Chapter 33
Stepping into Thane’s library feels like stepping into an enchanted world.
It’s dark and moody, just like his room, but something about it feels transcendent of time and space.
Like every life he’s lived is somehow preserved within these books.
I inhale a deep breath, letting the earthy scent fill my nose, and a blanket of comfort settles around me like a warm hug.
Books have always been my escape. No matter where I was or what I was going through, I could lose myself in a story… if only for a little while.
Although I came for one book, now that I’m here, I’m overwhelmed by the options.
The books Thane filled my library with are more modern, but his collection is full of classics that have been well-kept over the years.
As I make my way through the room, I take time to stroke the beautiful spines and finger the old pages, appreciating the work of art that they are.
Eventually, I make it to the book I came here for, The Wolf and the Dove.
I grab it and a few others, hoping Thane won’t mind, but just as I’m about to head out, another title in a stack on the table catches my eye.
It’s the one I saw opened on Thane’s desk the night of the garden party.
I slip it out from the middle of the stack and run my fingers over the golden words, Origins of the Fated.
Once I get back to the reading nook in my own library, I discard the other books in a pile and flip open the Origins of the Fated.
Somehow, I know this particular book didn’t belong to the humans, and as I begin to read the introduction, the words ‘vampire’ and ‘werewolf’ confirm that theory.
As I continue to read, I get an urge to skip to the section Thane had open.
I quickly thumb through the pages until I find the header: “Love Locked vs. Soul Bound.”
A surge of adrenaline shoots through my veins at the thought that I might actually get to learn something about these beasts that now rule the world.
Most of what I’ve learned so far has been through eavesdropping or trial and error.
Half of the time, I’m left with more questions than answers, but this feels different.
It’s like I’m holding a piece of their history.
For years, the Fated were looked down on.
Disregarded as mentally unstable. Lost to the pull of the moon and the craze of bloodlust. But over time, those who seemed mad were, in truth, destined for another.
While some were drawn to a love so perfect the stars had to intervene, others were destined for a lifetime of heartache—continuously pushed together, only to be torn apart time and time again.
Those who were lucky enough to find their perfect match became known as Love Locked.
Their love went beyond that of normal mates.
It was deeper, ruled by the heavens themselves.
No matter what, they would be drawn together, unable to resist the call of their heart’s other half.
Over time, they would see that they had met their match in all walks of life.
Those who were Love Locked would experience all eight types of love:
Eros — the love of sex and passion
Philia — the love of friendship; deep-seated in trust and mutual respect
Storge — the love of family
Agape — the love that is unconditional and selfless
Ludus — the love of playfulness and flirtation
Pragma — the love that stands the test of time; grounded in duty and responsibility
Philautia — the love of self
Mania — the love rooted in jealousy and obsession
The Love Locked could be drawn to each other over time or all at once. Either way, they were destined to love one another so wholly that nothing and no one could stand in their way.
Those who were destined for a lifetime of heartache became known as Soul Bound.
Once their paths crossed, they would forever be pushed together and pulled apart.
Each one seeking the other out, only to be met with an obstacle meant to separate them.
Where Love Locked would experience all eight types of love, Soul Bound would be ruled by Eros and Mania.
Their passion, destructive. Their jealousy, dangerous.
No matter how much time or distance is between them, they will always return to one another.
Forever bound by a hopeless love destined for tragedy.
“Grey!” My heart nearly burst from my chest when I look up to find Sophia standing in the doorway. “I said your name like three times.”
“Sorry,” I say with a sincere smile. “Grey is my last name. I’m still not used to going by it, but Thane and Kole refuse to call me by my first name.”
“Assholes,” she says, clucking her tongue with a breath of laughter. She slowly makes her way into the room, as if she isn’t sure she’s welcome. “After last night, I wanted to check on you.”
“Oh,” I breathe, not hiding my shock. “I’m good, thanks to you. How did you know what to do?”
“I used to be a nurse,” she tells me, eyeing the walls of books.
