Chapter 16:
The river always had a calming effect on me, but not today. Because I couldn’t stop thinking &
My thoughts kept circling back to Callan.
The way he looked at me during our mental training was intense and annoyingly unreadable like I wasn’t just another sparring partner but someone worth looking at a second longer. And during our last session, when his fingers brushed mine? It was nothing. Barely a touch But to me, it was like someone dropped a live wire straight into my bloodstream, I wanted to brush it off, laugh it off, pretend I didn’t feel my heart do that stupid skip. But I did. And I hated that I did. I wasn’t supposed to want this. Not again!
What if I was reading too much into it? What if I had a crush on a man who felt nothing but duty?!
It was pathetic, really. I didn’t even know if this was an actual matebond or just my desperate, touch–starved brain clinging to the first decent guy who didn’t treat me like I was disposable. But what I did know was that the real bond, the cursed mess tying me to Zane, still hung on like a roach infestation. It made me weak in all the ways I swore I’d never be again. And honestly, I wanted it gone the way you’d want a leech burned off. Yesterday, preferably.
I mindlinked Tony.
“What’s up, Quinn? How’s life with your stone–faced Stormbane Alpha? Still brooding like it’s a full–time job?“2
I didn’t have time for jokes. “Do you know anyone who can sever a matebond?“}
He went quiet, then replied, serious now. “Yeah. There’s a healer deep in the Northern Territones. She’s a Seer too. Fucking powerful.”
“Thanks.” I shifted my stance, arms crossed, but hope fluttered in my chest. Maybe this could really work. Maybe I didn’t have to feel this hollow forever “How do you even know about her?“;
once went there with Callan Tony trailed off.
My brows mised. “Callan had a matebond severed?“)
Tony hesitated. “Yeah. It was a mess. Just… don’t go alone. Ask him to take you.”
was still talking about border security, but the moment Callan saw me, he
The next morning, I knocked on Calian’s office door. His beta was s dismissed him.
*Callan leaned back in his chair with that smug, lazy grin that always made me want to either slap him or stare a second too long. He propped one am across the edge of his desk like he owned the entire room, which, to be fair, he kind of did. “What brings you here at six
a.m
? Finally sick of the sad excuse for porridge in the kitchen? Want me to order something edible?”
I gave him a dry look. “That’s part of it. But more importantly, can you take me to that healer who severs bonds?“%
His brows lifted Not surprised, just thoughtful!
“This is about Zane?
I touched the faded mark on my neck. “Who else would it be? Please, Callan. I need this.”
He paused, then gave a slow grin. “So you’re serious about taking your power back. Alright. Il help.“}
I narrowed my eyes. “You knew this healer could help me and never said anything?%
He sipped closer, and I didn’t move. Too close. His scent hit me first–cedar, sweat, and something darker that made my breath hitch. His hand brushed the desk beside me, knuckles grazing mine, and suddenly the room felt ten degrees warmer. His presence was suffocating in the kind of way that made you forget every reason you had to keep your distance. I should’ve stepped back, I didn’t “There’s no easy way, Quinn,” he said. “Sometimes you need to walk through fire to be free.
why you severed your bond?“||
For once he didn’t hide behind sarcasm. He nodded “Yeah. Sometimes you have to let go of somathing first place
I didn’t push further Not yet. Even though I was dying to know more E
you never should’ve held in the
place looked like it had been designed by a nature–loving witch with questionable taste–half forest, half cave, all weird it herbis, earth, and something vaguely roasted I didn’t want to identify. I sat next to Callan in the too–warm wooden room,
fale my hands clutched each other like they owed me rent
The Deer walked in without looking at us “You’re here to sever a bond,” she said before I even spoke
S
She nodded Callan wart cutside Thes part isn’t for others ”
Callan’s stare fingered a second too tong Then he turned and walked out, and the door clicked shut behind him. And suddenly the quiet that I missed hum already, even though he was probably just a few steps down the hall Fantastic. I was about
to go through painful magical surgery and my brain decided it was the perfect time to develop feelings Really helpful
“This will hurt the Seer said simply “The deeper the wound the harder the healing ”
I said nothing Just nodded i
The ritual started Light flared in a ring around me. The air grew heavy 1
Sudden
ng ripped open from the
ide. My chest burned. I saw old memones flashing behind my eyes
3:54 PM cr c
The ritual started. Light tiared in a ning around me, the air grew neavy..
old memories flashing behind my eyes-
Pain came fast. Sudden. Like I was being ripped open from the inside. My chest burned. I saw of
Zane’s betrayal, his voice, the baby.
1 screamed My body convulsed. Blood filled my mouth.
I heard banging on the door. Callan’s voice, shouting.
The Seer didn’t budge. “He must not interfere. You must finish.“)
It went on for what felt like forever. My mind split open. My heart cracked. I felt something loosen inside me finally. Then it stopped.
The light faded. The pain settled. I was drenched in sweat, shaking.
“It’s done.” the Seer said X
he
The door burst open. Callan stormed in, eyes b blazing. His gaze landed on me, crumpled and bloodied on the floor, Without hesitation, barged the room in a few long strides and dropped to his knees. His strong arms scooped me up like I weighed nothing. I felt his hand brush my hair back gently before he wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with his thumb. His jaw was tight furious. “You nearly killed her,” he snapped at the Seer. “When I went through this, it wasn’t this damn intense 2
The Seer only smiled. “You’ll figure out why. Just watch what happens in the next few days ”
