Chapter 4 Broken Bond
~Kael
The mark looked real.
That's the problem.
Lyra stood in front of me, her back exposed, and her shoulders straight like a queen ready to be crowned. The crescent mark rested just below her shoulder blade. Same shape and placement as mine.
It was perfect. Too perfect.
The elders sat behind me in silence, all waiting.
“When did it appear?" I asked.
“The morning after that night," she responded easily.
Then, I circled around her, slowly, just observing. “Describe how it felt.”
She swallowed, hesitating a bit. "It burned. Like heat spreading under my skin.”
That part is correct. A true Lycan mate mark is not entirely gentle in it's ways
“What triggered it?" I pressed
But she turned to face me now, eyes bright. “You did." Was all she said.
I noticed the elders nod faintly, but that doesn't cut it. I held her gaze. “Explain."
She hesitated again, just a little before speaking up. “Being near you, the pull."
There was no pull. At least not the kind there should be. When your true mate stands this close, the air tends to shift and your wolf reacts. Your body knows before your mind does. But the problem here is…
Mine is quiet.
“What did I say to you that night?" I asked instead.
Her smile faltered, just slightly. "You said I belonged at your side.”
Wrong.
I never speak that way. Not publicly. Now the room was quiet, enough that I could hear the faint shift of fabric as one of the elders adjusted in his seat.
This was about to go down south, and they knew, at least I think they do.
“What was I wearing?" I asked her again, my eyes scanning her face in masked concentration. No visible panic. Just confidence.
She blinked. “Black."
Correct, but that proves nothing. It wasn't difficult to guess right. "You left early," I said.
I stopped moving as her fingers curled at her sides. “I was overwhelmed."
A scoff left my lips, “With what?"
“The bond. I… it scared me." She replied steadily.
There it was again, the right words but with the wrong weight behind them. And they all feel rehearsed.
“Why didn't you report the mark immediately?”
Her eyes flicked to the elders and then back to me in an instant. "Because I was afraid you would reject me.” She replied, her voice low and unsure.
Smart answer.
Silence stretched between us, then as I leaned closer, testing the space between us, still nothing, except a faint pull, but it all felt wrong.
No heat or recognition from my wolf. It shouldn't feel like this.
What I feel when I stand near her is pressure. A faint echo of it, as though something pushed back, attempting to have an effect but cannot fully align.
And it irritated me. If she noticed that my wolf has not stirred once at our proximity, then she's good at hiding it.
I took one tentative step closer, lowering my voice. “Look at me, Lyra."
She obeyed instantly, her eyes snapping upward to mine. For a moment I searched for it. The faintest link to the bond I was supposed to feel. The inevitability and the instinct that says mine.
It was empty. Left for expectations.
Before I could press further, the chamber doors opened and Elder Maren walked in.
“The northern packs are asking questions," he said. “They're concerned about the delay in announcing your mate. Word spreads quickly.”
Of course they are. Power doesn't tolerate uncertainties. I nodded once. “We'll handle it," I said evenly.
Lyra looked between us, her shoulders tensed but she kept her composure. Smart.
The Elder’s gaze shifted between us. “It would be unwise to allow rumors to deepen."
And dangerous too. So, I dismissed Lyra with a slight nod. “Wait outside."
She delayed only briefly, her eyes shifting between us again before she complied. Right as the doors closed behind her, the air in the chamber changed quickly.
“Well?" Elder Maren asked quietly.
“The mark is present," I sighed.
"And?”
"It feels… distorted."
The word hung heavily in the room as another elder leaned forward. "Distorted how?”
"As though something is interfering with it. There's no effect.”
Murmurs broke out throughout the room.
“That's impossible," one said.
“Nothing about this situation has felt accurate.” And I hated it. I don't like making decisions without being certain. But right now, I have none.
Maren studied me carefully. "Do you believe she's fake?”
"I believe,” I say slowly, "that I do not feel what I should.”
The room fell silent.
Rejecting a true mate destabilizes the throne, and accepting a false one invites weakness. And neither outcome is survivable in the long run.
"The enemies circling us would seize on public doubt,” Maren continued. "If you reject her and she proves to be genuine, your power will fracture.”
I know. I moved towards the window, the city stretched below in order and structure.
The damage would be permanent if this goes wrong. Either choice carries a risk and I don't have the luxury of such.
"If I acknowledge her, the pack calms down.”
"Yes.” They murmured.
"And if she's lying, she'll make a mistake.” She's bound to.
"Most liars do.” Maren responded.
I exhaled slowly, my irritation rising, I despised making decisions under pressure, it clouds accuracy. But hesitation is worse and much more dangerous.
If the bond is real and blocked, rejecting her could sever it permanently. But if it's true, it'd definitely strengthen over time.
"I'll accept her,” I declared.
The room stilled as elders exchange glances and hushed words of approval.
The decision settled heavily in my chest. “Preparations for the announcement begin immediately.”
"And privately?” One elder asked.
"I'll investigate.” No one argues, since they all understood what that meant.
"Proceed carefully,” Maren warns.
I turn toward the doors. "I always do.”
When I stepped back into the corridor, Lyra was still waiting.
"Well?” she asked eagerly.
"The announcement will be made at the next council gathering,” I said.
Her breath hitched as hope flickered in her eyes. “So… you accept me?”
For now.
"Yes.”
Relief washed across her face too quickly. Another detail to note.
As I walked past her, my wolf still remained silent.
If this were a lie, then it was far too clean and well presented.
And if it's fate— then it truly was malfunctioning. Either way, I will not be blindsided.
