Chapter 17

Luka

Caleb didn’t let up against Declan. He kneed him in the stomach, knocking his wind out and sending him into a fit of violent coughing.

“I didn’t do anything,” Declan panted, seeming more pathetic than I’d ever seen him. “I have no idea why the bond isn’t broken. I had no idea that it was until now.

Declan tried to catch his breath, putting his hands on his wounds.

“I’m warning you, alpha.” Caleb approached Declan menacingly. “it’s better to be honest and suffer the consequences than to lie. Because the consequences for lying are far worse. And believe me, I’m not an enemy you want to have. I’ve sent people to the gallows for worse.”

Declan cowered, trying to back away. “I’m not lying. I swear on my entire pack. I didn’t do anything, secretly or otherwise, to interfere with the breaking of the bond.”

The one consolation of this situation is getting to see Declan put in his place, chastened by someone more powerful, more accomplished, and more respected than him. Caleb was everything Declan wanted to be.

“I don’t know how good your word is, Declan, considering your complete lack of ethics and pride.” Caleb then turned to me. “Luka, please. I need you to reject Declan again right now.”

I nodded vigorously, wanting nothing more myself.

Caleb turned to Declan, and Declan shuddered, taking a step back.

“And you, Declan, you’d better accept it, and no half measures this time. Clearly you interfered with the process during my visit.”

Declan and I both nodded. “I, Luka Shaw, reject you, Declan Shaw, as my mate. I reject the mate bond and sever it completely. I am not your mate, nor are you mine.”

I looked at Caleb for approval, wondering if there were other words I should add, in case that could make a difference. He nodded his assent with affection in his eyes, as if he was telling me it would all be okay.

Something about having him here with me, despite everything happening, made me feel like it would be, even if it was temporary.

I expected it to feel like being unchained, to close my eyes and for everything to be transformed. But nothing had changed at all. I could still smell the sickening musky attraction to Declan, and I knew the bond wasn’t broken.

Especially standing next to Caleb, it was clear how much I wanted nothing more than to be completely free of Declan.

“Come,” Caleb said, gesturing to follow, and he led us to Dr. Thorne in the medical suite. “Dr. Thorne, he’s arrived.”

Caleb had venom in his voice when he said ‘he,’ acknowledging that it wasn’t worth polluting his mouth by saying his name.

Dr. Thorne moved up his eyeglasses on his nose as he stood up. “This is quite an unusual situation, as I’ve explained. I’ve read texts about it happening, but it’s extremely rare. It’s not the realm of medicine so much as mystics and healers. That’s the only thing that’s been successful in the past.”

“So, a witch, you’re saying.” Caleb crossed his arms skeptically.

“In a manner of speaking, yes,” Dr. Thorne said. “We shifters have abilities that medicine can’t explain, meaning the properties of our connections are subject to the same forces. It may not reveal the solution, but it’s the best place to start. The only place to start, really.”

I felt nauseated, like I could vomit right there. I sat down on one of the chairs, feeling the world recede again. What would I do if I couldn’t get rid of the bond with Declan? I had hated him already, but now I despised him. He had already abused me, but now he was determining the course of my entire life.

I wanted to ask so many questions, chief of which was: what the hell was wrong with me? I was rejected from my first pack, and now my rejection of the pack wasn’t working. I wanted to ask Dr. Thorne what had happened in the stories he had heard, if the bond was actually broken, and what sorts of things it took. What sorts of sacrifices would I have to make?

And I wanted to ask Caleb about what this would change about things. I didn’t know how he could see me in the same light when the bond between this horrible man wasn’t breaking. What if he thought I was behind it? All I wanted was to be free to live my new life, and the man I hated was making it impossible.

“Dr. Thorne, please contact my council, my beta and gamma, and have them find this witch at once. We will go to her, and we will spare no resources. I’ll follow up to make sure they make all the arrangements. And I’d like your counsel in the process as well.”

“Of course, my lord,” Dr. Thorne said.

“You can use my personal office and work with my chief of staff, Hector. Hector!”

Within seconds, the chief of staff appeared and ushered Dr. Thorne away.

“And as for you.” Caleb turned again to Declan. “You are not to leave. You’ll be under house arrest here until the mate bond is definitively broken.”

Declan’s jaw dropped, and his eyes flashed with anger. I knew that look well. “Absolutely not, your majesty. You may be the alpha king, but I am still an alpha. You have no right to put me under arrest. I have broken no laws, and you would be considered a tyrant. You are ruining your legacy and legitimacy.”

“That is none of your concern, Declan,” Caleb said.

Declan wasn’t finished. “And you, Luka, you’re already a laughingstock. But if you persuade the king to make such a foolish decision, you would be seen as an enemy of the entire confederation of alphas.”

Caleb roared. “What part of this being none of your concern do you not understand? This is none of your business whatsoever. And as far as humiliations, abusing your mate, a person you grew up with, is the ultimate shame. If I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it. Otherwise, silence.”

Declan got a perverse grin on his face. “Is a bedmate really worth all this effort? Are you really that hard-pressed to get a woman into your bed? You could have anyone, why this lowly creature? Is it worth tearing your entire nation apart? Take it from me, it’s not.”

Caleb was seething with anger. His whole body shook as he tried to gain his composure.

I had wondered the same thing myself. He had taken on so many new burdens just to have me in his house. I had come close to asking him the same thing. I felt so guilty for causing so many problems: first with the nurse, then Olivia, then his guards, and now with his reputation among all of the packs.

I waited nervously for his answer. I didn’t know why he wasn’t speaking up. Maybe he was trying to make up his mind about whether he might send me home with Declan, deciding it wasn’t worth it at all.

“Declan, I will say this to you only once, which is more than you deserve. Luka is not my bedmate. Luka is my mate.”