Chapter 15
Lysandra’s POV
My heart hammered against my ribs as Tristan kept me trapped against the wall, his eyes reflecting the moon’s silver light. The scent of him–cold pine and leather from winter forests, with metallic sharpness and an underlying hint of warm amber–invaded my senses, making it difficult to maintain my composure. Tristan Wolfbane’s distinctive aura surrounded me completely.
Tears stung the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Five years had passed, yet his accusations still cut like knives.
“You remain as rude and insufferable as ever,” I managed, my voice steadier than I felt. “Five years, and you haven’t changed at all.”
Tristan released his grip on my wrist but didn’t step back. His body maintained a careful distance from mine, yet somehow he occupied all the space around me, his Alpha presence suffocating.
“Let me explain one last time, whether you believe me or not–I never engineered our marriage.”
Painful memories crashed over me like waves–his cold indifference on our wedding night, the countless nights spent alone while he was with Selene, the humiliation of being the unwanted wife. I bit my lower lip to keep from crying.
“Then what about this mate bond?” His gaze briefly flicked to where a mate mark should have been on my neck before darting away.
I took a deep breath. “What do you mean?” My voice sounded more broken than I intended, despite my attempt to appear indifferent.
“Don’t pretend you can’t feel the mate bond between us,” he said, tilting his head slightly, analyzing my reaction.
“You cannot possibly be my mate.” I squared my shoulders, refusing to shrink before him. “We severed our connection five years ago. I’ve rebuilt my life. This so–called mate bond means nothing.”
All the humiliation and pain from our marriage flooded back. My hands trembled slightly, but I kept them tightly gripped on the fabric of my dress.
Fury flashed across Tristan’s face, his Alpha voice surging toward me with mental pressure. The blood–red ring around his gray–blue irises intensified, glowing in the dim light.
I forced myself to look him in the eye. “When someone else marks me, this mate bond will automatically disappear. Nothing to worry about, Alpha Tristan.” I deliberately emphasized his title, creating distance between
- us.
Inside me, Astrid whined, straining toward Tristan’s wolf. The conflicting sensations–my body’s instinctive response to him versus my mind’s determination to resist–left me physically tense.
“Are you threatening me?” he growled, his pupils dilating. His hand slammed against the wall beside my head, the
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impact sending vibrations through my body.
“Not a threat,” I replied coolly, though my racing pulse betrayed me. “Just stating facts.”
Seizing a moment when his stance shifted, I ducked under his arm and moved toward the door. I needed to escape before my resolve crumbled completely.
***
When I returned to the grand ballroom, I immediately spotted Kieran across the hall. His head turned back and forth as if searching for someone, his expression tense with worry. The moment his eyes found me, relief washed over his features. He quickly excused himself from the Alpha he’d been speaking with and made his way to my
side.
“Where’s your phone?” he asked, concern etched into his features. “I’ve been trying to reach you for half an hour. Where did you go?”
I forced a smile, not wanting to burden him with the truth. “Don’t worry, Kieran. I just wanted to explore a bit and got somewhat lost.”
The lie felt bitter on my tongue, but I couldn’t tell him about my encounter with Tristan. Kieran had been my rock these past five years–always there for the twins, always supportive–and he harbored no love for Tristan.
Wolfbane.
He studied my face, clearly noticing something amiss. “Your heartbeat is erratic.”
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