Page 56 of Blood of the Fallen
I nodded, sparing him repeating my harsh words.
“Well, the earth remembers those sorts of promises, and it binds us. I think that’s why your mating bond hasn’t snapped into place.”
I shook my head repeatedly, backing away from him.
He winced. Something in his expression told me he was bracing himself for an outburst, but I had nothing to say. I was in shock, and my words had been drowned by it. I didn’t understand what I was feeling, what any of this meant for me.
I swallowed past the knot in my throat. “I… I need time to… think.”
Kall’s wide chest dipped as he exhaled. He seemed relieved to see his news hadn’t rendered me catatonic or worse.
I backed away slowly, without relinquishing eye contact. Kall’s hands twitched at his side as if he wanted to reach for me. Finally, I turned on my heel and disappeared through the trees.
CHAPTER 22
AsIsettledwithinthe roots of a tree, darkness surrounding me, I let Kall’s words play over and over inside my head.
Sheela, we’re fated mates.
Fatedlike I’d been fated to become the triad’s alpha, and even though I hadn’t believed it possible, here I was. I had won. Against all odds, I’d beaten Desna. Which had to mean I had no choice in this either. One way or another, I belonged to Kall.
My teeth and my fists clenched. Every cell in my body rebelled against that notion. At the Academy, I’d thought I was free, my own person, but it turned out I’d been manipulated and brainwashed within an inch of my life. I was Jazmin Bronte, an Academy puppet.
No sooner had I stumbled out of that mess when I fell face-first into another. Against my will, I had become Sheela—someone I didn’t fully understand. Feeling part of the pack had helped me heal from my previous damage, which I couldn’t complain about. Then I’d wanted revenge on Lux Academy, and I’d seen a way to get it by winning the trials. But I hadn’t had a choice, had I?
And now this.
I liked Kall. That wasn’t something I could deny. His kiss and his touch drove me crazy, but that didn’t mean anything. I’d never been kissed or touched by anyone else, so who was I to say another person wouldn’t make me feel the same way? Except now, it seemed I would never have the chance to find that out. I was fated to be Kall’s mate. Once more… I was left with no choice.
Except…
The bond is one-sided right now,Kall had said. I think that maybe, at first, when you were angry at me, at us, and you made that vow, remember it? The earth remembers those sorts of promises, and it binds us. I think that’s why your mating bond hasn’t snapped into place.
Maybe Ididhave a choice.
I lowered my head and rested it on top of my folded knees.
Would it be so bad to end up with Kall? I had no idea. I was too young to think of being linked to someone for the rest of my life. Besides, we’d just met. Weren’t people supposed to date for a while? Then, it was a long engagement, right?
I sputtered a laugh. Who was I kidding? That was for the likes of girls in Lux City. It hadn’t been an option for me before, and it certainly wasn’t an option now—not unless I… left the pack. And that wasn’t an option either. I was the triad’s alpha. Besides, I did feel at home. My family was here. Ila and… my mother. I still didn’t know how to feel about Chieftess Yura, but I understood her better. I couldn’t really justify her initial threats, but I understood them. And maybe one day, we could—
A high pitch scream rent the night. Before I even had time to form any thoughts, I was on my feet, running back toward the camp. My heart pounded as I weaved through the dark forests, dodging trees and bushes.
More screams joined the first one. Instinctively, I shifted. Landing on my front paws, I ran at full pelt. My claws tore at the ground, sending chunks of it flying back as I pressed forward. Ahead, the warm glow of the campfire shone through the foliage. Something was wrong. It was clear to see as I peered through the leaves and saw shapes running aimlessly. I pressed harder, leaped over a fallen log, and propelled myself over bramble and into the boundaries of the camp.
I was in midair when my body changed unexpectedly. One second I was in my wolf form, and the next I was landing on two hands and rolling on my shoulder, doing my best not to crack my head open.
After one full spin, I came to a stop, one knee on the ground and the other one bent in front of me, ready to pounce on any threat. My mind reeled… why had I changed back into my human form so abruptly? I willed my wolf to come forward once more. Nothing happened. What the hell was going on?
I scanned all around me, trying to figure out what was going on. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach when I spotted a line of magistrates, standing shoulder to shoulder. There were four of them, and behind their cloaked shapes, a group of guards stood with their swords drawn.
How had they found us?! We’d only made camp a few hours ago, and they were already here?!
Nosh’s heavyset figure came running from behind a tent, his face disfigured in panic. “We’re trapped,” he growled. “There’s no way out.”
“Where are Kall and the others?” I demanded of him.
In answer, he glanced over his shoulder. The triad along with Chieftess Yura, Ila, and Bethel appeared around the same tent. Novuk had Nirliq in his arms. He set her down, and she ran to her father’s side, who had limped in behind the others.
