ROMAN
I felt it before I understood it—a visceral wrongness slithering through the air around us, coiling like a serpent preparing to strike. The pain that followed was unlike anything I'd experienced—not physical but soul-deep, as if someone were trying to carve out the most essential part of me with a dull blade.
Our bond. Someone was attacking our mate bond.
Ruby's face contorted in agony, mirroring my own pain as we collapsed onto the moonlit grass. The magic surrounding us was ancient and malevolent—dark threads weaving through the air, seeking the golden connection between our souls.
"Roman," she gasped, her fingers clutching mine with desperate strength. "Don't let go."
I gripped her hands tighter, pouring every ounce of my will into maintaining our connection. The bond between mates wasn't just emotional or spiritual—it was fundamental, woven into the very fabric of our beings. To sever it was an abomination, a violation of the most sacred wolf law.