Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 88: Soul Binding

ARIA POV

"Hold him down!" I shouted as Jaxon’s huge body thrashed against the silver chains. Even in human form, the First Enemy was incredibly strong. It took six pack fighters plus Kael and Lucien to keep him pinned to the stone altar.

We had managed to catch him—barely. The silver-tipped tranquilizer darts had worked just long enough for us to get the chains on him. But they wouldn’t hold forever.

"Hurry, Elder Malin," I urged, my hand protectively covering my pregnant belly. "The chains are starting to melt."

The old wolf worked quickly, painting ancient symbols around the altar with a mixture of blood and crushed moonstone. Emma stood close, clutching the silver dagger we had stolen from the Shadow Division just hours ago.

"This ritual hasn’t been performed in centuries," Elder Malin warned, his wrinkled hands shaking slightly. "The risks are enormous."

"We don’t have a choice," I said strongly. "It’s the only way to save Jaxon."

After learning that the First Enemy wanted my babies for their power, we had looked desperately for a solution. Finally, Elder Malin had found an ancient text explaining a ritual called Soul Binding—a dangerous process that might allow us to enter Jaxon’s mind and help him fight the creature from within.

The First Enemy laughed, using Jaxon’s mouth but not his voice. "You can’t save him. His soul is almost gone."

I leaned closer, looking into those pitch-black eyes. "You’re lying. I can still feel him."

It was true. Through our mate bond, I could sense Jaxon—faint and flickering like a light in a storm, but still there.

"The circle is ready," Elder Malin declared. "Places, everyone."

Kael and Lucien moved to stand at opposite sides of the altar while I took my place at Jaxon’s head. The three of us formed a triangle around him.

"Remember," Elder Malin directed, "once inside, you must find Jaxon’s true soul. The First Enemy will try to trick you, to trap you there. If your physical bodies stay separated from your spirits for too long, you will die."

"How will we know which one is the real Jaxon?" Lucien asked.

"Trust your bond," Elder Malin said, looking at me. "The Luna will know."

Emma stepped forward with the silver knife. Its blade glowed with an eerie blue light, the moonstone in its hilt pulsing like a heartbeat.

"The blood of his brothers and his mate," Elder Malin said. "That’s the key to entering his mind."

Emma carefully cut first Kael’s hand, then Lucien’s, and finally mine. We each pressed our bleeding hands to Jaxon’s chest, making a triangle over his heart.

The First Enemy growled and fought against the chains. "Stop this! You’re making a mistake!"

"Begin the chant," Elder Malin directed, ignoring the creature’s protests.

Together, we repeated the ancient words. I didn’t understand their meaning, but I could feel their power moving through me. The symbols around the altar started to glow.

The First Enemy thrashed more furiously. "I’ll kill you all! I’ll devour your hearts!"

But his threats were drowned out by a sudden rush of wind that seemed to come from nowhere. The torches around us flickered wildly.

"Don’t break the connection," Elder Malin warned as the wind got stronger. "No matter what happens, keep your hands on him!"

The room started spinning around me. Darkness crept in from the edges of my view. I felt like I was falling, but my hand stayed firmly fixed on Jaxon’s chest.

Then everything went black.

I opened my eyes to a strange, misty scene. Dark trees loomed all around, their limbs twisting like arthritic fingers against a gray sky. The air felt heavy and cold.

"Kael? Lucien?" I called out, my voice sounding muffled.

"We’re here," Kael answered, appearing through the mist to my right. Lucien appeared on my left.

"Is this... Jaxon’s mind?" Lucien asked, looking around nervously.

"Part of it," I said, somehow knowing this was true. "The part controlled by the First Enemy."

We moved forward carefully. The forest seemed to shift around us, paths appearing and disappearing without notice.

"Something’s watching us," Kael whispered.

He was right. I could feel eyes on us, hiding in the shadows between the trees.

"Jaxon?" I called out. "Can you hear me?"

My voice echoed weirdly, coming back distorted: "Can you hear me... hear me... fear me..."

"We need to stay together," Lucien warned. "The First Enemy will try to separate us."

No sooner had he spoken than the ground beneath us began to shake. Cracks appeared, widening quickly into chasms.

"Jump!" Kael shouted as the ground split between us.

I leaped forward, barely making it across the growing gap. But when I turned around, Kael and Lucien were gone. The forest had changed, becoming darker and more twisted.

"Kael! Lucien!" I shouted, but only silence answered.

I was alone—or so I thought.

"Hello, Luna," said a voice behind me.

I spun around to find Jaxon standing there, looking exactly as he had before the Shadow Division took him. Handsome, strong, with warm brown eyes.

