Chapter 06

The environment around Xara seemed altered. Every sound, breath, and movement was amplified, as if her senses had been broken open, unveiling a universe she had never experienced before. Her palm still throbbed where Zayne had cut her, but the ache was fading, replaced by something deeper, far more powerful.

It was the bond. She could feel it now: an invisible thread connecting her to the three Alphas standing before her. Their presence, which had before been scary and oppressive, now seemed like an extension of herself, as if their strength pumped through her own veins.

Zayne was the first to pull away, towering to his full height, his amber eyes filled with intense joy. His gaze traveled over her as if assessing the ritual's success, and Xara could feel the power emanating from him, a sense of control and domination that crushed against her in waves. She clinched her fists, the sting of the new cut a reminder of the strength of the tie they had just established.

Luka, always the mischievous one, crouched alongside her, his hand still linked with hers. His smirk was softer now, almost kind, but it still had the sense of menace she had grown to expect from him. "You feel it, don't you?" he asked, his voice low and tinged with a strange mix of pride and excitement. "A connection. "It's in your blood now."

Xara nodded, unable to convey the intense emotion rushing through her. She felt it—the pull, the warmth, the weird and irrefutable relationship that suddenly connected her to these men. It wasn't simply physical; it was deeper, more ancient, and primordial.

Rowan remained silent, his black eyes fixated on her, his face unreadable. But Xara could sense something from him as well, a flare of approval hidden deep behind the silent intensity that surrounded him at all times. He was the most difficult to read, hiding his emotions behind a wall of stoic control, but the relationship had given her a glimpse—albeit a fleeting one—of something more.

Zayne moved away from her, his voice piercing the still night air. "It's done," he murmured, his tone heavy with finality. "Xara, you are one of us now. Bound to the Savage Blood Pack. Bound to us."

Xara's heart raced in her chest. The reality of the situation washed over her in waves. She was now theirs, as much as they were hers. The tie, the blood, the ritual—it had sealed her destiny. There was no escape or way out. But there was something else that she hadn't expected.

Power.

The bond was more than simply a tether for them. It was a wellspring of strength that she could feel increasing within her, with each heartbeat. It wasn't the kind of power that came from raw strength, like Zayne's dominance or Kael's fighting abilities. It was subtler, more delicate, yet it was still alive inside her.

Luka rose up and offered her a hand, his smirk returning. "Come on, Little Omega. Let us get you cleaned up. "You have had a long night."

Xara paused for a while before taking his hand and letting him pull her to her feet. The forest around them seemed quieter now, with the weight of the ritual still hanging in the air. She could feel Zayne's attention on her as they walked, but he did not speak. His approbation or judgment remained buried beneath his penetrating eyes.

As they made their way back to the stone hall, their relationship became deeper with each step. The connection allowed Xara to feel their emotions, weakly but unmistakably. Zayne's steely control, Luka's humor, and Rowan's quiet intensity were all present, just beneath the surface, like shadows dancing on the boundaries of her consciousness.

She was unsure how she felt about it. Part of her was horrified by the loss of control, how her body had become inextricably linked to theirs in ways she had never experienced before. However, another part of her—the one that had battled so hard to survive—was interested. This relationship, this ability, could provide her with strength if she understood how to use it.

Back inside the hall, the warmth of the fire greeted them, throwing flickering shadows on the stone walls. Luka walked her to a little basin of water, soaking a handkerchief into the cool waters and gently wiped the blood from her palm. His touch, surprisingly soft, made her shiver. She hadn't expected to see this side of him—this compassion that seemed to contradict the danger that lay beneath his taunting smile.

"Does it hurt?" he inquired quietly, his gaze fixed on her.

Xara shook her head, but the truth was that the pain had subsided to a throb, overwhelmed by the weird new feelings coursing through her body. "Not much."

Luka's lips twitched into a half smile. "You're tougher than you look, you know that?"

She met his stare, looking for the derision she had grown to expect, but there was none. He was serious, and the significance of his remarks astounded her.

"Thank you," she replied quietly, wondering what else to say. Luka's presence was both reassuring and unnerving, and she wasn't sure how to balance them.

Zayne stood by the fire with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes remote, as if lost in meditation. Rowan lingered in the shadows, watching them with his calm intensity, constantly monitoring and assessing. The three of them were so different, but they were joined by their bond and strength. And now she was part of it.

"You'll have to get used to this," Zayne remarked abruptly, his voice drawing her back to him. "The bond." The power. It is something you cannot ignore."

Xara nodded, but she didn't entirely comprehend. The relationship was still young and raw, and the strength she felt was more like a whisper than a roar. But she could feel it growing, taking root within her, and she knew it would only get stronger.

"I'll learn," she answered, her voice calm despite the uncertainty within her. "I'll figure it out."

Zayne met her eyes, and for a brief instant, his expression softened, almost as if he approved. "Good. "You'll need to."

Luka finished ministering to her hand and got up, flashing her his customary fun mischievous grin. "Do not worry, tiny omega. We'll make sure you're prepared for whatever happens next.

Xara was unsure whether that was a promise or a threat, but she nodded nevertheless. Whatever happened next, she'd be prepared. She needed to be.

Rowan's voice, calm yet commanding, rang through the room. "She needs to rest."

Luka raised an eyebrow but did not protest. "Always the serious one, aren't you, Rowan?" He looked at Xara, his grin softening. "He's correct, though. You've got enough thrill for the night."

Xara couldn't disagree with it. Her body ached from the fight with Kael, and the ritual depleted her in unexpected ways. She was fatigued, both physically and mentally, and the prospect of repose was almost too appealing to resist.

Zayne motioned toward a smaller chamber off the main hall. "You'll sleep there for now. We'll talk about the rest tomorrow.

The rest. Xara understood it meant more tests and trials. Her bond may have been strengthened, but her place in the Savage Blood Pack was far from certain. She still needed to prove herself, not only to them, but to herself.

Without saying anything further, Xara turned and walked toward the small chamber Zayne had indicated. As she went inside, the walls felt like they were closing in on her, with the weight of everything crushing against her. She was alone for the first time since the rite, and the silence was deafening.

Xara sat on the side of the bed, staring at her palm, the cut bandaged but still hurting faintly. The relationship was present, vibrating just beneath the surface, a continual reminder of what had happened and who she had become.

She was now bonded to them. To Zayne's force, Luka's wildness, and Rowan's quiet strength. She couldn't sever the tie, no matter how much she wanted to.

And then, when she laid down, exhausted and falling asleep, she noticed something else.

They were also bound to her.