Twice my Bond

Fiona scanned the entire congregation, but there was no sign of Phoenix. She sighed, stepping down from the stage. As she made her way toward the throne, a sudden glow surrounded Eira, making her look dazed and unsteady. Concern surged through Fiona, and without hesitation, she handed her staff to her lady-in-waiting and rushed to Eira's side, catching her just as she started to collapse.

"Eira, please, say something!" Fiona pleaded, shaking her gently. Her gaze followed Eira's, tracing it to the door—Kieran stood there, his expression unreadable. Fiona nodded slightly, and Kieran returned the gesture.

With trembling hands, Eira removed the name tag from Puma's neck and pressed it into Fiona's palm. "Give this to Kieran… Tell him I love him dearly and that we'll meet again—sooner than he thinks." She took a shaky breath before whispering, "Mama… Vangelis… where is Phoenix?"

"He couldn't make it," Vangelis said softly.

Eira smiled faintly. "I'm happy I wrote a note beforehand. Give it to him. And know that I have no regrets… I cherished these days. I love you all with my whole heart."

She raised a hand and wiped the tears from Fiona's cheeks. "It's your wedding day… You shouldn't cry. And don't worry, I'll return to this pack one day."

Fiona's grip on her tightened, unwilling to let go, but Valeria stepped forward, taking Eira's hand in hers. "It's okay, my child… let go."

Eira nodded, inhaling deeply. The sacred seal around her blindfold cracked and dissolved. Unable to bear the sight of her departure, Fiona buried her face in Vangelis' chest, her body wracked with silent sobs.

Across the hall, Kieran clenched his fists and kicked the door in frustration before storming out. As Eira fully vanished, the blindfold she had worn slipped from the air and landed gently in Fiona's hands.

"She's gone," Vangelis whispered.

Gasps echoed through the gathering as petals began to fall from the sky—soft, red roses drifting like blessings from the Moon Goddess. The sacrifice had been accepted.

Fiona found Kieran and pressed the name tag into his palm. He took it with a brief nod of thanks and walked away without another word.

Meanwhile, Phoenix stood in the distance, gazing up at the moon. A single white rose fell from the sky, landing softly on his face. He caught it, inhaling its scent deeply.

"You haven't stopped your childish ways of saying goodbye," he murmured with a bittersweet smile. Memories flashed before him—twelve years ago, when she had left for training, she had done the same, leaving behind a white rose.

"I'll miss you, little sister," he whispered before pressing a kiss to the flower. Then, without another word, he shifted into his beast form and leaped off the cliff, disappearing into the night.

Vangelis wrapped an arm around Fiona, gently stroking her hair. "We leave for our new home tomorrow," he murmured. "You're still crying… I never thought you'd grow so fond of her." He sighed, tilting her chin up. "I wanted to make you the happiest woman alive today, but let's save that for another time—when our hearts are lighter."

Valeria approached, her gaze softening as she looked at her son. "I can't believe my little Vangelis has grown so fast. It feels like just yesterday I held you in my arms, and now you're starting a family of your own." She tousled his hair playfully.

"Mama, I'm not a baby," Vangelis groaned, attempting to dodge her touch.

Valeria chuckled. "Don't make me laugh, Vangy. You'll always be my baby." Then, her smile faded as her eyes landed on Fiona's neck. She reached out, brushing her fingers over a faint scar.

"Where did you get this scar?" Valeria asked, frowning.

Fiona blinked in confusion. "I… I don't know. I've never noticed it before."

Valeria's expression darkened. "The only scar that can remain on you… is a husband's bond."

Fiona stiffened at her words, while Vangelis immediately stepped in. "You're scaring her, Mother," he said, wrapping an arm protectively around Fiona. "She's not one of our kind. And no matter what happens, her loving husband is always here to protect her." He pressed a tender kiss to Fiona's forehead, his grip tightening as if to shield her from whatever truths lay ahead

Corrine eyed Fiona with growing unease. The night air was thick with an unnatural stillness, the faint rustling of leaves the only sound breaking the silence. Then, suddenly, an unsettling shift rippled through Fiona. Her body stiffened, her breath hitched, and before Corrine could react, her eyes flashed an electric blue—unnatural, otherworldly.

Fiona gasped, staggering back as though struck by an unseen force. Her fingers flew to her temples, pressing hard, as if trying to contain something clawing at the edges of her mind. Her chest rose and fell in frantic bursts, her gaze darting wildly around them.

No—she wasn't just looking. She was seeing.

Terror contorted her delicate features, her lips parting in a silent scream. It was as though a ghostly apparition had materialized before her, a vision so vivid, so horrifying, that it paralyzed her in place.

"What's wrong?" Valeria's voice cut through the moment, tinged with concern.

"I—I saw something," Fiona rasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "A flash. It was there one second, then gone."

The raw fear in her tone sent a chill through Corrine. She had never seen Fiona like this before—so shaken, so vulnerable.

Before anyone could speak, Vangelis moved, his expression dark with worry. He pulled Fiona into a protective embrace, his arms coiling around her as though shielding her from whatever invisible force had gripped her moments ago.

"Don't worry. I'm here," he murmured, his voice a quiet promise against the storm raging in her mind.

Fiona's body trembled against him, her breath uneven. Then, slowly, the eerie glow in her eyes began to fade, the supernatural blue dulling until her irises returned to their familiar crimson hue.

Corrine watched, her heart hammering in her chest. Something about this felt… wrong. The way Fiona's energy had shifted, the way the color of her eyes had changed—it was unlike anything she had ever witnessed before.

A dark thought coiled in her mind, cold and unwelcome.

Was Fiona bonded to a different wolf?