Bloodbound to the Witch Heir: Claimed By Four

Chapter 23: _When Distance Breaks

Celeste’s POV

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3:15 pm, Bloodoak Academy Grand Library

Fuck my life. Fuck this school. Fuck the Vein beasts and the goddess’s mate bond.

Fuck everything!

I was certain my face was twisted with the meanest frown lines ever as I waltzed into the academy’s main library. The librarian—a human hunter—Mister Sullivan, lowered his wire-rimmed glasses when he saw me storm in.

He was probably about to greet me but stopped himself when he saw my mood. I didn’t care. Neither did I care about the senior students I walked past on my way to a section of the library I sorely needed to check out.

Dean Thorne’s words still echoed in my head like a broken record.

Atlas AND Luther. Assigned to be my bodyguards for gods knows how long.

Now, Atlas I could stomach. Amongst my mates, he seemed like the only one barely moved by the mate bond. We hardly had any chemistry other than a few glances, and that awkward first meeting Uncle Isaiah organised between us. ƒrēewebnovel.com

But LUTHER FUCKING HALE?

"I’ll stick my shoe into his eye sockets if he tries using this to get close to me," I murmured when I finally got to the shelf with the topics I wanted:

Mate Bonds Theory.

Fortunately, no one was in this spot.

The late afternoon sun filtered through yellow-tainted rectangular glass windows behind me, dust motes floating like fairies.

Squinting, I scanned through the rows of meticulously arranged books. I had numerous questions about the mate bond. Starting with why I had four mates.

Grabbing two books that seemed to have what I wanted, I turned to a round wooden desk. "Alright," I whispered, taking a seat. "Let’s see if there’s anything here about... Wet dreams linked to the bond."

My cheeks flushed when I recalled the dream—or nightmare—from last night.

A logical part of me was trying to debunk it as a result of my encounter with shirtless Silas and the stress from the Vein beast attack. But since when was anything in the werewolf world "logical"?

As I flipped through the pages, eyes skimming through strings of words I barely understood, my senses screamed. The library was almost dead silent, save for a few whispers from other students here to study.

But through all that, I had this odd feeling. Like I was being watched from the shadows.

Chills ran down my spine when I remembered the Dean also said there’d be "others" monitoring me from a distance.

Yeah... Not creepy at all.

Shaking my head, I focused my vision on the book open before me. "Here we go..." I smirked when I saw something about emotional resonance amongst mates. "Says here that the bond... Links the emotions of both mates together. Including intense feelings of lust, desire and jealousy."

I blinked.

This book didn’t have anything related to my dream. Just stuff I’ve learnt from my mom whenever she told me stories of her and dad growing up.

My gaze slid to my phone just then.

Mom.

Saying I always looked up to her would be an understatement. A woman who paved the way for peace on a global scale. Who stood beside an Alpha King despite being a witch turned hybrid.

If anyone should know anything about confusing mate bonds—it was Odessa Bloodoak.

Sadly—

"She’s busy," I smiled bitterly, shifting my gaze away from the phone. "She’s always too busy for me."

With a heavy chest, I closed the book. Maybe I’d find another linked to my dream if I kept looking.

So I stood, walking to the shelf.

It would’ve been nice to have Willow by my side right now. Too bad she’s stuck in a test with Professor Amelia.

Narrowing my eyes, I trailed my fingers just a few inches away from a row of books. Each one seemed to be getting warmer and warmer toward what I wanted.

Then—I saw it.

"Mating For Mates." I nearly chuckled at the name printed on the edge of the purple hardcover book.

But it was perfect.

However, just when I reached for it, standing on my tippy toes—

—Another hand grabbed it. Dark, smooth, with ring-adorned fingers.

I froze when my hand brushed against that of the new person. Heat flashed down my arm, followed by a tingling sensation that made me whip my neck toward the owner.

My eyes widened, lips parting.

A–Atlas...

Those golden eyes blinked at me with surprising amusement. He brought the book in front of my face, staring at it curiously before arching a brow.

"Mating for mates..." He read out the title in a way that made me want to hide between shelves. Then his golden eyes locked on me, calm and almost lazy. "Greetings, Celeste. I didn’t think I’d meet you here. Searching for such an... Interesting book."

For a good few seconds, I couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe. All I could do was gawk at this ethereal man like a total idiot.

The most distant and elusive amongst my mates... Was right here. Speaking to me?

Frowning through the heat on my cheeks, I tried grabbing the book. "It’s merely for research. Nothing more—"

He pulled it away from my hand, tilting his head. "I believe you’re aware of the Dean’s new arrangement. No?"

The... The audacity!

Ignoring how numb my legs were when I picked up his flowery scent, I raised a finger. "So you admit it. You’re only here talking to me because the Dean made you my bodyguard."

"That’s... Not entirely true."

"Oh, really?" I scoffed, lips curving with snark. "Then by all means, enlighten me. What’s your deal? Why are you suddenly saying more words this minute than you have since the bond awakened?"

Was it just me, or were the bonds making these men draw closer over time?

First, it was Azrael and his mysterious, almost predatory protectiveness. Then Silas and his level-headedness while he lashed his brother with words. Then Luther being... Well, his asshole self.

Now here stood Atlas. Teasing and smiling like we were childhood sweethearts.

"You mistake my distance for not caring, little fire." He muttered, finally handing me the book. "I admit... I’ve given you more space than a mother bird gives her adult chicks..."

I swear, if he says anything about "distance bringing fondness"...

"... Truth is, I was... Confused." He let it out, hesitant. "Afraid maybe. I’ve always found the mate bond of wolves and other lupines intriguing as a concept. But being subjected to the dynamic feels overwhelming—the idea of sharing my woman with four men."

Something softened in me when he said those words. My woman...

I don’t know if it was the mild accent behind it or the way his golden eyes softened, but my stomach did the thing.

"So, Celeste." Atlas grabbed my hand, making my heart skip a beat. "Would you permit a do-over? A chance for me to... Adapt and navigate these waters? Together."

—Well, damn.

My mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

His voice was low but certain. Confident. And I genuinely didn’t know what to say.

"I..." My voice nearly cracked. "Atlas, I... I don’t even..." My chest heaved when I realised how close we were.

Mere inches separated my face from his.

Deep inside me, something pushed me. My eyes landed on his lips.

Kiss him.

It seemed he felt the same way—his grip on my hand loosening but pulling still. My eyes fluttered, lost in the moment. Whatever it might be—

"Celeste?" A voice cut through like a butcher knife.

I blinked, glancing behind Atlas. And at a person approaching with a frown on his face.

The book in my hand fell, fingers curling until my nails bit skin.

Luther. In all his blazing audacity.