Unwritten Mates

Ethan's eyes flashed with something primal, but my attention was yanked toward Lycan as he lunged, teeth bared and muscles coiled with lethal intent. The air erupted with a frenzy of snarls and snapping jaws. It was chaos—fur and rage clashing in a brutal storm. My heart jackhammered against my ribs, and for a second, I couldn't breathe.

This was Lycan, the same wolf who had been gentle with me, who had nuzzled into my hand like a devoted guardian. But now? Now he was a beast of fury, wild and unstoppable.

Ethan staggered under the onslaught, his movements sharp but restrained. He was holding back, dodging Lycan's lunges with gritted teeth and desperate resolve. Lycan had no such reservations. His snarls vibrated through the air, shaking the trees themselves. The woodland throbbed with an invisible force, ancient and raw, stirring something deep inside me—something I couldn't quite grasp.

Ethan went down hard, Lycan's massive paws pinning him to the forest floor. His eyes widened with shock as he struggled beneath the beast's weight. My body moved before my brain could catch up.

"Stop!" I screamed, lunging forward.

I grabbed onto Lycan's thick fur, yanking with every ounce of strength I had. My hands trembled, but I held on, desperate to pull him off Ethan. The wolf barely noticed me, his focus locked on his prey. His jaws snapped dangerously close to Ethan's throat.

"Lycan, stop!" I begged, my voice cracking.

Then it happened—too fast for me to process.

Lycan whipped his head around, his teeth catching my arm. The pain exploded through me, white-hot and blinding. I screamed, stumbling backward as my knees buckled. Blood bloomed against my skin, and the world tilted.

Lycan froze.

The snarling stopped, replaced by a guttural whimper. His amber eyes widened in horror as he realized what he'd done. The fierce predator melted away in an instant, replaced by guilt and heartbreak. He crouched low, inching toward me with ears flattened and tail tucked.

My breath hitched. I couldn't be angry—not when I saw the torment in his eyes. He hadn't meant it. I knew that deep in my bones.

"Quinn!" Ethan's voice cracked as he scrambled over to me. His hands gripped my shoulders, shaking me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I whispered, though my voice wavered. The bite wasn't as bad as it had felt—just a few puncture wounds, nothing deep. Still, my arm throbbed with pain.

Ethan wasn't looking at me. His gaze was locked on Lycan, and fury rippled through his entire body.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he roared at the wolf.

Lycan let out a low, desperate whine, inching closer to me. I reached out with my uninjured arm, my fingers brushing against his fur. His warmth seeped into me, grounding me.

"It's okay," I said softly, more to Lycan than to Ethan. "You didn't mean it, did you?"

Lycan whimpered, his massive head bowing in shame. He leaned forward and licked the bite on my arm, his tongue warm and gentle, as if trying to erase the damage he'd done.

Ethan stiffened beside me. His anger flared again, sharp and hot.

"Quinn, stop," he snapped, pulling my hand away from Lycan. "He hurt you. You shouldn't be letting him—"

"Ethan, seriously. I'm fine," I insisted, shaking off Ethan's grip. "It wasn't his fault. He didn't mean to."

Ethan's jaw clenched. His eyes darted between me and the wolf, a storm brewing behind them. "You don't understand, Quinn," he growled. "Do you even know what a bite means? What that could—" He cut himself off, biting his lip hard.

I frowned, wondering what he was getting so worked up about. "What don't I understand, Ethan? What's going on?"

Ethan stood up abruptly, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated," he muttered. "Just… let's go inside, okay?"

Before I could respond, Lycan growled low, stepping protectively between me and Ethan. His body tensed and muscles coiled.

"Lycan?" I whispered, confused.

Ethan's voice sharpened. "Quinn, come on."

Lycan's growl deepened, vibrating through the air. The tension was suffocating, pressing down on me from all sides.

"What is wrong with you two?" I demanded, stepping between them. My head spun from the intensity of it all. "Why are you acting like this?"

Ethan opened his mouth to speak, but the words never came. His eyes flicked toward Lycan, and something shifted. I could feel it now, the strange energy that tugged at my soul, pulling me toward it.

And then a sound shattered the night.

A sharp, guttural howl sliced through the air, freezing the blood in my veins. It was close—too close.

Ethan's body went rigid. His eyes locked onto the dark shadows creeping toward us from the forest's edge.

"We need to go," he said urgently, grabbing my hand. "Now."

Before I could protest, Lycan let out a warning growl, stepping in front of me. His eyes glowed a fierce, dangerous red, and a shiver ran down my spine.

The shadows moved.

From the darkness, a figure emerged—tall, imposing, and with eyes as red as blood. They locked onto me, unblinking. The air around us seemed to freeze.

Ethan swore under his breath, his grip on my hand tightening. Even he seemed rattled.

The figure's voice was low and menacing, cutting through the night like a blade.

"She's mine now."