Page 98 of Dark Bonds

I glance at Matteo, expecting to feel guilty about my reaction to Leo, but the intensity in Matteo’s gaze as he watches us makes my stomach do a little flip. God, what am I getting myself into, living with both of them?

“Dibs on the room with the least creepy noises. Though with our luck, they probably all come with complementary ghost roommates.” Leo smirks down at me, sending my heart in overdrive.

Matteo’s already in full planning mode, his words coming out fast. “First priority is reinforcing wards, then we’ll need to implement a multi-layered security system. The basement has potential for a training area, and the attic... yes, perfect for a research lab. I’ll draw up a proposal for optimal space utilization and?—”

“Whoa, slow down there, Professor,” Leo cuts in, grinning. “How about we start with figuring out where to put the TV? You know, priorities.”

I can’t help but smile as Matteo rolls his eyes. Some things never change.

I laugh, the sound bright in the quiet evening, a defiant challenge to the encroaching darkness. “Maybe we should start with unpacking. And Leo, I swear, if I find your dirty socks on any surface not explicitly designated for dirty socks, you’re on dish duty for a month.”

“Wow, five minutes in, and you’re already laying down the law.” Leo grins, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “I like it. Very pack leader-esque.”

As we stand here, the three of us and our shadow beast, I feel something I haven’t experienced in years—a sense of belonging. This isn’t how I imagined my time at Shadow Locke, but standing here with my new pack, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s as if the pieces of a puzzle I didn’t even know I was solving have finally clicked into place.

I take a deep breath, the scents of pine and wild roses filling my lungs. The enormity of what we’re doing, of what we’re facing, threatens to overwhelm me for a moment, but then I feel Leo’s and Matteo’s steady presence beside me and the cool brush of Umbraxis against my leg. My pack. My family.

“Well,” I say, squaring my shoulders and meeting their eyes, “I guess we should head in. This place isn’t going to un-haunt itself.”

Leo grins, a spark of his usual mischief returning to his eyes. “Bet you I can find a secret passage before breakfast. Loser buys coffee for a week.”

Matteo rolls his eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. “I’ll take that bet, but only if we agree that my inevitable victory funds go toward proper security equipment.”

“Deal,” Leo says, extending his hand. They shake on it, and just like that, some of the tension dissipates.

We walk in together, not sure what we’re getting into. The key’s old and sticky, but it works. The door makes this horror movie creak when it opens. I half expect to see cobwebs and skeletons inside.

Inside, it’s like someone took an old fancy house and left it to rot. There’s dust everywhere, catching the light coming through the dirty windows. It’s kind of pretty in a creepy way, but beneath the layers of time, I see the potential. With some work, this could be pretty cool. Our own place, you know?

“Home sweet home,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.

Leo and Matteo nod, their expressions a mirror of my own. Umbraxis just walks right in like he owns the place. He turns and looks at us, wagging his tail. I swear he’s saying,Come on, slowpokes. Let’s check this place out.

We cross the threshold, leaving the world we knew behind and stepping into a new chapter of our lives. The door closes behind us with a soft thud, and I swear I feel the house come alive around us, welcoming its new guardians.

I have this feeling in my gut that things are about to get really interesting, and probably not in a good way.

Chapter 31

Leo

The pack housefeels alive around me. Every smell and creaky floorboard reminds me of the weird little family we’ve patched together. It’s home, for better or worse.

I sprawl across the worn couch, feeling its leather grip me like a lover’s embrace, the musty parchment and earthy herbs hanging from the rafters filling my lungs with each breath. The shadows in the corners give me the creeps. Our dinky oil lamps aren’t doing much to keep them back. I swear they are watching us, just waiting for us to screw up.

Our place is as messed up as we are. From the outside, it looks like someone tried to build a haunted house and gave up halfway. The stone is weathered, the wood is twisted, and I swear sometimes I can hear it breathing.

Inside, the heart of our sanctuary beats with a rhythm all its own. Exposed beams crisscross the ceiling like the bars of a gilded cage, while mismatched furniture crowds the space, each piece holding memories of laughter and pain in equal measure. The massive hearth dominates one wall, its maw large enough to swallow a man whole—a thought that sends a shiver down my spine more often than I’d like to admit.

My fingers trace the intricate patterns on an ancient tome of shadow magic, feeling the cool metal burn against my skin. The fading sunlight paints everything in shades of blood and gold, a fitting backdrop for the horrors that always seem to find us.

The sharp knock at the door shatters the illusion of peace, echoing through the house like a death knell. Every instinct screams danger, my lion clawing at the surface of my skin, desperate to protect what’s ours.

With a sigh that carries the weight of too many battles, I unfold my lanky frame from the couch. Each step toward the door feels like marching to my execution, the floorboards groaning beneath my feet in sympathy. I slap on my usual grin. It’s like a reflex at this point. Sometimes I wonder if I even know how to make any other face.

When I swing the door open, even that carefully constructed facade crumbles.

Dorian looks like hell warmed over. His usual perfect hair is a mess, and he reeks of smoke and... something worse. His eyes are wild, like he’s seen some serious shit. He keeps looking around like he thinks something’s going to jump out and eat him. It’s freaking me out, to be honest

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