Broken bond

The storeroom was cold. Seline shivered as Austin pressed a cloth to her bleeding shoulder. His hands were rough, but his touch sent warmth through her. She hated it.

“Hold still,” he muttered.

“I’m fine,” she lied. Her leg throbbed where the panther’s claws had torn her jeans. Blood soaked the fabric.

Austin ripped the cloth into strips. “This’ll hurt.”

“Everything hurts,” she snapped.

He didn’t answer. He cleaned her wounds in silence, his jaw tight. When his fingers brushed her neck, she flinched.

“Stop,” she said.

“I’m trying to help.”

“I don’t need your help!”

He grabbed her wrist, sudden and sharp. “Why are you like this?”

“Like what?”

“Angry. Defiant. You act like the world owes you something.”

She yanked her arm free. “The world owes me nothing. I know that better than anyone.”

He stared at her. Then, slowly, his gaze dropped to her wounds. His frown deepened. “Your blood… it’s different.”

Her heart skipped. “What?”

“It smells like a wolf. But also… something else.” He leaned closer, inhaling. “Like magic. Old magic.”

She shoved him back. “Don’t.”

He stood abruptly. “You’re not just a hybrid. You’re Lycan.”

The word hung in the air like poison.

Seline froze. Lycan, the ancient wolf-blooded witches, hunted to extinction centuries ago. Her mother’s warning echoed: “Never tell anyone what you are.”

“You’re wrong,” she whispered.

“Am I?” His voice hardened. “Your healing is slow, but your magic is strong. Only Lycans have both.”

She stood, swaying. “I said you’re wrong.”

He stepped closer, crowding her against the wall. “Why hide it? What are you afraid of?”

“Get away from me!”

Her magic flared. The shelves rattled, bottles crashing to the floor. Austin didn’t flinch.

“You can’t lie to me,” he said. “Not anymore.”

Her chest heaved. “So what if I am? What does it matter to you?”

“It changes everything.” His eyes glowed faintly, wolf-like. “Lycan blood is dangerous. It makes you a target.”

“I’ve survived this long.”

“Because no one knew!” He slammed his hand on the wall beside her head. “But now I know. And if I can tell, others will too.”

She glared up at him. “Are you threatening me?”

“I’m warning you.”

“Why?”

The word hung between them.

Austin’s breath hitched. For a moment, she thought he’d walk away. Then …..

“Because you’re my mate.”

The room spun. Seline gripped the wall to stay upright. “What?”

Austin turned, running a hand through his hair. “The bond… I felt it the first time I saw you. But I ignored it. I had to.”

Her wolf surged, wild with hope. Mate!. Mate!!. Mate!!!

“You… you feel it too?” she whispered.

He didn’t look at her. “Yes.”

Her heart flipped. For a moment, she let herself imagine it being his mate, having a pack, belonging somewhere. But then Austin spoke again.

“But it doesn’t matter. We can’t be together.”

The hope shattered. “Why?”

He faced her, his expression cold. “You’re a hybrid. A Lycan. My pack would never accept you. My enemies would use you against me. You’re a weakness.”

She stumbled back. “A weakness?”

“Yes.” His voice was steel. “A true Alpha’s mate is strong. Pure. Not… this.” He gestured at her.

Tears burned her eyes. “So I’m not good enough?”

“You’re not-wolf enough.”

The words cut deeper than any claw. Her wolf whimpered, curling into a ball inside her.

“Get out,” she said hoarsely.

“Seline—”

“GET OUT!”

Magic exploded from her, shattering the remaining bottles. Glass rained down. Austin shielded his face, stepping back.

“You’ll regret this,” he said.

“I already do.”

He left, slamming the door.

Seline sank to the floor, shaking. The bond pulsed in her chest— a cruel reminder of what she’d lost before having it. She hugged her knees, sobbing.

Why? Why him?

Her wolf had no answers.

---

Hours later, Seline dragged herself home. The streets were empty, the moon hidden behind clouds. Her wounds had closed, but her heart felt raw.

She passed a shop window. Her reflection stared back—pale, hollow-eyed. A hybrid. A mistake.

Not wolf enough

Austin’s words played on loop. She’d spent her life hating her wolf side, but now… now she wished she were more wolf than witch. Just to be enough for him.

At her apartment, she found a note slipped under the door.

Last warning. Pay rent by dawn or leave.

She crumpled it. No money. No mate. No hope.

She lay on her couch, staring at the ceiling. The bond ached, a constant pull toward Austin. She pressed a pillow to her chest, trying to smother it.

Somewhere in the night, a wolf howled.

She closed her eyes.

And wished the bond would break.

“Fated mates”. The words felt like a joke. Her wolf, usually silent, whined pitifully inside her, clawing at her chest as if chasing after Austin. She pressed her palms to her eyes, trying to block out the memory of his cold stare.

When the first rays of dawn seeped through the cracked window, she forced herself to stand. Her legs wobbled, but she steadied herself against the wall. She couldn’t hide here forever.

Mira found her in the morning, slumped in her bed. “Seline! What happened? You look like you fought a bear.”

“Panthers,” Seline muttered, not meeting her eyes.

Mira’s wings drooped. “Again? You need to report this to the mayor. They can’t keep attacking you!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Seline said flatly. “No one cares about a hybrid.”

Mira opened her mouth to argue but stopped when she saw Seline’s face. “Okay. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Seline let Mira wipe the blood from her arms and bandage her wounds. Her mind drifted to Austin. Why did he save me if he hates what I am?.