“Why not a doctor?” I quickly realize that could come off as rude and try to backtrack. “I just mean, you’ve obviously had years of experience and time to do whatever—”
“It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean anything by it,” she interjects, before I keep rambling.
“Honestly, I would’ve loved to have been a doctor, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me.
Even though we werewolves could pass for human, we still had to take precautions.
Being a black female doctor would draw too much attention. ”
“I’m sorry. That’s actually really fucked up.”
She shrugs, but I can tell she agrees. “It’s okay. I enjoyed being a nurse.”
“Why? You guys hated the humans. Why would you have wanted to help them?”
Sophia crosses her toned arms, leaning up against one of the bookshelves.
“I didn’t hate all humans. Just the ones who wished to hunt and kill us.
” There’s a lull in conversation, neither of us quite knowing what to say next.
“This is a pretty cool room you got here,” she finally says, pushing herself off the bookshelf to take it all in.
“Thanks. Thane actually made it.”
“Thane?” She practically chokes on his name. “Like Alpha? The guy who kills someone for looking at him the wrong way, built all this for you?”
“Yeah. I was surprised too.”
She walks over, and I move my stack of books so that she can join me in the padded alcove.
“I’ve never seen him like this before,” she tells me, leaning her head back against the wall.
“Like what?”
“Like the whole world would crumble if something happened to you.”
I exhale a half-hearted laugh. “It’s just because he marked me.”
She shakes her head. “No, I’ve seen a couple of marked bonds, and none of them were this extreme. If anything, it’s the human that feels the effects more.”
“Well, maybe it’s different because he’s a hybrid. Or because he’s the Alpha?” I suggest.
“Maybe,” she sighs, like she doesn’t think that at all. “What are you reading?” I flip the cover over to show her. “Wait, where did you get this?”
She lunges forward and snatches the book out of my hands. “Thane’s library. He gave me a key so that I could grab a book, and when I saw this one, I couldn’t resist. My curiosity was piqued when I saw it on his desk a while ago.”
“He was reading this?” she asks, looking at me like that’s the craziest thing she’s ever heard.
“I guess,” I answer with a shrug. “It was open to this chapter.” I scoot over and show her what I had been reading.
“That’s weird,” she mutters, looking over the text.
“Why’s it weird?”
“Only those of the same species can be Fated. Thane’s the only one of his kind, so I don’t see why this would even interest him.”
“Oh. Well, maybe he was reading up on it for someone else.”
“Right…” She hands me the book and jumps up. “I’ll see you later.”
“Okay, bye,” I mumble, as she practically sprints out of the room.
I flip back to the part about the Soul Bound, thinking about how awful it must be to love someone, only to have them constantly taken from you.
That’s a cruel fate I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Not even Thane, who I guess doesn’t have to worry about it since he’s the only hybrid.
For the most part, I’d assume he likes being the only one, but there must be some part of him that feels lonely too.
Now that almost all of the humans are gone, I suppose I can kind of relate.
I’ve spent so much of the past three years just trying to survive that I haven’t really thought too much about what it means to be one of the last remaining humans.
Once the rest of us die, that’ll be it. The human race will be wiped from existence for good.
“What are you doing with that?” My pulse skips when Thane comes barreling toward me with a vicious snarl. He’s coated in blood, making him look even more menacing than usual.
“Really? She went and tattled on me?” Thane reaches over me, ripping the book out of my hands. “What’s the big deal? It was in your library that you gave me a key to!”
“I never would’ve done that if I had known this is what you were after!”
“It’s not the book I went in there for. I just saw it on the table and—”
“And thought you’d take it?” he growls. “This book doesn’t concern you! You’re just a human!”
“And you’re a hybrid!” I yell, shooting up from the nook. “Sophia said you can’t even be Fated, so the book doesn’t concern you either!”
Thane takes a step forward, baring his fangs. “Give me the key.”
I pull the key from my back pocket and slap it into his palm. “Happy?”
“Not as long as I’m bound to you!”
“Then enjoy your misery!” I bite back, before throwing my shoulder into him as I storm off to my room.