Bonded

// Part 1 //

Disclaimer: This is not a werewolf book despite the wolf on the cover!

The early morning sun crept around the dirty window and fell in pools of light against the dark floorboards. Flies flew through the rays and settled back into the darkness that encircled my small square room.

I stretched out under my harsh covers and raised my head off my hard pillow. Unable to bathe I slid out of bed and dressed in decently clean clothes before moving over my creaking floorboards and out of the large oak door that groaned in protest as I forced it open.

  Moving towards the voices that were sounding from the kitchen I heard the soft voice of my mother call out to me.

"Good morning sweetie." She said as I turned into the kitchen. I smiled at her and the rest of my family, consisting of my father and older brother whilst slipping into a free chair at our tiny table.

  My gaze swept over the room and moved over their bonded. I felt envy every time I noticed that all of them had found their bonded as soon as they had turned 18, whilst halfway through my 18th year of life I was still left without my own.

  Every person, 18 or older, is bonded to a predator animal. When this bond is completed, the individual can take power from the animal and visa versa, the bond will benefit both of those connected's power, health and many other things that many people are still unaware of whilst those bonded will protect each other to their last breath. Without the completed bond, and the longer it remains incomplete the weaker they become.

  This bond is based upon their current level of power, which could be based off wealth but is mainly connected to the individuals actual capability. During the bonding process those taking part must be equals or if one is too strong they may kill the other. Those living in our sort of state are mainly bonded to low rank animals, say stray cats. I had desperately hoped to feel the faint pull to an animal that signalled the bond since my 18th birthday but I remained unbonded and growing weaker with each day away from my bonded.

  My mother's scraggy cat sat in her lap, purring happily as she scratched between his ears. Stretched out across the counter was my brother's brown weasel, the white fur on her chest was puffed against the cold of our house. And a grey raccoon with its ringed tail tail wandered near my father's feet. I sighed and dragged my eyes away from them, if I wasn't bonded by the age of 19 I would most likely be exiled.

"We've found something to help you find your bonded," Father said turning around from the stove, "There are animals that are commonly bonded to our rank gathered at Audhin tomorrow for those still unbonded." There was a glint of hope in his eyes and for his sake I nodded excitedly.

"Sounds great dad!" I feigned excitement, but something within me was saying that my bonded was not there.

Shortly after finishing my bland breakfast of some oats, I grabbed my coat before trudging out into the frosty morning.

My feet slid against the ice coated road and I hugged my coat tightly around my body. My breath spiralled out in front of my face as I made my way into the small, rundown town that we lived just outside of.

"STILL HAVENT FOUND YOUR BONDED?" A snarky voice shouted from my left but I continued walking. I was used to these comments now, it was rare that anyone went this long without being bonded.

"What a loser!" Another voice sounded, and my face began to grow hot with embarrassment. I sped up my steps but everyone was now staring at the unbonded 18 and a half year old. And I began to panic.

My breathing began to become more hitched as whispers spread around the square and more and more eyes filled with disgust turned to face me. People could be brutal to those without a bonded, we were weak and incomplete and completely defenceless... An easy target.

I was beginning to turn around to bolt back home when huge arms wrapped around my body and hauled me into an alley. Despite my scream, no one came to my aid - I wasn't worth it.

I was pushed against a wall and my body screamed out in pain, but a large hand was pressed against my mouth, subduing the screams threatening to spill from my lips.

The male's bonded was a grey yet still shaggy dog showing that he was of slightly higher power than most in this town, but still not high considering the condition of the dog.

"Unbonded huh?" A deep male voice whispered into my ear. "And why might that be? Not good enough for any of the animals around here? Maybe you deserve to be exiled." An evil chuckle came from deep in his throat.

I tried to object and fight back but his bonded growled in warning and snapped and my thrashing legs.

"So weak and worthless." The male continued and my body began to shake.

What the hell did this guy want?

Mustering up the little strength that I had, I pushed back my tears and looked him straight in the eyes. "Then why would you want to spend time with a pathetic and useless, unbonded female?" It hurt to say those words about myself, and it hurt more that I believed them.

I was pathetic and useless.

Reason seemed to flash over his eyes and a growl slipped from his mouth before he flung me to the floor, the dog snarling viciously at me.

My body slammed against the hard road and I bit down the pain that was lashing from my cut forehead. I scrambled back from the male and finally lurched to my feet and took off towards my house, blood trailing down my forehead.

I slipped up the path towards my house and sprinted in through the door, turning towards my room and slamming the door behind me.

My breathing was coming out in gasps as I slid to the floor and covered my face with my hands, finally allowing the tears to slip free. My back pressed against the wall of my room as my body shook with the sobs coming from my mouth. I could feel a line of warm blood trailing down from the gash in my forehead.

I had to find my bonded soon.

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Hey guys I'm sorry if this first part isn't great - it's really hard to explain the whole bonding idea and everything but hopefully I made it decently clear!

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