Fell for the Alpha-less Queen

Chapter 407 The Spring, The Bloodbond Ring

18 Pearls

Moonlight poured through the glass dome above them, spreading across the sacred spring in the center of the hall. The surface sparkled with silver light, and the faint scent of lilies floated in the air like a blessing.

Walter moved slowly toward her, staff in hand. He looked softer than usual, but beneath that warmth was gravity-a quiet power. The edge of his ceremonial robe whispered over the stone with each step.

"My Tessie," he said gently, "tonight you become an adult. In the name of Frostmoon Pack's former Alpha, I bestow upon you the rites of purification and blessing."

Tessa's chest lifted with a slow breath.

This is really happening.

Her pheromones sweetened the air around her like blooming lilies. She nodded through the blur of tears.

Walter lifted his staff and tapped it lightly against the spring. The pool stirred. A clear stream of water rose from its center, hovering right in front of her like magic come alive.

He began to chant, voice low and ancient, like pine trees humming in the wind. The springlight turned to mist, rising and swirling around her body-cool, clean, and holy.

Then it happened.

The silver ring on her finger flashed-black against the white mist.

The inscription on it-Forever Yours-shuddered with rage. The Bloodbound Sorcery inside it pulsed, reacting violently to the sanctified air.

It's fighting back...

The spell Nathan had slipped onto her five years ago when she was unconscious. His trap. His claim.

'Now it hissed like something alive, like a curse being scorched straight out of her veins.

Tessa felt it. A faint tremor from the ring on her finger.

Her breath caught.

No way...

physical force. Nothing ever worked. That silver ring wouldn't come off. She couldn't break it. Couldn't sever the damn Bloodbound Sorcery Nathan had forced

here, under the magic of the sacred spring...

Something's changing...

Walter paused mid-chant. He felt it too. The dark energy curled

in

do to

10:03 Wed, 4 Jun

Spring, The Bloodbond

→ +8 Pearls

twisted bastard forced something like this on you? This is forbidden sorcery.

heck would

time to chase down

power of the sacred spring-he had a

of his tongue without a word and let a drop of his blood fall into the

an Alpha's blood could amplify the sanctum's

it would

soaked in the sacred mist, and

bloodstream-cool and clean-scrubbing away the black

as it passed

Wait...

The faintest shift. The Bloodbound Sorcery loosened

it only lasted a heartbeat. As the mist finished its path through her body and drifted away, the silver ring stayed right where it was. The

change lit something inside

means it can break. Maybe this spring isn't just

her once. Then again. Then a third time. Each loop was dimmer than

all the spring had

eyes darkened with regret. His shoulders sagged

1. it.

at full strength, he

Not yet.

moment. And next time,

and the final shimmer of mist on Tessa's skin gathered into delicate beads of dew, sliding down to the stone beneath her feet. Around them, the totem