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.