Chapter 3 A Bound Unveiled

The fire crackled softly, its warmth doing little to ease the cold knot in Eva's chest. She perched on the edge of the massive bed, legs tucked beneath her, and the thick blanket pulled tightly around her shoulders. The room was grand, the kind of place she might have admired in a magazine once, but now it felt suffocating. Every flicker of the firelight cast ominous shadows, and every sound beyond the door sent her heart racing.

Their words from earlier echoed relentlessly in her mind.

"You're not going anywhere."

Lysander's blunt declaration had hit her like a slap. She had argued, of course, but it was clear none of them intended to budge. Her frustration boiled beneath the surface as she glanced around, her gaze darting to the heavy door that had been shut after their departure.

She wasn't just trapped in this house. She was trapped in a life she never asked for.

Dominic leaned against the doorframe now, silent and watchful. His eyes, dark and unreadable, followed her every movement. He didn't speak, but his presence alone was a constant reminder of her captivity.

Near the fireplace, Kael lounged in a high-backed chair, one leg slung casually over the armrest. He exuded a kind of ease that only made her more anxious. His sharp emerald eyes danced with amusement, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips whenever she dared glance his way.

And then there was Lysander, standing off to the side like a statue carved from ice. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, and his silver eyes avoided hers entirely, fixed instead on the flames. His rigid posture radiated tension, and yet there was something almost vulnerable about the way he held himself, as though he, too, were grappling with emotions he couldn't name.

The silence stretched on, thick and suffocating, until Eva finally snapped.

"If I'm so important," she said, her voice sharp, "maybe someone should explain why."

Kael chuckled softly, the sound deep and rich. "Straight to the point. I like that about you."

Dominic shot him a warning glance before stepping closer. His tone softened slightly, though his posture remained firm. "It's not a simple answer. What do you know about Lycans?"

Eva blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Next to nothing," she admitted. "I thought they were just myths."

"They're not myths," Dominic said. "We're real. Lycans are stronger, faster, and more powerful than any human-or even regular wolves. We live in packs, governed by laws older than human civilization. But with power comes danger. There are those who would destroy us-or use us-for their own gain."

Kael leaned forward in his chair, his emerald eyes gleaming with intrigue. "And in the center of it all, there's you."

Eva frowned, shifting uneasily. "Me? What does that mean?"

"The Moon-Blessed," Dominic explained, his tone steady. "You're one of them-a rare individual chosen by the moon goddess herself. Your presence strengthens us, connects us to her power in ways we can't fully explain. You're... unique."

The weight of his words settled heavily on her chest. "Unique how?"

Kael grinned, the expression both mischievous and serious. "It means you're special, sweetheart. And it means you're ours."

Eva's stomach dropped. The room seemed to tilt as the implications of his words hit her.

"Excuse me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Dominic shot Kael a sharp look, his frustration evident. "Kael-"

"She deserves to know," Kael interrupted, his tone uncharacteristically firm.

Dominic hesitated before turning back to Eva. His dark eyes held hers, steady and unwavering. "The Moon-Blessed are fated to their mates. Usually, it's one mate. But in rare cases like yours, the bond extends to more than one. You're bonded to all three of us."

Her mind reeled. She gripped the blanket tighter, shaking her head as if the motion alone could dispel their words.

"No," she said firmly. "No, that can't be true. I don't even know you. How can I be-how can I be bonded to you?"

"It's not something we choose," Dominic said, his voice low but firm. "It's instinctual. Written into our very beings. The bond is as much a part of us as breathing."

Lysander, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was cold but carried an undercurrent of something deeper. "It's not just about us. You feel it too, don't you? The pull. The connection."

His words struck a nerve. She had felt it-a strange, unexplainable pull toward each of them. It wasn't attraction, exactly, but something deeper, something primal. She hated it.

"I don't want this," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't want to be bonded to anyone."

Kael's teasing demeanor faltered, replaced by something almost solemn. "We didn't ask for this either, Eva. But we can't deny it."

Her frustration boiled over. "So what? I'm just supposed to accept it? Accept you? I don't even know you!"

"It's not fair," Dominic admitted, his tone quieter now. "None of this is. But it's the reality we face."

Eva stood abruptly, the blanket falling from her shoulders. "What if I don't want to stay here? What if I leave?"

Lysander's silver eyes snapped to hers, sharp and unyielding. "You can't. The rogues aren't the only threat. If you leave, you'll be hunted-and not just by them. Others would kill to control someone like you."

Her breath caught, her chest tightening as panic clawed at her. She looked away, unwilling to meet any of their gazes.

Dominic stepped closer, his voice steady and grounding. "We'll protect you, Eva. No matter what it takes."

She looked up at him, tears pooling in her eyes. "Why do you care?"

Kael's voice was soft, almost tender. "Because you're ours, Eva. Whether you want to be or not."

The intensity in his gaze made her heart race, and she quickly looked away, unsure how to process the emotions swirling inside her.

Dominic sighed, his expression grim. "For now, you need to rest. We'll explain more tomorrow."

She wanted to argue, to demand more answers, but exhaustion weighed her down. Nodding reluctantly, she sat back down on the bed, her mind spinning.

The brothers left, the door clicking shut behind them.

---

In the hallway, the tension between the brothers was palpable.

"She's terrified," Kael said, his usual humor absent.

Dominic ran a hand through his hair. "Of course she is. Her entire world just turned upside down."

"She's strong," Lysander said quietly. "Stronger than she knows."

Dominic nodded, his expression somber. "She'll have to be."

Kael smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Think she'll forgive us when she finds out what bonding with us really means?"

Dominic shot him a warning glance. "Not now, Kael."

Lysander's silver eyes darkened. "She doesn't have a choice. None of us do."

The weight of his words settled over them as they exchanged a silent look. Their fates-and Eva's-were sealed, whether any of them liked it or not.