Page 1 of The Alpha's Shattered Bonds

Prologue

Seraphina

Restlessness churned through me as I lay in the dark, caught between the blurry boundary between sleep and consciousness. Heat radiated through the sheets, clinging to my damp skin despite the night’s chill.

In a daze, I saw a figure beside me, effortlessly handsome in his plaid shirt and jeans—Alpha Tyler. His presence was a mix of comfort and exhilaration. We were now in the kitchen, laughter mingling with the hum of an unseen warmth.

“Leave some for me,” I smirked playfully as he dipped his finger into the mixing bowl, tasting the chocolate.

Tyler arched a brow, challenge dancing in his bright blue eyes. “Fight me for it, Seffy.”

In a moment of reckless bravery that I hadn’t known I possessed, I captured his finger with my lips, tasting the sweetness of chocolate and the undertone of cedar—Tyler’s scent. He tasted even more delicious than I’d imagined. To taste him was something I’d yearned to do for a long time, an act of courage that sent a thrill through my entire being.

But Tyler’s face suddenly blurred. My heart raced as an insatiable hunger ignited within me; I wanted to touch him more, to kiss him. I leaned closer, a breath away from surrendering to the moment, intoxicated by the thrill of our connection.

Just as I gathered the courage to act on my desire, I jolted awake, breathless and disoriented, my heart thundering against my ribcage, amplifying the urgent secret I could no longer ignore.

Today was my nineteenth birthday, and the desires I’d kept hidden seemed intent on surfacing. The yearning I’d fought came crashing down like an avalanche; Tyler was my guardian, my alpha, but his presence ignited feelings I’d neverdaredact on.

The thick aroma of cedar lingered in the air, heightening my yearning. I blinked against the moonlight streaming through the window, illuminating my sanctuary—my bedroom at Alpha Tyler’s house. That’s right—I was home from Silver Moon University for the summer holidays.

Sitting up, I wrapped my arms around myself and accidentally brushed my nipple, sending an electric jolt coursing to my core. A gasp slipped from my lips, pleasure blooming within me, fueled by thoughts of Tyler’s finger in my mouth.

I had fought these feelings for so long. A thirteen-year age difference loomed between us, making what I felt forbidden. But it wasn’t just the age difference; Tyler had raised me since my parents passed. Despite my attraction toward him, I knew he couldn’t be attracted to me.

But the desperate urges clawing at me made my hands move of their own accord. They returned to my breasts, kneading the softness and igniting a spark between my legs. I whimpered softly into the silence, yearning for the warmth of Tyler’s body like never before.

In a haze, I suddenly understood: I’d come into my heat. This feeling was like nothing I’d ever experienced—an intoxicatingblend of arousal and desperate need. I’d had health classes at school here in the Silver Moon Pack. My wolf was demanding her mate. As my fingers grazed the drenched fabric of my underwear, I knew exactly what I craved.

“Tyler…” His name slipped from my lips, laced with urgency, desperation rising as I surrendered to the intensity of this need. My fingers trembled as they sought the soft warmth between my thighs. My breath quickened, each caress igniting a fire that coursed through my veins. I imagined it was Tyler’s hands exploring me—strong, gentle, and possessive.

With every stroke, I envisioned his touch. “Tyler… Tyler…” I whimpered, the sound reverberating in the stillness around me, my voice trembling as I repeated his name like a prayer. It felt both liberating and intoxicating, this rhythmic movement fueled by the heat electrifying my body.

Suddenly, the door handle twisted, and in a heartbeat, he stood there—Alpha Tyler, framed in the soft glow of moonlight.

His tall silhouette and bare chest revealed a physique almost god-like. His short brown hair framed his striking blue eyes, capturing me with a ferocity that sent shivers racing down my spine.

“Seffy?” His voice was deep and rich, tinged with concern. “Are you having a bad dream?”

Protectiveness stamped across his features—my pack guardian. Thoughts flickered back to when I blew out the candle on my birthday cake today, wishing for nothing but Tyler’s love.

My lips parted with longing. The anticipation of tasting him made my mouth water. His proximity usually reined in mywicked thoughts, but tonight, the primal heat emboldened me—I didn’t stop touching myself, each movement now a shared secret between us.

“Seffy?” His voice came again, concern laced with confusion as I didn’t answer him. I watched him halt, inhaling deeply as the scent of my arousal enveloped him. A low, primal growl rumbled from his throat, causing my core to clench as the sound told me his wolf was responding to me. Despite the moonlight spilling in, I felt no self-consciousness. Tyler’s astonished gaze was entranced. I felt like one of the crystals on my altar—absorbing the Moon goddess’s light, my body electrified with energy.

A new wave of clarity surged through me. My connection to the Moon goddess, Igaluk, wrapped around me, revealing truths I’d been blind to until now. What had once felt like a simple attraction to Tyler blossomed into something monumental. I realized it wasn’t mere infatuation; it was the Moon goddess’s blessing, whispering loud and clear that Tyler was my mate.

In a flash of insight, I understood that before, Igaluk hadn’t deemed it right for me to know. My heart raced with the knowledge that my bond with Tyler was meant to be revealed at this precise moment. The ache within me screamed for recognition, urging me to embrace what was destined. My wolf panted with excitement, pushing me to invite my mate to claim us as I surrendered to the undeniable truth of our connection.

.

But Tyler didn’t move closer. In a moment of courage, I shot from the bed, closing the distance between us. Breathless, I said, “Tyler, I love you. I’ve always loved you.” My heart thundered,heady joy swirling within me as I poured out everything I’d kept bottled up.

Astonishment washed over his features as his fingers brushed back my long hair, a tender gesture that sent a delicious warmth right down to my toes. “Seffy,” he murmured, his voice rich with emotion. “I care about you… so much. You’re like family to me.”

The bittersweet words hung between us, but a pang of rejection twisted in my chest. When I’d been fifteen, Tyler had taken me in. My father had been his beta. But he and my mother had enabled a rival pack to invade our territory. Their suicide, an escape from the retribution they feared, had meant Tyler was my only family.

Anger and frustration ignited inside me, burning brightly as I expressed my yearning. “That’s not all you feel though, is it?” I demanded, a tremor in my voice. Could he really be so blind to the heat sizzling in the air between us?

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