Bound by the Moon

Chapter 38

The silence that followed Kael's revelation stretched out, thick and suffocating. Astrid's heart raced, her mind struggling to keep up with the weight of what had just been said. A mate bond? Her and Lucien? It seemed impossible, absurd even. She hadn't felt anything—no rush of warmth, no deep, soul-anchoring connection that the legends always spoke of.

She glanced at Lucien, whose golden eyes were locked on her, his brow furrowed with concern, confusion, and something deeper that she couldn't quite place. The way he looked at her—intense, almost like he was seeing her in a new light—sent a shiver down her spine, but not in the way a mate bond should. There was no surge of overwhelming emotion, no pull toward him that made her feel complete. It just wasn't there.

"I don't feel it," Astrid finally said, her voice breaking the heavy silence. She shook her head, her eyes flicking between Lucien and Kael. "If we were mates, I would feel something, right? I would... know."

Kael crossed his arms, his sharp gaze assessing her as if trying to solve a puzzle. "Not necessarily," he said slowly, though he didn't sound entirely certain. "The bond between mates is primal, instinctual. But you've been... compromised. Your wolf has been bound for years. That could have affected your ability to sense the bond."

Astrid's heart sank at his words. She wanted to believe him, to think that there was some simple explanation for why she couldn't feel the connection she was supposed to have with Lucien. But the truth was, even after her wolf had been unbound, there had been no change. No flicker of recognition. If they were mates, wouldn't she have felt it by now?

Lucien's jaw tightened, and he took a step closer to her, his voice soft but filled with uncertainty. "Astrid, I've felt... something," he admitted, his golden eyes searching hers for a sign of understanding. "I don't know if it's the mate bond, but it's there. This pull between us. Haven't you felt it too?"

Astrid swallowed, her throat tight as she tried to make sense of her own emotions. There was a connection between them, yes. She had always felt close to Lucien, their bond forged through years of friendship and shared responsibility. But that was different. It wasn't the same as what she had always imagined a mate bond would be like.

"I... I don't know," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've felt something, but it's not like what you're describing. It doesn't feel... like a mate bond."

Kael watched them in silence, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he spoke again, his voice colder now, more calculating. "The only way to be certain is to speak to the elders. They'll have more insight into why you might not be feeling the bond. If there's any truth to this, they'll know."

Lucien nodded, though his face remained tense, his usual confidence shaken by the uncertainty in the air. "He's right. The elders have seen more than any of us. They'll know what's going on."

Astrid hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure she was ready for whatever answer the elders might give them. If they were truly mates... what did that mean for her? For them? And if they weren't—if this was all just some misunderstanding—how would that change everything between her and Lucien?

But there was no avoiding the truth. If they didn't get answers, this confusion would only fester, making it even harder for her to focus on the real issue: controlling the shadow within her.

"Alright," she said finally, squaring her shoulders and meeting Lucien's gaze. "Let's talk to the elders."

The elders' chambers were located deep within the heart of the pack's territory, far removed from the bustling energy of the compound. As they walked through the dense forest, the trees grew taller and older, their twisted roots tangling together beneath the earth like ancient guardians. The air here was different—thicker, filled with a quiet stillness that seemed to press down on Astrid as they approached the entrance to the stone chamber where the elders resided.