"Heart of Stone, Heart of Gold "

**Chapter 5: The Bond Unveiled**

Xander's POV

I watched helplessly as Thalia's eyes fluttered shut, and she went limp in my arms. Panic surged through me, but I knew I had to stay calm for her sake. Gently, I laid her down on the ground, making sure her head was supported.

"Thalia, please, wake up," I whispered, my voice trembling. The bond between us was undeniable, and seeing her like this tore at my very soul.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. I needed to think clearly. My wolf instincts were screaming at me to protect her, to make sure she was safe. But I also knew that I had to be careful not to overwhelm her with too much information too quickly.

I glanced around, making sure we were still alone. The forest was eerily silent, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. I turned my attention back to Thalia, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

"You're stronger than you know, Thalia," I murmured. "We'll get through this together."

My mind raced with thoughts of how to help her understand our bond, how to make her see that this connection between us was something beautiful and profound. But for now, the most important thing was to ensure she was alright.

I took her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin. "I'm here, Thalia," I said softly. "And I won't leave your side. Not now, not ever."

He gently picks her up and carries her back to his brother's house. His brother, already sensing something is wrong, runs out the door and meets him halfway. As he comes into view, Asher yells, "What happened? Is she okay?" Sensing his brother's turmoil, he tries to remain calm, urging his little brother to tell him exactly what happened.

Xander finally broke the silence. "I told her everything—from who I am, to Mom and Dad, to the fact that I'm the next heir, and how we are mates destined to be together. She just blacked out."
"Let's get her into the house," says Alpha. "She probably just had a major shock to her system and needs rest after all that was a lot of information to take on."

As I'm walking to the front door, I can't help but stare at her beauty. God, she's gorgeous—the way her auburn hair just falls over her face, how she looks so peaceful. And when she looks at me, man, my heart forgets to beat. The sight of her brown eyes looking right through me. I'm so lucky that I get to see those every day for the rest of my life.

I lay her down on my bed, kiss her forehead, and whisper, "I'm sorry I caused you to react like this. It wasn't intentional. I didn't want to tell you so soon, but the fates have other plans, I suppose." With that, I walked out and closed the door.