Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Warmth.

That was the first thing Adina felt. She groaned slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked once, then twice, getting used to the bright light.

"Shut the curtains," came someone's voice. She couldn't decipher who it was. The lights dimmed instantly, and she sighed in relief, finally able to open her eyes fully and look around. She was in a room, she knew that much.

She looked to her side to see a woman, an elderly one grinding some herbs, she presumed. Adina managed to sit up, the memories came rushing in instantly.

The men. The fight. The incredible power she felt.

She looked down at herself, her body was perfectly intact. She touched her face and nothing was swollen. She gripped her hands, wiggling her fingers. There was no iota of pain.

"You healed faster than we expected," the woman next to her said. Adina looked at herself. "You are?"

"The one who was brought to heal your injuries… it wasn't needed though. You healed perfectly fine on your own," she replied.

Adina hummed, looking around the room again. It was her parents' room, she could tell. It didn't bother her. She looked at the woman again. "Where's his majesty?" she asked.

"Attending to matters. Shall I call for him?" she asked.

Adina nodded, and the woman stopped what she was doing to step out of the room. Adina leaned back against the headboard, taking a deep breath. She was immediately transported back to that alley, with those men.

She remembered all that happened clearly, with such precision, too. The birds, the strain in her veins, the overwhelming energy that filled her body. It felt like she was floating in the air. Her body was free, freer than anything she's ever felt. It was magnificent. Even much more powerful than the two times she's had the feeling. The first was with Catherine, and the second was with the maids from the woods that day.

Catherine! Her eyes widened. That little she-devil caused this. She made a deal with those men. Adina shook her head; Catherine couldn't go scot-free. She had to be taught a lesson. One that would make her life completely miserable.

She threw the covers off her body and got out of bed. Her knees were weak at first, but apart from that, she felt absolutely fine. Adina walked towards the door, about to place her hand on the knob when the door pushed open.

Thorne stood in front of her, his eyes taking her in fully, and before she could say a thing, he took a single stride forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

She smiled, hugging back. "You are okay," he said, and she nodded.

"I'm okay. Absolutely okay," she replied.

"Good. Good. Because I thought—" he didn't finish his words.

"You thought what?" Adina replied.

Thorne leaned back, gripping her shoulders, his eyes searching hers. "What do you remember?" he asked.

"Everything. I remember everything that happened."

Thorne's eyes narrowed. "Including what did that to those men?" he asked.

She froze. "Did what?"

Thorne shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing. How are you—"

"Catherine did it. She set me up. Those men, they were going to take me, and I don't know what they planned to do, but she set me up," she rushed out quickly.

Thorne's expression darkened. "I know."

Adina blinked. "You do?"

He nodded, walking her back to the bed. "It was easy to deduce. You told me the kind of person she was. And she confessed too."

This, Adina wasn't expecting. "She did?"

Thorne nodded. "Well, she pleaded for her life, asked for mercy. Only the guilty would do that," he replied, clasping his hands over hers, seeing her forlorn look.

"I took care of Catherine and Roman. They won't ever be a problem to you again. Never."

Adina glanced at him. "Roman? What do you mean you took care of them?"

"Roman committed treason against the crown. He stopped the warriors from adhering to my orders. He stayed still while his mate committed crimes against the pack and the realm. He endangered the life of the future Queen."

Adina gaped the more he spoke.

"He's been stripped of his title as Alpha and demoted as a slave of Obsidian. He'll serve the realm."

Adina's eyes widened dramatically. Roman is now a slave? A slave?

"And Catherine?" she asked.

"I killed her."

Adina froze, her face paling at his words. He did what now?

"Adina, she tried to kill you."

Adina nodded, her brows furrowed like she was trying to wrap her mind around it. "I- I know," she replied.

Catherine wasn't a good person; she was a horrible, horrible person. And yet… Adina's heart clenched slightly. Why?

"Adina…" Thorne called, taking in her forlorn look. "D-do you hate me?" he asked.

She shook her head. Hate? Never! She could never hate him. Catherine deserved it. Whatever happened to her. She deserved it.

"Never," she whispered.

Thorne nodded; that was the one thing he feared. Her hating him.

"We will leave Crystal Moon at dawn tomorrow. You'll return home," he said, kissing the crown of her head.

Adina smiled, leaning against him. Home. Once upon a time, Home was Crystal Moon, and now… home is Obsidian.

At dawn of the next day, Adina stepped out of the house, ready to leave Crystal Moon and the trauma it gave her. She held the old box that belonged to her mother, waiting for Thorne, her eyes watching as the warriors safely guarded their things into a wagon.

She watched as the slaves were marched out of the pack house, all chained tight. Her chest tightened slightly, seeing them march in a row.

Her eyes fell on the one person she never thought she'd see in this position. Roman. He marched just like the rest, chained with some lower-born clothes on him. Their gaze locked for a brief second.

His was filled with despair, anger, and bitterness. And hers? It was filled with reckoning.

Adina looked away like she didn't know him… she didn't. Not anymore.

"You ready?" came Thorne's voice.

Adina smiled and nodded, slipping her hand into his as he helped her into the carriage, tucking the hem of her dress into the carriage properly.

Adina smiled, clutching the box in her arms. "Let's go home."