Breaking Bonds with Alpha the Eighth Time

The second I finish talking, Alpha Lucian shoves me, his face twisted with rage.

My lower back slams into the corner of the dining table, pain shooting through me so bad I break out in a cold sweat.

"Luna Ashvale, do you even hear yourself?" he snaps. "All I asked was for you to make dinner. Why are you making a big deal out of it?"

I'm clenching my teeth against the pain, staying silent.

But to Alpha Lucian, that's me defying him.

Vanessa chimes in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Alpha Lucian, I bet Luna Ashvale just can't stand me. Every time you ask her to do anything, she drags her feet or makes excuses."

"If someone like her stays your mate, I'll probably get kicked out of the house."

That's all it takes for Alpha Lucian's eyes to blaze like he's about to lose it.

He grabs my arm, drags me into the kitchen, and practically throws me against the counter.

His face is stone-cold, not a shred of warmth left. "If you don't make the dinner Vanessa wants tonight, you can spend the whole damn night in here."

Bang.

He slams the kitchen door shut.

My wrist is bruised purple, and my elbow's scraped raw from hitting the stove's edge, blood already seeping out.

A moment later, Vanessa's laughter echoes from the other side of the door, loud and relentless.

Alpha Lucian storms back in, sees me standing there, not moving, and his brows knit together. "Luna Ashvale, are you seriously trying to pick a fight with me?"

"You're my mate. What's the big deal about cooking a meal?"

I straighten up, slowly lifting my head to meet his gaze, a bitter smirk tugging at my lips. "You forgetting something, Alpha Lucian? Our bond is broken. I'm not your mate anymore."

His eyes flicker with embarrassment. He clears his throat, then steps closer, wrapping me in a gentle hug, his voice softening like he's trying to smooth things over. "I got carried away earlier, okay? But I've told you, the bond-breaking is just temporary."

"Once I get Vanessa calmed down, we can become bond again anytime. Don't sweat the small stuff."

He hands me a piece of paper scribbled with a list of dishes, his face turning serious, a hint of a warning in his tone. "I'm giving you a chance here, Luna Ashvale. Make Vanessa happy, cook what she wants, and we can form a new bond sooner."

"Be good, alright?"

He leaves, shutting the kitchen door again.

In that moment, a hollow sadness settles in my chest.

Since when did breaking a bond and forming a new one become "small stuff" to him?

And now I'm supposed to kiss up to Vanessa?

Sorry, not happening.

I'd rather camp out in this kitchen than grovel to her.

I slide down to the floor, leaning against the cabinets under the counter, and close my eyes.

Drifting in and out, I suddenly feel a chill.

I open my eyes to see Vanessa grinning wickedly, splashing a bucket of ice-cold water over me.

"Vanessa, are you out of your mind?" I yell.

She hurls the bucket at me, and it smacks my forehead hard.

"Luna Ashvale, I told you to cook, not nap! You think you're good enough to become bond with Alpha Lucian looking like that? Get real!"

I'm fuming now.

I grab the bucket she threw and chuck it back at her with all I've got.

Vanessa shrieks, dodging it, but the leftover water splashes all over her.

Alpha Lucian hears the commotion and barrels in. Seeing Vanessa soaked and disheveled, he doesn't hesitate-he grabs my hair and yanks, snarling, "Luna Ashvale, have you lost it? How dare you hurt Vanessa!"

He's pulling so hard, his face twisted with fury, like he wants to rip my hair out.

I'm forced onto my tiptoes, straining against his grip, trying to explain. "She threw water on me first and hit me with the bucket-"

But before I can finish, Alpha Lucian's eyes go wild, cold and vicious. "You had it coming!"

"All you had to do was make dinner, and you're slacking off, fighting back? Vanessa's sweet and kind-she only splashed you with water. If it was me, I'd have thrown you out on the street!"