THE NEXT MORNING
JAXON'S POINT OF VIEW:
It started slow a soft twitch of his fingers, the faintest furrow of his brow. Michael and I watched with bated breath as Xavier's breathing grew uneven, his chest rising and falling faster, beads of sweat beginning to form along his forehead. His hands clenched at the sheets, fingers curling tight into the fabric as if trying to hold on to something real. Michael glanced at me, eyes sharp.
"It's starting."He whispered.
I nodded, swallowing the rising tension building in my chest.
"Yeah."I said.
Xavier's eyes fluttered, and his lips parted, a shaky breath escaping. His cheeks flushed a deeper shade of crimson, and I could practically feel the surge of heat coming off his body. He shifted restlessly, brows knitting together as a soft whimper slipped past his lips.
"Xavier?" I called out gently, leaning closer.
His eyes blinked open, hazy and unfocused, pupils blown wide. He gasped, jerking upright, hands gripping the sheets tight enough that his knuckles turned white.
"W-What…what's happening?" He stammered, his voice breathless and cracking.
Michael reached out, pressing a hand to his shoulder.
"Easy." He soothed, voice low and calm. "You're just…feeling the effects."
"Effects? Of what?" He swallowed hard, sweat beading along his temple.
I exchanged a quick look with Michael before settling back on him.
"Selene gave us something to help…smooth things along." I admitted.
His eyes widened, panic flickering there.
"You…you drugged me?"Xavier asked, terrified.
"No." I corrected, voice firm. "It's a bonding accelerator. It's just enhancing what's already there."
Xavier's breath came faster now, his chest heaving. He reached up to press his palm against his forehead, eyes squeezing shut.
"It's…hot." He murmured, voice shaking. "I feel like I'm burning up."
Michael's hand slid from his shoulder to his back, rubbing slow circles.
"It's your body adjusting." He said gently. "You're feeling the bond getting stronger."
Xavier let out a shaky laugh, somewhere between disbelief and desperation.
"Stronger? It feels like I'm gonna explode."Xavier whimpered lightly.
I leaned in, catching his gaze.
"You won't." I assured him, voice low. "You're just…feeling us more. That's all."
His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw the raw vulnerability there, the part of him that still didn't understand this world the part that feared it. My chest tightened, and before I could stop myself, I reached out, brushing my thumb along his cheek.
"You're safe." I whispered. "We're here."
Xavier's eyes flickered, and his breathing slowed just a bit, the tension in his shoulders softening as he leaned unconsciously into my touch.
"It…it doesn't hurt." He admitted softly, almost as if confessing a secret.
Michael grinned, voice low and comforting.
"That's because it's natural. You're just…connecting with us."He said.
Xavier's gaze drifted between us, eyes glassy and unsure.
"I…I don't understand why it feels like this."He said.
"Because you're ours." I said, the words, leaving my lips before I could second guess them.
His eyes snapped to mine, and I held his gaze, unwavering.
"You feel it too, don't you?"I asked.
He swallowed, gaze dropping to his lap, and his silence spoke louder than any words could have. Michael leaned in, his voice a whisper against Xavier's ear.
"Just let it happen. "Michael muttered.
"System update... Sync progress: 75%"System said.
Xavier's eyes shot open, wide and shimmering with surprise.
"Seventy-five." He breathed out.
Michael chuckled darkly, fingers trailing down his back. Xavier's cheeks flushed again, but this time, he didn't pull away. His body relaxed just a fraction, leaning into our touches. I exchanged a quick, knowing glance with Michael. It was working.
AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
The room was too hot, too small, I couldn't breathe. I staggered back, nearly tripping over the edge of the carpet as I stumbled toward the door. Run. The thought blasted through my mind, urgent and wild. I didn't think, I just moved. My feet hit the floor harder, faster, carrying me out of the room and into the hallway before I even registered what I was doing. The coolness of the corridor air slapped against my flushed skin, jolting me back to my senses. But I didn't stop. I couldn't. Footsteps thundered behind me.
"Xavier!" Jaxon's voice was sharp, commanding. "Stop!"
But I wasn't listening. I threw myself forward, adrenaline roaring through my veins. My feet barely skimmed the ground as I flew down the stairs, nearly slipping on the last step but catching myself just in time.
"Damn it, he's running!" Michael's voice joined the fray, deeper and edged with something I didn't want to acknowledge.
I skidded around the corner, heart hammering. The front doors loomed ahead, massive, imposing, but open. Sunlight spilled in like a beacon. Freedom. My legs burned as I sprinted across the marble floor, lungs searing with every ragged breath. The scent of cedar and rain was fainter now, the oppressive weight of their presence thinning as I neared the exit.
"Don't you dare!" Jaxon's voice snarled from somewhere behind me, but I didn't look back. I couldn't.
My hand slammed against the door, and I flung it open with everything I had. Fresh air hit me like a wave, sharp and clean. I sucked it in greedily, stumbling out onto the courtyard stones.
But I didn't stop. Not yet. Not until I was away. Far away.
My feet pounded against the cobblestones, every step echoing the frantic beat of my heart. Trees loomed ahead, dark and dense, and I aimed for them without thinking. Branches whipped against my face as I crashed through the underbrush, leaves crunching beneath my feet. Freedom. Just a little further. My breath came in harsh gasps, legs aching as I pushed deeper into the woods. The sounds of the estate faded behind me, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. I was alone. I was free. But then, just as my body began to slow, the edge of adrenaline wearing off, I heard it. A howl. Low and dangerous, cutting through the silence like a blade. My heart stopped.
"No." I whispered, stumbling as I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat.
Shadows moved between the trees, figures slipping through the darkness. My blood turned to ice as Jaxon and Michael emerged from the gloom, eyes sharp and glittering with something feral.
"There you are." Jaxon growled a bit, voice smooth but edged with menace. He stepped forward, slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. "Did you really think you could get away?"
My legs tensed, instinct flaring, but Michael stepped to the side, cutting off my path. His eyes were darker than I'd ever seen them, fixed on me with an intensity that made my knees go weak. I swallowed hard, my back pressing against the rough bark of a tree.
"Stay back." I choked out, hands splayed against the trunk. "Don't-"
But Jaxon just laughed, low and dangerous.
"Run all you want, Xavier." He murmured, creeping closer. "We'll always catch you."
My breath stuttered, and my knees nearly buckled as the distance between us vanished.
"And this time." Michael added. "We won't be letting you go."