Page 23 of Savage Torment

Bound.

Who knew one five letter word could hold so much weight?

Since it happened, I haven't really had time to think about it. I wasn't ready for her to know. I wasn't ready to truly acknowledge it myself. I was quite content with our secret moments in the shadows that began to hold more meaning as every interaction proceeded.

But now it's real. Now it's out there for others to know. Then, eventually,hewill know.

That's what I have been trying to avoid. Yet the moment I saw her injured, I threw caution to the wind and did what was necessary. It’s not every day you see silver hair in the arms of a wolf, rushing across campus. Well, not with all of them frantic and panicked anyway.

I won't be shocked if the wolves are already passing their rumors around now, blindly finding a way for it to get back to him before I leave the medical center.

I know they’re still here, the nurse is keeping me updated, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t begun shredding me to pieces for everyone else to observe. I’m already a villain on campus. That’s what happens when you have to protect yourself and kill someone in self defense. My actions caused another to die, a fact I would have been a little more sad about if it wasn’t the exact girl who tried to hurt Polaris when she first arrived.

She doesn’t know I know, but I’ve been watching long enough.

Never mind whathewill have to think, I have to consider my family too. My mother will be happy, proud even, and I can already picture her crying. My father on the other hand… I can sense his disappointment already.

In reality, he should know better than anyone that being bound is out of our control. My mother wasn't always a vampire. She changed for him. She was a devoted human destined by blood to hunt the supernatural. She still does, but not my father.

He’s made it clear he expects me to find a vampire bound, like it’s that simple, but I’m sure he would have preferred anything other than a witch. He's never going to understand. The only thing that may sway him is seeing her coin.

As the thought flashes through my mind, I slip my hand into my pocket.

My coin has been passed down through the generations of my family. The little information I have didn't come from my father, but my grandfather. I’ve never really known its importance until I saw Polaris had one too. The main thing my grandfather said was, “When the coins are in the right hands, you shall find your destiny.”

No truer words have ever been spoken. Especially now that I have my Amica Mea.

There’s more to it, I can sense it. This coin holds more weight than ever before, and I’m sure, in time, I’ll find out the root reason.

My cell phone vibrates in my other pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. Reluctantly, I tear my gaze away from her sleeping form to glance at the screen. It’s a text message from a number I don’t recognize, but the second I read the words, I know who it’s come from.

Unknown: I want to see her. Don't think you can keep her away from me. You won’t make it out alive.

If that's not Wylder, I don't know who it could be. It’s his tone for sure.

That’s the thing the wolves don’t realize: I’ve had my sights set on Polaris Beauchamp since the moment Lincoln knocked her to the ground when she arrived on campus. I’ve watched it all.

Her pain, her excitement, her lust. I’ve witnessed every moment. From her secret meets with Tatum in the forest maze to the spectacle of Asher fucking her over the VIP balcony at The Aurum.

I’ve had time to adjust to the fact that I’m going to have to share this woman. I didn’t want to and I really shouldn’t have to, but it’s not in my hands, not if the coin means what I think it does. My priority is my devoted being safe at all times, and the truth is, it’s not always going to be me that can ensure that’s the case. Not when I come with my own dangers.

Stuffing my cell phone back into my pocket, ignoring Wylder’s tantrum, I barely manage to pull my hand back out of my pocket before it vibrates again. Only this time, it's not from a message, but an incoming call.

The second I see the name on the screen, I rise from my seat, discreetly hurrying from the room to try and not disturb her. I catch a glimpse of her sleeping form before I close the door behind me.

I answer the call and lift my device to my ear. “Where are you?”

I’m greeted with fury before I can even say hello. Not that I would, which is probably why they know to cut to the chase.

“At the Medical Center.”

“I’m aware. Why?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask why they bothered asking, but I know it won’t get me anywhere. “I don't think it's any of your business,” I reply, and the silence that greets me offers no comfort. I grow more concerned with every moment that passes until he speaks again.

“Why can't I get into your room?”

My spine stiffens. “Whywouldyou want to get into my room?” I retort and he laughs. There's no humor involved, only the sharp edge of a knife threatening to slice through me, even from here.

---