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

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

Something's changing...

felt it too. The dark energy curled around her-thick,

flared in his

do to

10:03 Wed, 4 Jun

The Spring, The

→ +8 Pearls

bastard forced something like this on

would mark you

didn't have time to chase

moon and the power of the sacred spring-he had a chance to free her.

bit into the tip of his tongue without a word

Rite, an Alpha's blood could amplify the sanctum's power-just enough to burn something dark out

it would

in the sacred mist, and she followed its slow glide through her like a

clean-scrubbing away the black

then, as it passed her

Wait...

Bloodbound Sorcery loosened ever so slightly under the

As the mist finished its path through her body and drifted

change

it can break. Maybe this spring isn't just symbolic... maybe

sacred mist circled her once. Then again. Then a third time. Each loop was dimmer than the last. By the end, it was

all the spring had left to

with regret. His

1. it.

spirit at full strength,

Not yet.

wait-watch for the right moment. And

into delicate beads of dew, sliding down to the stone beneath her feet. Around them, the totem pillars began to glow a soft, otherworldly blue-like the sanctuary itself was welcoming