing for a destined mate, but was linked to Corvine, Killian, and Damon.
Damon felt so embarrassed, his face burning crimson as he tried to avoid the gazes of those around him. His hands trembled at his sides, his eyes fixed on the ground as if he wished it would swallow him whole.
Jasmine’s bond pointed to both Corvine and Kael because Kael had wished for her as his mate during the Full Moon Festival.
The threads pulled at her from two directions, a constant reminder of the impossible choice she faced. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, her heart pounding against her ribs like a caged animal.
Ravyn’s bond pointed at both Seraphine and Daisy because he had wished for Seraphine as his mate, and Daisy as a co-Luna. The shame of it burned through him like acid, eating away at whatever dignity he had left. His jaw clenched so tight a muscle jumped in his cheek, his hands curling into fists at his sides.
Emery was torn between her wish and Zane’s wish because her bond pointed at both Corvine and Zane. The confusion on her face was palpable, her eyes darting between the two men, her lips parted as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words.
Voren lifted Seraphine into his arms, cradling her against his chest. She snuggled closer, her body trembling with exhaustion, her breath shallow and weak. The warmth of his body seeped into hers, chasing away the cold that had settled into her bones.
“Help me, V. I don’t have the strength to deal with this.”
Her whisper was barely audible, a thread of sound that only he could hear. Her strength was returning slowly the closer she got to him, his presence a balm to her frayed nerves, a shield against the chaos that threatened to consume her.
’Keep her close, and I’ll strengthen her wolf to handle the assholes.’
Bloodfang’s voice rumbled through Voren’s mind, ancient and powerful. A sigh of relief escaped him, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.
“From what I gathered.” Oriana began to speak, her voice carrying across the pack grounds with the weight of authority.
“Some of these wishes were made before you all found out about Voren and Seraphine’s marriage so we are giving the chance for rejections. The clock is ticking, and we have three hours for the Blood Moon to take effect.”
Voren was the first to speak. “I wished for Sera as my mate during the Full Moon, and I still choose her. I reject every other bond.”
His voice was cold, absolute, leaving no room for argument. The words fell from his lips like stones, heavy and final, each syllable a blade meant to sever the threads one by one.
Daisy was the first to accept, afraid of any embarrassment. “I accept your rejection.”
However, Killian did not make it easy for her. He knew he was bound to go down sooner or later and wanted to drag others with him through hell.
“Daisy, isn’t it a shame that even as you were going to be married to Alpha Ravyn, you were still wishing for the King? I’ve never seen a bitch as shameless as you.”
Laughter rippled through the pack ground, sharp and cruel, cutting through the night air like broken glass. Daisy kept her head lowered, her cheeks burning with humiliation, as her lustful bond with Voren broke. He had not even spared her a glance, his focus on the woman in his arms.
“I accept your rejection.” Tallulah said, adding quickly. “I honestly had no idea you were married. Please forgive me, King Voren.”
Her explanation was well understood so no one picked on her. The sincerity in her voice was enough to spare her from the cruelty of the crowd.
“I accept your rejection.” She-wolves from other packs said in unison, their voices rising together like a chorus. They had no titles, making it easy for them to not be picked on. Their bonds broke, freeing Voren as they moved away.
“I accept your rejection.” Luna Mayo and Joyce said together but Killian taunted them, his voice dripping with venom.
“Alpha Oren and Alpha Dante, what is the essence of marriage when you both wished for the partners of others? Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is disgusting.”
The bond between Voren, and Joyce, as well as Mayo, were broken but the shame was too much for them to bear. Though their husbands had not spoken, they knew a bigger problem lingered. The silence between them was louder than any accusation, heavier than any words.
However, their husbands had also wished for Sera, so weren’t they even?
“I accept your rejection, King Voren.” Liah said with her head lifted, adding. “Though I never wished for it during the Full Moon Festival. I only wished for my destined mate after you told me you were married.”
She didn’t want the stigma of wishing for Sera’s husband on herself and decided to make things clear. But that only lifted a bigger question.
“Then why were they bonded?” Killian asked, as Voren added his voice. “Why isn’t the bond breaking?”