The Forbidden Bond
Ayla sat cross-legged on the floor the old room, the leather-bound journal trembling in her hands. The flickering candlelight cast shadows across the worn pages as she read the next entry, her mother’s handwriting shaky but resolute.
“They told me it was for the good of the pack. That our bond would bring strength and stability. But they lied. This union was never meant to be. Two Alphas—two bloodlines that should never mix. And now… our daughter will pay the price.”
Ayla’s breath hitched, her chest tightening. Rival Alphas? That didn’t make sense. Her father had been a Beta, not an Alpha. And her mother…
She flipped the page, her eyes skimming over the faded ink.
“Ayla is the result of a forbidden bond. Her blood carries the power of both lines, power that could either unify the packs or destroy them. The Alpha fears her potential and will stop at nothing to keep it buried. I only hope she can survive the truth.”
Ayla’s hands clenched around the journal. She had always felt out of place in the pack, but this? Her very existence was a threat to the leadership. And if her mother’s words were true, it wasn’t just her bullies she had to worry about.
The sound of footsteps outside the room made her snap the journal shut. She tucked it back into its hiding spot beneath the floorboard just as a knock echoed on the door.
“Ayla,” Cian’s voice called, firm but calm.
She froze, her heart pounding. “What do you want?”
“To talk,” he said, and after a pause, “Please.”
Reluctantly, she opened the door, finding Cian standing there with his usual composed expression. But his green eyes seemed sharper, more focused on her than usual.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said simply.
“I’ve been busy,” Ayla replied, crossing her arms.
Cian stepped into the room, his presence filling the small space. “I know something’s going on with you,” he said, his voice low. “You’re hiding something.”
Ayla bristled. “Why do you care? You’ve spent years ignoring me like everyone else.”
“Things are different now,” he said, his gaze steady. “And I think you know why.”
Before Ayla could respond, he stepped closer, his voice dropping. “Your birthmark. Your strength. You’re not like the others, Ayla. And I think it’s time you stop pretending you are.”
Her breath caught. He was too close to the truth, and the weight of the journal’s revelations pressed heavy on her chest. “You don’t know anything about me,” she said, her voice sharper than she intended.
Cian studied her for a long moment, then nodded slightly. “Maybe not,” he said, stepping back. “But I will. Soon enough.”
He left without another word, leaving Ayla alone with her racing thoughts.
The moon hung high in the sky as Ayla slipped into the woods, her feet carrying her to the hollow where Zion had been hiding. She needed answers, and she knew he had them.
Zion was waiting for her, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. His gray eyes softened when he saw her, though his expression was guarded.
“You’re late,” he said.
“I was followed,” Ayla replied, glancing over her shoulder.
Zion frowned. “By who?”
“Cian,” she said, her voice low.
Zion tensed, his jaw tightening. “You need to stay away from him, Ayla.”
“Why?” she asked, stepping closer. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Zion hesitated, then sighed. “Cian wasn’t just sent back to take over as Alpha. He’s here to deal with threats to the pack—including you.”
Ayla’s stomach dropped. “Me?”
“Your bloodline,” Zion said, his tone serious. “The journal told you the truth, didn’t it? You’re the heir to two Alpha lines, Ayla. That kind of power threatens the pack’s entire leadership. They won’t let you live if they think you’re a danger.”
Ayla shook her head, her voice trembling. “I don’t want their power. I don’t want any of this.”
“It doesn’t matter what you want,” Zion said gently. “They see you as a threat. And Cian… he’s been trained to eliminate threats.”
“But he’s been protecting me,” Ayla argued. “Why would he do that if he’s here to kill me?”
Zion’s expression darkened. “Because he doesn’t know the full truth yet. But when he finds out…”
Ayla’s chest tightened. She couldn’t trust Cian. She couldn’t trust anyone.
Over the next few days, Ayla began to notice changes in herself. Her senses sharpened—she could hear conversations from across the packhouse, and scents that had once been faint were now overwhelming. Her strength, too, was growing. During a sparring session, she accidentally sent a fellow trainee flying across the ring with a single shove.
Rowan had glared at her suspiciously, but she’d played it off as an accident. Still, she knew she couldn’t keep hiding her abilities for much longer.
Her only solace came in her stolen moments with Zion. Despite his rough edges, she found herself drawn to him—his honesty, his determination to protect her. He was the only one who seemed to truly understand what she was going through.
But then there was Cian. Despite everything, Ayla couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward him. His intensity, his unwavering focus on her—it was maddening and magnetic all at once.
One evening, as she sat with Zion in the hollow, he reached for her hand.
“Ayla,” he said softly, his voice filled with a seriousness that made her heart race.
“What is it?” she asked, her eyes meeting his.
When his fingers brushed hers, a sudden shock of energy shot through her, making her gasp. The world seemed to shift around them, and Zion’s gray eyes widened in understanding.
“No,” he whispered, pulling back slightly. “It can’t be.”
“What just happened?” Ayla asked, her voice trembling.
Zion’s jaw clenched. “We’re fated mates,” he said, his voice heavy with disbelief.