Chapter 214: The Severing

Words : 1211 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 214: The Severing Jacob~ The moonlight had thinned into mist by the time 4 a.m. crept over the horizon. I sat on the edge of Tiger’s guest room bed, Easter curled beside me, her breathing uneven, her eyes glassy but open. She hadn’t spoken much after I promised not to leave again. Instead, she just held onto my arm like she was afraid I’ll bolt if she mistakenly closed her eye. She was trembling—small, soft tremors that I could feel down to my bones. Her daughter, slept peacefully in the adjoining room. The contrast between mother and child struck me like a blade. Easter, this delicate fairytale girl with curls that clung to her cheeks and a voice too tender for the kind of pain she’d lived through, was trying so hard to hold it together. "I shouldn’t be like this," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You... you’ve done enough." "Don’t say that," I replied, brushing a thumb along her cheek, wiping away the tear that had escaped. "You’re allowed to fall apart. I’m here." She bit her bottom lip, her gaze flickering away from mine. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against my chest. She was cold despite the blankets. Fragile. Her fingers twisted into the hem of my shirt like she was afraid I’d vanish again. "I should’ve never left," I murmured into her hair. "You came back," she whispered. "Barely," I muttered under my breath. The guilt of it clung to me like a shadow—I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive myself for messing up that badly. Natalie had stayed for a while, perched on the sofa, her arms crossed and her mind clearly filled with guilt and also somewhere else—likely with Fox who was out there searching for Griffin. Around 6 a.m., she finally stood and quietly kissed Easter’s forehead. "I’ll check in later," she said softly. Then to me, "She needs you more than I do right now." And just like that, Natalie vanished with a flicker of wind and light, off to hunt with Fox for Griffin. I stayed. Through the quiet. Through Easter’s tears that came and went in waves. Through her apologies for things she didn’t need to apologize for. By 8:30 a.m., her breathing evened out, slow and steady. She’d fallen asleep wrapped around my arm, her face pressed into my chest, freckles brushed pink from crying. I shifted carefully, easing her down onto the pillows without waking her. I stared at her a moment longer, heart tight. She didn’t know it yet, but she wasn’t alone. Not ever again. Tiger padded into the room with his usual quiet confidence. "I’ll stay with her," he said, not needing me to ask. He glanced down at Easter, then back at me. "Go. You’re needed." I gave him a nod. And then I closed my eyes and vanished. The air changed sharply. The moment I reappeared, I was in the back seat of a sleek black SUV, leather interior warm from sunlight and rage. "Well, well, well... Did someone say Ethanal siblings?" Sebastian and Zane both jolted. Sebastian twisted in his seat, eyes wide in disbelief. Zane turned slowly, his icy gaze locking onto mine. Alexander slept soundly in his arms, face tucked peacefully against his shoulder. Zane’s voice was a low growl. "Do you always have to make an entrance like a damn ghost?" I flashed a grin, sharp and unapologetic. "Of course. But this time? I come bearing news." Sebastian leaned in, the tension in his posture unmistakable. "You found her?" I waved him off, already walking past. "No time for questions. "Drive back to your house, Sebastian. Your solution’s there." Zane’s eyes narrowed. "You better not be screwing with us." I smirked, tossing a look over my shoulder. "When have I ever not screwed with you?" Sebastian pointed at me, scowling. "Jacob, I swear on your immortal eyebrows—" "I said drive, vampire," I cut in, my tone suddenly razor-sharp. "Your solution lies in your house." He didn’t ask another question. Just shifted the car into gear and drove like a man possessed. The moment we arrived at Sebastian’s sprawling estate, I jumped out before the engine even turned off. The air smelled wrong. Too clean. Like something had been scrubbed away. I stalked into the house, past the elegant staircase, and straight into Cassandra and Sebastian’s room. Her scent lingered—musk and steel and a faint trace of lavender. But something else stirred beneath it. Power surged in my chest. I reached out with it, my eyes fluttering closed as the Wolf Spirit powers in me peeled back reality. It led me to the living room. And then— Images. Flickers. Shadows. Ten vampires from Sebastian’s coven. Their faces blurred by magic, but I could feel the residue of their malice. They waited. Hiding just beyond the woods until Sebastian had left that night. Then they moved. Like predators. Cassandra had fallen asleep—deeply—while watching a movie. They surrounded her, injected her with Verbanax, a powerful sedative used only on werewolves, made from rare dragonroot and wolfsbane. Enough to bring down a grown Alpha in seconds. They crept in through a back entrance—one I hadn’t noticed before. Disabled security with sleek black gloves and spells etched into their skin. Surgical. Clean. Then they took her. And worse—they erased it all. Footage wiped. Clothes packed. Phone removed. Everything staged to look like Cassandra had left on her own. I staggered back, my head aching a bit from the overload. Zane caught my shoulder, keeping me steady. "Jacob," he said, voice low and urgent, "what did you see?" I turned toward Sebastian. His eyes were already glowing. Fangs bared. His whole body shook with barely contained fury. "They took her," I said grimly. "Ten of them. From your coven. They drugged her, then made it look like she left willingly. They erased every trace." Sebastian growled—a sound that was more beast than vampire. "They’re dead," he snarled. "They’re all dead. I’ll tear them apart. Every last one of them." He turned, ready to run. I blocked his path with a single step, placing a firm hand against his chest. "If you do that," I said softly, "she dies." His body went rigid. His eyes met mine, wild and unhinged. "She’s alive," I continued. "But if they even smell your rage coming their way, she won’t be for long." Zane stepped forward, cradling his son protectively. "Then what do we do?" he asked, his voice careful, controlled. "You saw what happened. You know what they want." "They want her gone," I said. "Cassandra’s a weapon. A rogue. A hunter. She’s dangerous—especially with the help of the demon she once served. But more than that—she came to you. That’s what scares them. They don’t want to lose you to her." Sebastian growled again, pacing like a caged animal. I waited until he stopped, then spoke the words I knew would break him. "You have to let her go." He stared at me. "No," he whispered. "It’s the only way," I said. "Sever the bond." He shook his head violently. "You’re insane. Do you have any idea what you’re asking me to do?" I smirked," yes I do."

Chapter 214: The Severing

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