[ Old World - Greater Woods… somewhere not very far from the cave ]
The forest pressed in.
Kieran was bent over his horse, chest heaving, one hand clutching at the horse's mane…the other clamped to his sternum.
He was desperately trying to hold himself together, unsure of what suddenly struck him!
And then…it hit again.
It was the bond… his mate bond with Autumn… Kieran smiled… he could finally feel it… but the next moment his smile vanished… it was the moment that he realised the mate bond was shattering.
It was like a soundless explosion.
It cracked through his ribs…bone deep…and like a jagged mountain sprouting from within him, it was tearing that wasn't made of flesh but of something far worse…soul, blood, spirit… Kieran's existence.
His head snapped back with a roar that tore the woods open.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The horse reared violently, startled…screaming, nearly throwing him to the ground…but Kieran barely felt it.