"Jaxon?" My heart jumped with hope.

He smiled. "I’ve been waiting for you."

I rushed forward but stopped just short of hugging him. Something felt wrong. Our mate bond should be singing with joy at finding him, but all I felt was coldness.

"You’re not Jaxon," I said, backing away.

His smile widened, becoming artificial. "Smart girl. But if I’m not Jaxon, who am I?"

His form changed, becoming misty and dark before resolidifying into... me. An exact copy of myself stood before me, down to the big belly.

"Confused?" my lookalike asked. "In here, I can be anyone. I can be everyone."

"Where is the real Jaxon?" I asked.

"Gone," the fake me said. "Destroyed. There’s nothing left to save."

But even as it spoke, I felt a tugging sensation—faint but clear. Our mate bond, taking me somewhere else.

"You’re lying," I said firmly. "I can feel him."

The creature’s face twisted with rage. My own features twisted into something monstrous. "Then I’ll find your friends first. Kill them. Take their forms. And when I’m done, I’ll take yours and your kids too."

It lunged at me, but I was already running, following the pull of the mate bond. The forest blurred around me as I sprinted through the twisted scenery of Jaxon’s corrupted mind.

The pulling led me to a small clearing. In the middle stood an enormous oak tree. Unlike the dead trees surrounding it, this one was alive—its leaves a bright green despite the grayness all around.

At the base of the tree, a small wolf pup cowered, surrounded by shadows that seemed to have substance and weight. They pressed in on the pup from all sides.

"Jaxon," I whispered, knowing somehow that this tiny wolf was all that left of my mate’s true soul.

The pup looked up at my voice, its eyes—Jaxon’s eyes—filled with recognition and hope.

I rushed forward, but the shadows rose up like snakes, hissing and striking at me. One caught my arm, burning like acid where it touched.

"Aria, run!" It was Jaxon’s voice, coming from the pup. "Save yourself!"

"I’m not leaving you," I said strongly, pushing through the pain and the shadows. freёnovelkiss.com

I finally reached the pup, scooping it into my arms. It shook against me.

"I’m so tired," Jaxon’s voice whispered. "Fighting it for so long..."

"I know," I said, petting his fur. "But you’re not alone anymore. Your boys are here too. We’re going to bring you home."

A roar of rage shook the clearing. The First Enemy, now in the form of the massive wolf-like thing I had seen in the real world, burst through the trees.

"He belongs to me!" it howled. "All of you belong to me!"

The shadows whirled around us, closing in. I held Jaxon’s pup form tighter, protecting him with my body.

"Aria!" Kael’s voice called from somewhere beyond the darkness. "We found it! The center of his power!"

"Destroy it!" I shouted back.

The First Enemy let out another angry roar and lunged toward me. But before it could reach us, a bright light cut through the darkness. The thing howled in pain.

In the distance, I could see Kael and Lucien. They stood before what looked like a throbbing black crystal, their hands pressed against it. Light poured from their hands into the crystal, which cracked under the pressure.

"No!" the First Enemy screamed, turning toward them. "Stop!"

The pup in my arms grew warmer, stronger. "Help them," Jaxon said, his voice clearer now. "Together."

I ran toward Kael and Lucien, still carrying Jaxon. The First Enemy chased after us, snapping at my feet.

"The crystal!" Lucien shouted. "It’s his base! Break it and we can force him out!"

I reached my brothers, putting my free hand on the black crystal. The moment I touched it, pain shot up my arm. The crystal was ice cold and seemed to pull at my very soul.

"Now!" Kael ordered.

The three of us pushed with all our strength, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The crystal split, and dark energy leaked out. The First Enemy approached, warning that if it died, we would all die too. Suddenly, the pup in my arms changed into Jaxon, who appeared before us determinedly. He said, "Not today," and put his hand on the crystal with us. Light erupted as the crystal shattered, causing the First Enemy to scream and dissolve, shaking the mindscape fiercely.

"Get out now! " Lucien shouted, and I asked how. Jaxon pushed us to follow the bond back. As I focused on Jaxon’s chest, I felt the link. Kael confirmed he felt it too, but Lucien suddenly started sinking into the ground. Jaxon leaped to help him, realizing the First Enemy was trying to trap one of us. It stated, "A soul for a soul. " Jaxon demanded we leave, but I wanted all of us to go back together. As the mindscape collapsed, we started sinking. Jaxon chose to stay behind to trap the First Enemy. He pushed me away, telling me our kids needed me. I passed out.

When I woke, I found Jaxon and my friends disoriented. Jaxon was recovering, pleased that we succeeded together. However, he admitted the First Enemy was still trapped inside him, trying to escape.