Page 6 of The Alpha's Shattered Bonds

My mind spiraled back to Seraphina. Memories of us together whirled through my thoughts like leaves caught in a restlesswind. I considered the countless days spent side by side, the laughter, the tears, the quiet understanding we shared. But among all those moments, one memory shimmered into focus—the one-year anniversary of her parents’ death.

The sun hung low on the horizon as Seffy and I ascended Pivak Pass on the mountain, the air thick with unspoken words and our shared heartache enveloping us like the heavy blanket of snow beneath our feet.

A year had passed since Liam and Cordelia, Seffy’s parents, had committed suicide. Now, Seffy kneeled in the snow, gently laying down bright yellow pomenta flowers. “They were her favorite,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “Whenever Dad brought her flowers, it was always pomenta—something to brighten her day.”

The grief in her voice struck deep, magnifying the ache in my chest until I felt as weighty as the mountain itself.

But then, something flickered in her eyes, and she took a steadying breath. “You know, Dad always said Pivak Point was where he made you eat dust.” Her tone carried a rush of fondness, though I could see the way her bottom lip trembled.

A chuckle bubbled up inside me, surprising me with its suddenness. “Your dad was a good runner,” I replied, envisioning Liam’s strong face, his mouth curving into a grin just before he’d tease me mercilessly, as only my best friend and beta could. However, that smile faded almost instantly,crushed by the cold shadow of betrayal that still lingered, even one year later.

Seffy stood up, her gaze steady but her hands quivering against her thighs. “I… I can’t help… loving them, even after… what they did,” she admitted, her voice stronger than I knew she felt. The questioning look in her eyes spoke volumes, the pain lurking just beneath the surface.

Seffy had voiced exactly what I was struggling with. Despite the betrayal of my best friend and his wife, a part of me would always love them. As I recalled the warmth of our friendship, small moments poured over me like a warm tide, easing the weight of sorrow but leaving echoes of love. I realized I hadn’t truly allowed myself to remember the good times either.

I turned to her, feeling a swell of gratitude amidst our grief. “They’re part of you,” I said, my voice thickening. “You’ll always love them.We’llalways love them.”

Seffy’s eyes glistened as she came to me, and I wrapped an arm around her. For a quiet moment, we stood together, looking down at the bright pomenta flowers against the snow.

“Now we need to do something special for Dad,” she said, her tone lightening. “It’s time to make you eat my dust.”

With that, Seffy flung off her coat. A smile broke free on my lips, a laugh escaping me as I turned my back to her, following suit, shedding my own coat and shirt, ready to shift. My chest felt too full, swelling with everything I felt for my friends andfor their amazing daughter, who was not just their child but my family now, too.

As I shifted into my wolf, chasing after Seffy’s lithe, silvery wolf, who would have given her father a run for his money, love washed over me.

As I took a deep breath, wrestling with new emotions, I realized that my feelings for Seffy had grown into something soul-deep. It wasn’t a matter of right or wrong. Just as Seffy loved her parents despite their betrayal, my love for her existed in its own right. It wasn’t judged by circumstances. It simply was. I loved her utterly and completely, just as she was—an indelible part of my life and heart.

I could hear the world around me fading back into my awareness—a distant hum. The anticipation hung thick in the air as the pack waited, faces expectant and concerned.

“Tyler?” Linda called to me, finally succeeding at wrenching me back into the present. Turmoil roiled beneath my skin, and Linda’s presence beside me felt like an accusation, making bile rise in my throat. The knot in my gut tightened. What was meant to be a ceremony to fortify our pack now seemed utterly farcical. The terrible ache gnawing at my heart whispered that having a partner who I didn’t love beside me would be utterly hollow.

Determination surged within me, igniting a fire. Suddenly, I swept forward, speaking more with my heart than my head, the words erupting with force. “The ceremony is off!”

The declaration rang out, clear and resolute, the strength of my conviction silencing the crowd into disbelief. Every eye settled on me, confusion and shock flickering across their faces.

“Go home,” I ordered, every word laden with the finality of the rupture ringing through my chest. Guilt bit at me as the murmurs swelled into a cacophony of confusion, but I ignored it all, the clarity that surged within fueling me forward.

I had been a fool to think I could continue on this path. Bound by duty, I had all but imprisoned myself, neglecting the undeniable truth brewing in my heart. The realization of what I truly desired blazed within me. I needed to find Seraphina. She was my fated mate, like a wildflower blooming amid the snow—her thrumming magic and powerful wolf called to me like no other ever could.

“Tyler. What’s going on?” Linda implored sharp and crystalline. Disbelief twisted her features, but I couldn’t linger any longer. I’d neglected Seraphina too long.

“I’m sorry,” I said, the weight of my conviction unwavering as determination filled me. Swiftly, I dashed toward the edge of the gathering, pushing through the throng of packmates. Confusion rippled through the pack, their inquiries and surprised exclamations fading behind me as I tore past.

“Tyler!” Linda’s voice rose again, a desperate plea, but I wouldn’t stop. Nothing could deter me from finding Seraphina and reclaiming what was rightfully mine. She needed to know, needed to feel that I recognized the power of our bond—that it wasn’t too late for us. It couldn’t be.

My focus sharpened as I allowed my wolf to break free, shedding my expensive suit and shoes like debris. My beast ran as if hislife depended on it, his giant strides eating up the path as we descended the mountain. With each pounding step, images of Seraphina filled my mind—her laughter ringing like music, her radiant smile lighting up the darkest moments of the past. Just as we’d baked together, measuring our ingredients, laughter and flour spilling forth, all of those shared moments had been an alchemy of our sorrow transforming into something sweeter: love.

The ache in my chest burned intensely. I finally understood. I had shielded myself from her, convinced that our relationship had to stay the same as it had always been. Yet, my denial might have caused me to lose her forever.

The branches of evergreens to my right swayed gently in the breeze, the faint scent of honey filling my nose:Seraphina.

Hunger and need coursed through my veins as I followed the scent. My heart hammered with relief as I took in footprints, too. But panic clawed at me as, instead of getting stronger, her scent grew weaker.

My wolf’s howl pierced the night, echoing in the stillness as desperation clawed at my throat. I needed to tell her that I’d made a mistake. I had to make her understand the depth of my feelings. In that moment, the weight of my indecision mocked me as I skidded out into a clearing.

Shock washed over me as my wolfish eyes took in a chilling sight: a magic circle. Crystals lay scattered amidst runes. A growl rumbled in my throat, my fur bristling as my wolf recognized the sense of loss ringing through the crystals. They had been leached of their magic and seemed to rest in the snow like a picked-over carcass—a hollowness that mirrored the barrenness in my chest.Then I noticed Seraphina’s clothes, shoes, and purse abandoned beside the circle.

In a flash of insight, the realization crashed over me that Seraphina had done away with our mate bond. She was as remarkable a witch as her mother, Cordelia, and I knew she possessed the magic required to bring our connection to an end, especially after witnessing me on the cusp of committing to another woman. Agony shot through me, my wolf’s howl piercing the air with rage and grief. She’d rejected me.

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